Office of Governmental Accountability Board of Firearms Permit Examiners

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MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, January 30, 2025, 10am

Connecticut State Office Building

165 Capitol Ave., Room D/E, Hartford, CT 06106

 

 

 

Call to Order

Acting Chairman Stephen Sanetti called the meeting to order at 10:00am.

Acting Chairman Stephen Sanetti read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call.  Eight appellants were present, four appellants failed to appear. Ten Local Issuing Authorities were present along with the State.

Board Members Present: Acting Chairman Stephen Sanetti, Dr. Cynthia Conrad, Det. Gudrun Johnson, Col. Chris Lewis, Col. Kyle Overturf, and Chief Carl Rosensweig,

Board Members Absent: Chairman Diane Whitney and Elbert Gray

Acting Chairman Stephen Sanetti administered the oath to all witnesses.

Hearings: Twelve cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 23-440-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers.  The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Asst. Counsel Mary Pokorski represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Matthew Marino, New Britain Police Department with one witness.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

2) Case No. 23-592-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Jennifer Miller represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

3) Case No. 23-300-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Ofc. Joseph McCusker represented the Local Issuing Authority, Town Manager Mary Calorio, Town of Danielson (Killingly).

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Killingly to issue the permit.  Vote was 6-0 in favor of the appellant.

4) Case No. 23-511-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Chief Eric Peterson represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Eric Peterson, Coventry Police Department with two witnesses.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit. Vote was 5-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Det. Johnson recused herself from this case. 

5) Case No. 23-470-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers.  The appellant failed to appear. Asst. Counsel Mary Pokorski represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Matthew Marino, New Britain Police Department with one witness.

Motion: Board Secretary Col. Overturf made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Det. Johnson motion passed unanimously

6) Case No. 23-655-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Ofc. Roderick Doda represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Roderick Porter, Bridgeport Police Department with one witness.

Motion: Board Secretary Col. Overturf made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Chief Rosensweig motion passed unanimously

7) Case No. 23-703-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Ofc. Roderick Doda represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Roderick Porter, Bridgeport Police Department with one witness.

Motion: Board Secretary Col. Overturf made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Det. Johnson motion passed unanimously

8) Case No. 23-346-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant and Atty. Goodman, Esq. failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Jennifer Miller represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Motion: Board Secretary Col. Overturf made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Det. Johnson motion passed unanimously

9) Case No. 24-526-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Records Stephanie Flores represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Roderick Porter, Bridgeport Police Department with one witness.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

10) Case No. 23-479-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Sgt. Jeff Gilbert represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Paul Melanson, Avon Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Avon to issue.   Dr. Conrad, Col. Lewis, Col. Overturf, and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Appellant. Ms. Johnson and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Vote was 4-2 in favor of the appellant.

11) Case No. 23-647-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Records Stephanie Flores represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Roderick Porter, Bridgeport Police Department with one witness.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Bridgeport to issue.   Dr. Conrad, Col. Lewis, Col. Overturf, and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Appellant. Ms. Johnson and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Vote was 4-2 in favor of the appellant.

12) Case No. 24-366-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman, Esq. Det. Jon Femia represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Roberto Rosado, Meriden Police Department with two witnesses.

Due to the objection from the Issuing Authority to see the medical documents, the Board chose to going into Executive Session.

Executive Session:

Col. Overturf made a motion to go into Executive Session, seconded by Dr. Conrad at 12:35pm. The Board came out of Executive Session at 12:48pm.

 

Recess:

Still noting that the objection from the Issuing Authority still stands, the objection was overruled by the Board and will go into recess to view the medical documents. 

Recess ended at 1:29 and the case will resume.

 

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit. Acting Chairman Sanetti, Det. Johnson, Col. Lewis, Col. Overturf and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.  Dr. Conrad voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 5-1 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

 

 

 

Secretary’s Report:

Board member Col. Lewis made a motion to accept the minutes from Januaery 9, 2025 seconded by Col. Overturf. motion carried. Vote 5-0-1 to approve. Det. Johnson abstained.

Old Business: None

New Business: Discussion on when Chairman Whitney will start her position.

Adjournment: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion to adjourn seconded by Board member Col. Lewis, motion carried. Meeting ended at 3:05pm.