Cheshire Police Officer Removed from Patrol

Cheshire police officer Thomas Wright, has been removed from his patrol duties after being arrested last week on charges that he and his wife, Dawn Wright, stole a dog in Naugatuck.

The couple, both 39, of Naugatuck, turned themselves in to the borough police department last week after learning of a warrant charging them with stealing a dog, obstructing an animal control officer and fourth-degree larceny. 

Cheshire police spokesman Lt. James Fasano said Monday that Wright was placed on desk duty after the arrest. Wright has been with the police department about eight years, Fasano said.

Wright is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Wednesday. His duty status with the Cheshire Police Department will be reconsidered by Police Chief Neil Dryfe after the officer's court appearance, Fasano said.

According to Naugatuck police spokesman Lt. Robert Harrison, a complaintant told police that the from the March fire was her dog that went missing in January 2010.

Harrison said the Wrights have had the pug in their possession for more than a year since finding the dog roaming on the street.

The dog had an embedded identity chip, Harrison said, but the Wrights refused to allow police to scan the dog’s chip. The Naugatuck police got a search warrant to allow the dog to be checked. The scan showed the pug was registered to the complainant, Harrison said.

Two people who answered the door at the Wrights' home Friday declined to comment.