OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, 12:00pm at the

Dept. of Emergency Services and Public Protection

Call to Order

Secretary T. William Knapp called the meeting to order at 12:00pm.

  

Secretary Knapp read the Introductory Statement

Secretary Knapp called the roll call, 8 appellants were present, the State Issuing Authority was present and 1 local Issuing Authority was present, 1 local Issuing Authority failed to appear.

6 Board Members Present: Attorney Joseph T. Corradino, Chairman, Chief T. William Knapp, (Ret.), Board Secretary, Mr. Jay Greer*, Mr. M. Peter Kuck, Colonel Kyle E. Overturf and Kenneth Tramadeo.

*Mr. Jay Greer left the meeting at 2:30pm.

Board Chairman, Joseph T. Corradino, Esq., administered the oath to all witnesses.

1) Case No. 12-014-R, Aaron Hunter, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Lawrence Terra represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a tie vote, the Board voted on the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to revoke a pistol permit. Corradino, Greer, and Overturf voted to uphold the State Issuing Authority, at this time. Knapp, Kuck and Tramadeo voted to overturn the decision of the State Issuing Authority to revoke the permit. A tie vote is in favor of the appellant. Mr. Hunter is to be reinstated his pistol permit.

2) Case No. 11-229-R, Daniel Backman involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Christopher G. Santarsiero represented the appellant. Sgt. Lawrence Terra represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a majority, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to revoke a pistol permit. Corradino and Kuck voted for the appellant. Greer, Knapp, Overturf and Tramadeo voted for the State Issuing Authority.

3) Case No. 12-028-D, Michael J. Lombardo involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. A representative from the local Issuing Authority, Chief William McKenna, Middletown Police Department, failed to appear.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the local Issuing Authority Chief William McKenna, Middletown Police Department, for failure to appear. Mr. Lombardo is to be issued a temporary pistol permit, by default.

*Board Member Jay Greer left the meeting at 2:30pm.

4) Case No. 12-125-D, Kevin Finucane involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Robert C. Flanagan represented the appellant. Capt. Jeffrey Morgan represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Kevin Halloran, Branford Police Department with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the local Issuing Authority Chief Kevin Halloran, Branford Police Department, at this time.

5) Case No. 11-276-R, James Weaver involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Lawrence Terra represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Mr. Weaver is to be reinstated his pistol permit.

6) Case No. 11-189-D, Julio Florez, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Officer Pesce appeared for the local Issuing Authority Chief James Rovella, Hartford Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the local Issuing Authority Chief James Rovella, Hartford Police Department. Mr. Florez is to be issued a temporary pistol permit.

7) Case No. 11-312-R, Micahel Sparano, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Vincent Noce represented the appellant. Sgt. Lawrence Terra represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Mr. Sparano is to be reinstated his pistol permit.

8) Case No. 12-007-R, Jackie Le-Specyalski involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. Sgt. Lawrence Terra represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: T. William Knapp, Board Secretary made a motion to find for the appellant, Tramadeo seconded the motion, motion carried unanimously. Ms. Le-Specyalski is to be reinstated her pistol permit.

Secretary’s Report:

1) Approval of the March 22, 2012 Minutes. Tramadeo made a motion to accept the minutes as written, Overturf seconded the motion, motion carried.

2) The Board discussed the issue of an appellant, Joshua Braccidiferro, not receiving the March 22, 2012 meeting notice until April 10, 2012. The certified letter was tracked and confirmed on the USPS website. Secretary Knapp mentioned that Middletown was considering issuing a pistol permit to the appellant and did not appear at the March 22, 2012 meeting. As a result the Board decided to schedule a new hearing for Mr. Braccidiferro on May 10, 2012 unless the local Issuing Authority, Middletown Police Department decide to  issue a permit prior to May 10, 2012.

New Business: A discussion was held including the Board Members, Waterbury Town Attorney Gary S. Roosa, Sgt. Michael Dethlefsen, Waterbury Police Department, Mr. Richard Burgess, President Connecticut Carry, Inc. and E. Jonathan Hardy, founder of CT Pistol Permit Issues. The discussion was initiated by a letter sent by Mr. Burgess stating that Waterbury Police Department, as part of the application for a pistol permit, required additional information not described in the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners Declaratory Ruling adopted on January 14, 2010. Attorney Roosa defended the Waterbury Police Department stating the additional requirements were only part of the background investigation. Mr. Burgess and Mr. Hardy spoke that they had received complaints from citizens that the additional requirements were part of the process when they first applied for the permit. Mr. Burgess and Mr. Hardy both agreed that the many citizens were intimidated from going forward with the application. The Board ruled that the only documents, as described in the 2010 Declaratory Ruling, must be part of the application process.

Adjournment: Tramadeo made a motion to adjourn, Overturf seconded the motion, motion carried. The Board adjourned at 7:40pm.