Office of Governmental Accountability Board of Firearms Permit Examiners

PLEASE CONTACT THE BOARD IMMEDIATELY IF YOUR PERMIT WAS ISSUED OR REINSTATED PRIOR TO YOUR HEARING. THIS WILL REDUCE THE BACKLOG.

March 19 2026 Minutes

MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, March 19, 2026, 10am

Connecticut State Office Building

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

 

 

Call to Order

Chairman Diane Whitney called the meeting to order at 10:06am.

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

Board Members Present: Chairman Diane Whitney, Esq., Dr. Cynthia Conrad, Elbert Gray, Col. Kyle Overturf, Chief Carl Rosensweig, and Stephen Sanetti, Esq.

Board Members Absent: Atty. Michael Evangelisti

Chairman Diane Whitney administered the oath to all witnesses.

Hearings: Thirteen cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 25-129-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Det. John Williams represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief C. Colin McAllister, Naugatuck Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

2) Case No. 25-118-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. DESPP Det. Brindiana Warenda represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew her case.

3) Case No. 25-205-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. DESPP Det. Brindiana Warenda represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

4) Case No. 25-017-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Richard S. Cramer.  Asst. Chief Terra represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Vernon Riddick, West Hartford Police Department with two witnesses.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered West Hartford to issue.   Dr. Conrad, Mr. Gray, Chief Rosensweig and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Appellant. Chairman Whitney and Col. Overturf voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Vote was 4-2 in favor of the appellant.

5) Case No. 25-195-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Det. Brindiana Warenda represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Mr. Gray, motion passed unanimously.

6) Case No. 25-197-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Det. Brindiana Warenda represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Mr. Gray, motion passed unanimously.

7) Case No. 24-684-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Det. Brindiana Warenda represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Mr. Gray, motion passed unanimously.

8) Case No. 25-130-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Sgt. Elias Martz represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Erik Costa, Middletown Police Department.

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

9) Case No. 25-164-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. Lt. Matthew Malone represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Patrick Ridenhour, Danbury Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit, at this time. Chairman Whitney, Col. Overturf, Chief Rosensweig and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.  Dr. Conrad and Mr. Gray voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 4-2 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

10) Case No. 25-222-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own.  Sgt. Elias Martz represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Erik Costa, Middletown Police Department.

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

11) Case No. 25-165-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Integrated Operation Manager Matt Iannucci represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief James Lovelace, North Branford Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit.

12) Case No. 25-047-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf.  Det. Justin Hilchuk represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Rafael Medina, Wethersfield Police Department

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

13) Case No. 25-144-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Det. Kevin Foster represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Rafael Medina, Wethersfield Police Department

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit, at this time. Chairman Whitney, Dr. Conrad, Col. Overturf, Chief Rosensweig and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.  Mr. Gray voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 5-1 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

 

Secretary’s Report:

Board member Dr. Conrad made a motion to accept the minutes from March 5, 2026, seconded by Atty. Sanetti. motion carried. Vote 5-0-1 to approve. Mr. Gray abstained.

 

Old Business:

Discussed backlog and continuing cases past the resolved charges.

New Business:

Motion to vacate the decision of Case 25-070-R on March 5, 2026, due to an email received withdrawing his case prior to the hearing. Board Secretary Overturf made a motion to vacate the decision seconded by Atty. Sanetti. 

Adjournment: Board member Dr. Conrad made a motion to adjourn seconded by Board member Atty. Sanetti, motion carried. Meeting ended at 2:02pm.