WINDHAM - At Eastern Connecticut State University, the Division of Criminal Justice’s 2025 Detective School brought together more than 100 law enforcement officials for a week of learning and instruction.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lisa M. D’Angelo, who led the school, told the detectives in opening remarks on August 4, 2025 that the school, an abbreviated version of a more comprehensive 10-week course the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney offers, is part of the Division’s ongoing efforts to enhance investigative skills and legal knowledge among officers statewide.
“This is a great program,” Deputy Chief State’s Attorney D’Angelo said. “Every time we run it, we see officers from all over the state come together, learn from each other, and take valuable insights back to their departments.”
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney D’Angelo said Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin, an instructor at the school, has emphasized the importance of officer education and bridging the gap between investigative work and courtroom expectations, making training a cornerstone of his leadership at the Division of Criminal Justice.
Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said valuable training can strengthen collaboration between prosecutors and police departments, particularly helping officers understand how the evidence they have identified and collected will be evaluated in court.
“You work your cases very hard,” Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said to the detectives. “But there will be times when a prosecutor may have to say no - and you don’t understand why. That’s where communication becomes crucial.”
Effective prosecution and investigation require mutual understanding, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said.
“To be at your best as a detective, you must think like a prosecutor. And to be at your best as a prosecutor, you must understand the pressures detectives face,” he said.
On the school’s first day, there was instruction on search and seizure by Windham Judicial District State’s Attorney John F. Fahey and New London Judicial District State’s Attorney Paul J. Narducci, followed by a discussion about The LeRoy Brown, Jr. and Karen Clarke Witness Protection Program in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney by Witness Protection Coordinator Tracey Kelly. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney D’Angelo ended the day with a talk on identification procedures.
Each day covered a wide range of topics, including evidence and statements by Chief State’s Attorney Griffin, license plate readers and GPS tracking devices by Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle Koch, juvenile matters by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Frances Reese and discussion about the Fourth Amendment and digital evidence by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Seth Garbarsky and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Ronald Weller. Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Kathryn W. Bare held a session on the implications the Supreme Court cases Brady v. Maryland and Giglio v. United States have on law enforcement, and Deputy Chief State’s Attorney, Inspector General Eliot D. Prescott explained the role of the Office of Inspector General.
On the school’s fourth day, Tolland Judicial District State’s Attorney Craig P. Nowak talked about arrest and search warrants, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney D’Angelo discussed the Cold Case Unit and Ansonia/Milford Judicial District State’s Attorney Margaret E. Kelley, along with Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Laura DeLeo and Alanna Paul gave a presentation on domestic violence investigations.
The school’s final day included presentations on human trafficking investigations and courtroom demeanor and testifying by Deputy Chief State’s Attorney D’Angelo and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Kelly E. Davis, who, along with Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo, also discussed sexual assault investigations.
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Stacey Miranda talked about child abuse and abusive head trauma investigations and discussed violent crime detectives’ perspectives with Supervisory Inspector Michael Wuchek and Inspectors Christopher Perrone and David Zaweski.
