WILTON – The fate of three police officers suspended earlier this month is expected to be announced today at an afternoon news conference.

By late Thursday night, the decision by town leaders remained a well-guarded secret. Town Manager Peter Nielsen would not reveal what was to become of police officers Terry Warren, Ed Leahy and Robert Cole Jr.

“I will be making an announcement at 1 p.m. at the police station,” Nielsen said, declining to disclose more about the matter.

Former police Chief Wayne Gallant, who tried to find a solution to the issue before he left the department, said he had no idea what news is to come down today.

“I haven’t had any contact with them since I left,” Gallant said. “I haven’t heard a thing.”

Warren, Leahy and Cole were suspended with pay at the beginning of the month. Leahy said in a previous interview that the officers received a “generic” letter from town officials advising them of the suspensions. No specific reasons were listed in the letter, he said.

Leahy speculated that the investigation revolves around complaints from the District Attorney’s Office involving the Wilton Police Department’s handling of criminal investigations involving juvenile victims.

Earlier this year, the district attorney sent the town a letter instructing the police department to send all juvenile sex crime cases to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department for investigation.

District Attorney Norm Croteau said Thursday night he had not been advised of what will be announced at Friday’s news conference. The matter was being handled by the police department and town officials, he said.

On Thursday night, none of the suspended police officers could be reached for comment. None returned phone messages left at their homes.

Leahy, Warren and Cole are also part-time deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. Franklin County Sheriff Dennis Pike said earlier this month that the three officers will not work as Franklin County deputies until the issues in Wilton have been resolved.