We hopeour art gets people talking. Distracted driving is dangerous driving and comes with serious consequences, then-State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said during one publicity blitz heading into the summer of 2018. Barker was terminated in August 2020, the comptrollers records show. Shamar Walters is a reporter for NBC News' Social Newsgathering team based in New York City. Trooper Matthew Spina, a 19-year veteran of the state police, was seen in video captured by the driver screaming profanities and commands as he orders the man out of the vehicle on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven in May. Court of Claims Judge J. David Sampson found Barker negligent. Just then, a 23-year-old driver, texting on three separate threads, struck Gallagher. We are troopers and we will fight back when treated with disrespect, he added. Theres no fine., You do have to pay the $93 surcharge, the judge said. Who the [expletive] do you think you are worrying about what Im doing? he shouts. Threats of harming another Spina tells the motorist that police officers are permitted by law to disregard traffic laws during the performance of their duties. PayrollCT is not affiliated with any government entity. I was respectful the entire time and never had hard feelings against the trooper. From Search and Rescue to Enforcement, they truly Protect our Nation. He was suspended, but was collecting about $95,000 a year in salary, according to the state Comptroller's Office,when charges were lodged against him in December 2019. I will accept your plea, Sheridan Town Justice Lydia Romer told the trooper, according to a transcript. 6. He suffered chest and shoulder injuries yet, by comparison, was lucky. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The department did not identify Spina by name in an initial release, but confirmed his identity in a follow-up email. Be Proactive. When political appointees fail to make the safety of our members and the public their top priority, failed to preserve the history of the State Police, or make decisions based on preserving their own position, then we cannot in good conscience support them, union president John Castiline wrote in a letter Tuesday. By Matthew Spina | Buffalo News A medical examiner partly faults medical personnel at the Erie County Holding Center for the death of an inmate, saying they did not properly respond to his withdrawal from addictive drugs, primarily alcohol. We take a creative approach to each of our works of art. We will fight back when treated with disrespect: CT state police vote no confidence in Lamont, Monroe SPCA volunteers 'humbled' as hundreds file to adopt pets, 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Stratford calls claims in former cop's lawsuit 'preposterous', Bridgeport police deploy Taser at scene of assault, official says, M&T urged to end 'banking desert' in Bridgeport neighborhoods, Former girls soccer coach pleads guilty to sex assault of player, Monroe SPCA volunteers race deadline to find homes for animals, Fairfield man charged in alleged high-speed chase, shootout, Trumbull golf center lets players compare their game to PGA pros, Bridgeport police chief wants public to rate officers' service, 'Candlewood' horror movie drops trailer inspired by local urban legends, Police make up 19 of Trumbull's top 20 highest paid employees, Four Fairfield businesses fail February health inspections, Warrant: Ex-New Fairfield 'lunch lady' sent nude images to student on Snapchat for months before sex assault, Monroe SPCA volunteers race to find homes for animals before shelter closes: 'Only home they know', Former CT girls soccer coach pleads guilty to sexually assaulting player, The Best Private High Schools Near Stamford, The Best Private Preschools Near New Haven, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, provided Spinas treatment as an example of grievances. Its a Class A misdemeanor that can lead to jail time and a fine of up to $1,000. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. His agency had warned against it many times. He was charged on Dec. 30, 2019. The trooper, Matthew Spina, pulled over the driver, Kevin A. Jette, on Monday after Jette allegedly sped past him on Interstate 95 near New Haven as Spina was pursuing another car for. Sale, Click here to see our entire catalogue now. Warning, the video on YouTube, as seen here, will be disturbing to some readers. Our coins, pins, and products are created in a transformative way.We will not be silenced. In the video, posted on YouTube Monday, the trooper is seen cursing at a man who was allegedly speeding on the span also know as the Q bridge in New Haven. Our creations are not approved, endorsed, sponsored, nor authorized by, or associated with any agency, department of government entity. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. I got pulled over for speeding when I was 21 home on leave from Iraq in 2003. The suit claims the laws mandates for the release of public records runs counter to the most recent state police collective bargaining agreement, which allows troopers to prevent their personnel records from being released to the public. Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at nrondinone@courant.com. Why might Spina drive himself crazy with overwork? Retracing the path of controversial Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe includes many stops in Connecticut. 30% off when you spend $150. Connecticut State Police Union letter by Peter Yankowski on Scribd. Trooper blamed for 2019 crash that paralyzed two was on his cellphone, investigator says. A letter obtained by the newspaper provided Spinas treatment as an example of grievances against the departments current leadership. "It certainly wouldn't have happened today.". prohibit the use of this website or the information it contains to make any determinations concerning The system offers troopers pensions that are payable immediately upon 20 years of service, and it calculates pension payments by taking half the average of the salaries of a trooper's three highest-earning years. St Polce Trpr Frst Class I love how EVERY comment is edited by staff. We have served. But a sentence also should reflect a defendant's conduct and the impact on the victims, Schmidt said, adding that he saw no sign Barker's victims were consulted about the sentence. FREE SHIPPING when you spend $20. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Invalid password or account does not exist. But when it came time to defend Barkers actions in the lawsuit, the government attorney representing the State Police did not argue that the trooper was responding to a call. 30% off when you spend $150. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Welcome to the new courant.com: Whats changed, FAQs and more, Sit the down. Commemorative coin capturing troopers profanity-laced I-95 traffic stop circulating among police, CT man found guilty of narcotics, firearm offenses, Hartford Civilian Police Review Board inspector general resigns, With old Ames HQ in Rocky Hill demolished, state kicks in nearly $1 million for multi-use development, Parkinsons symptoms eased by non-surgical procedure, study shows, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The following list is based on analytics calculated for JournalInquirer.com, specifically the number of times each story was viewed. Flag Commendation Bar uniform Pin Police Breast Cancer, EL13-016 Full size UAS FAA Commercial Drone Pilot Wings pin, CL6-08 Thin Gray Line U.S. Even still, that police officer had no reason to do what he did. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Then, just 52 seconds before the impact at 1:04 p.m., Barker opened aFacebook page, according to McCuskers statement. The states Vehicle and Traffic law exempts the drivers of emergency vehicles from certain rules of the road, and makes it more difficult to prove negligence, when they are responding to an emergency, even if they rear-end a car in front of them. Two months after a state trooper was captured on camera in a profanity-laced tirade during a traffic stop, a commemorative coin that honors him is circulating among his fellow troopers. The trooper spoke down to me and hit me with a $375 ticket.all of which I deserved. Forty percent of Spina's earnings of $76,744 so far this year has been overtime, so he is on track for another $200,000 year -- if he can maintain some semblance of sanity, if his supervisors don't see that overwork may be impairing his fitness, and if he is not suspended or dismissed for his misconduct, which has spectacularly besmirched the state police. Free shipping Free shipping Free shipping. Many of our coins that use elements from popular culture are created as a parody. Pension racket may explain state trooper's crazed rage. Key Data Matthew Spina Employment History 2018 Job Title: St Polce Trpr Frst Class Department: Dept of Emrg Svc & Public Prot Bargaining Group: State Police (NP-1) Employment Type: Full-time Total Pay: $184,881 Spina loudly explains that a car tailed him then passed him and the driver flipped him off while he was following a tractor-trailer looking for a violation. While doing this, we sometimes use things happening in the world within our artwork. Guy who cuts his own hair. He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. CL-006 DOJ Department of Justice Retractable ID reel metal ID card holder Dept. $18.99 Sold out. compliance. For Spina seems to be only middle-aged, and achieving pension entitlement by middle age through government employment and not retiring but instead taking other employment for 15 years or so has become a hallowed and lucrative tradition in Connecticut. The vote comes after the union, which represents some 850 state troopers, criticized the leaderships handling of Trooper Matthew Spina. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. In the U.S. they're a vibrant part of American culture and history, and no matter how controversial or what medium that are shared on, they are protected as free speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.Let's discuss 17 U.S. Code 107 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use. We hold our Troopers to high standards and the behavior displayed in the video is not reflective of the values of Commissioner Rovella or my administration, Mellekas said in the release. Spina declined to comment Wednesday. Dr. This high quality pin is metal with hard enamel and is not made with painted enamel.