Senate Leadership
December 4, 2006
Williams, Stillman Disturbed by Report on State Police Internal Affairs
Report says Internal Affairs system “seriously deficient”
State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) and state Senator Andrea L. Stillman (D-Waterford), co-chairman of the legislature's Public Safety and Security Committee, today reacted swiftly to results of an investigative report that suggests the Connecticut State Police is at times "seriously deficient" when called upon to investigate its own.
The report released today said that there were cases where supervisors "interfered with and influenced internal affairs investigations in ways that effectively shielded employees from appropriate investigation, discipline, and even possibly criminal charges." The report also made 60 specific suggestions about how to address identified problems.
"The people of the state have always had confidence in the State Police's ability to ensure their safety. This report shows we must improve the State Police's ability to supervise and monitor those within its own ranks." Sen. Williams said. "This report is truly troubling. Fortunately, it also contains some important corrective measures."
"On balance I'm extremely disturbed at so many apparent instances of inconsistent and at times absolutely lax procedures within the investigative unit of our own State Police force," Sen. Stillman said. "Clearly there's an urgent need for better oversight, and a need for uniformity in the approach of our State Police to self-policing."
"About the only silver lining I see in this report is an objective call for oversight of internal affairs operations by a Lieutenant Colonel--a management position already authorized by the General Assembly earlier this year," Sen. Stillman added. "Now, with what's included in this report, we know the sooner we fill that position the better, and I call upon the governor to do so immediately."
The investigation of the Internal Affairs Division was requested jointly over a year ago by Department of Public Safety Commissioner Leonard Boyle and the state police union. It was conducted jointly by the state Office of Attorney General and the New York State Police.
Sens. Williams and Stillman pledged to step up legislative oversight of this particular aspect of State Police operations to ensure prompt improvements. They also said they'd work closely with the Attorney General's office and that of the Chief State's Attorney to follow-up with the incomplete investigations that today's report exposed and documented.
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
