SOUTHINGTON - Law enforcement officials from across Connecticut gathered at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington on September 16, 2025, for the annual John M. Bailey Seminar, a half-day event focused on emerging legal developments shaping police policies and practices.
The seminar featured a series of expert-led presentations addressing critical updates in traffic safety, marijuana regulation, case law, hate crimes, juvenile matters and other criminal justice topics. The seminar is named in honor of John M. Bailey who retired as Chief State’s Attorney in November 2003 after serving a decade as Connecticut’s chief law enforcement officer. Mr. Bailey began his career as a prosecutor in 1975 and was appointed State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford-New Britain in 1979, serving there until his appointment as Chief State’s Attorney.
Presentations at the seminar were organized by the Division of Criminal Justice’s Office of Ethics and Professional Standards, currently led by Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lisa M. D’Angelo, in conjunction with the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Police Officer Standards and Training Field Services Division.
Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin, Connecticut's top state prosecutor, opened the seminar with welcoming remarks that highlighted the importance of training and initiatives that seek to strengthen the intersection between law enforcement and the legal system.
Chief State’s Attorney Griffin told the hundreds gathered in the banquet room that the Division of Criminal Justice holds various specialized training programs throughout the year aimed at enhancing the skills of detectives and police officers across the state. One of those programs – a popular five-day intensive Detective School – has been held at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and at state universities, including Eastern Connecticut State University.
The Detective School, he said, covers a wide range of topics, including search and seizure procedures, statement collection and suspect identification, oral testimony and courtroom demeanor, use of license plate readers and digital evidence, and domestic violence and sexual assault investigations.
Each session spans five full days and is limited to about 50 participants, ensuring a focused and interactive learning environment that elevates detectives’ understanding of how investigative work aligns with legal standards and courtroom expectations, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said.
“This instruction is not about trying to teach detectives how to be detectives. It’s about teaching detectives about the intersection between police work and the law," he said.
Chief State’s Attorney Griffin also highlighted the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Evidence Academy, 10, two-hour classes held over several weeks that address a critical gap in police training: the understanding of courtroom evidence. While officers are well-trained in collecting and preserving evidence, he said, many lack formal instruction on how that evidence is evaluated and challenged in court.
"Police officers are well-trained in identifying and preserving evidence, but they rarely receive training on how that evidence is challenged in court," Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said. “This may be the most important class we’ve ever created. It’s not just about what you find at a crime scene. It’s about how that evidence holds up under legal scrutiny.”
Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin
In addition to these programs, the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney has introduced a Search and Seizure Academy, which has evolved into a broader Procedural Law Academy, a 20-hour course that covers key constitutional protections under the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, helping police officers navigate legal boundaries with greater confidence and precision, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said.
The Office of the Chief State’s Attorney also has offered digital evidence workshops and is open to tailoring classes to meet the specific needs of local departments, he said.
"If you need a class, if you have a topic, we’ll build it,” Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said. “If you want us to speak to your department, just ask and we will come. The partnership between law enforcement in uniform and law enforcement in the courtroom is vital. Those who know me, know how deeply I respect the work of police officers. This training is an investment in their success - and in the safety and fairness of our justice system.”
Following Chief State’s Attorney Griffin’s remarks, the training sessions began with Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Nancy Chupak, the Division’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, who provided a comprehensive traffic safety update, emphasizing recent changes in enforcement strategies and legal standards.
Lila McKinley, Director of the Cannabis Control Division at the Department of Consumer Protection, followed, delivering a marijuana policy update, outlining regulatory shifts and their implications for law enforcement.
A legislative overview looking at recently passed and potential legislation affecting criminal justice was presented by Sean Hughes of Hughes & Cronin Public Affairs Strategies, and Anne Cournoyer, Legislative Liaison for the Division.
Timothy J. Sugrue, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney in the Appellate Bureau of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, shared a case law update, highlighting key appellate decisions with practical impact on policing and prosecution. He was followed by a panel from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Hate Crimes Unit, including Sergeant Nicholas Caez and Detectives Michael Dargan and Julia Stoner, who discussed trends and investigative strategies in addressing hate-motivated offenses.
Brian Casinghino, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney for the Hartford Judicial District, explored developments in juvenile justice, while Lucinda Lopes-Phelan, Deputy Director of Identification of the Division of Scientific Services at the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, provided a forensic lab update.
The seminar concluded with updates from the state Judicial Branch’s Caroline Fargeorge, Deputy Director of Criminal Matters, and Joseph DiTunno, Deputy Director of Family Services, who discussed electronic monitoring in family services.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney D’Angelo closed the event by emphasizing the importance of continued education and interagency cooperation in adapting to Connecticut’s evolving legal landscape.