WATERBURY - About 130 law enforcement officials gathered in October at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury for the three-day Division of Criminal Justice Evidence Academy.
The intensive training event, held October 27-29, included presentations from prosecutors, public defenders, forensic scientists, and federal agents that explored the evolving landscape of evidence handling, courtroom testimony, and investigative best practices. The academy featured a robust agenda designed to strengthen courtroom readiness and interagency collaboration.
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 Office of the Chief Public Defender, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the FBI.
“The Division would like to extend its appreciation to Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo for securing an outstanding venue for this year’s Evidence Academy and for actively promoting the training to police departments across the region. His efforts helped ensure broad participation and meaningful collaboration,” Deputy Chief State’s Attorney D’Angelo said. “The Division remains committed to providing ongoing training opportunities for law enforcement agencies throughout Connecticut.”
Inspectors Christopher Perrone and David Zaweski, Supervisory Inspector Michael Wuchek and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Stacey Miranda
The Division held a similar but less abbreviated Evidence Academy last year. That nine-week program, a first-of-its-kind for the Division, ran from October through December 2024, and included nearly 70 police officers from throughout Connecticut who gathered weekly in the training room at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Rocky Hill.
"At the Division’s Evidence Academy, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and legal experts offer instruction on a wide range of topics aimed at helping police officers understand how to gather the admissible evidence prosecutors need to build strong cases in criminal court,” said Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin. “We’ve made a commitment over the past few years at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney to provide local and state police with as much training as possible. What we hope to do with this academy is take participants through, effectively, a law school-level evidence class."
The program opened with a full-day session on the Rules of Evidence, led by Chief State’s Attorney Griffin, who provided in-depth instruction on evidentiary standards, admissibility, and practical courtroom application.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo praised the academy’s value, particularly for newer officers. About 100 Waterbury police officials attended last month’s academy, he said.
“The training offered by the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office goes above and beyond basic and recertification requirements,” Chief Spagnolo said. “It focuses on criminal procedure, trial preparation, rules of evidence, and the types of questioning and courtroom conditions officers can expect. It opens their eyes to perspectives from prosecutors, defense attorneys, and special investigators.”
The second day of the academy highlighted the intersection of technology and trial preparation. Emanuel Hatzikostas, FBI Master Digital Forensic Examiner, presented on phone extractions, offering insights into mobile data recovery and its evidentiary value. A panel featuring Andrew O’Shea and Keith Zackowitz from the Division of Public Defender Services provided a defense attorney’s perspective on evidence challenges.
Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin speaks to law enforcement officials gathered at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury for the three-day Division of Criminal Justice Evidence Academy
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Kathryn W. Bare discussed policies surrounding cooperating witnesses, emphasizing ethical considerations and procedural safeguards. Dr.Maura E. DeJoseph, Connecticut’s Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, shared best practices for trial preparation from the OCME’s perspective. Representatives from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Conviction Integrity Unit, including Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Stacey Miranda and Inspector Christopher Perrone, Supervisory Inspector Michael Wuchek and Inspector David Zaweski, offered real-world insights into complex investigations.
Chief Spagnolo emphasized the importance of this training in the current law enforcement climate. “Post-COVID, departments across the country, including Waterbury, have seen a significant exodus of experienced officers. Now, with successful recruitment efforts, we have a younger generation of officers, many with limited courtroom experience,” he said. “Hearing directly from subject matter experts is invaluable. There’s no better way to learn about courtroom expectations than through this kind of training.”
He added that the opportunity to learn directly from Chief State’s Attorney Griffin was especially impactful. “Some of these officers were meeting the Chief for the first time - and getting a class from him. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. Officers found him to be an informative and captivating speaker. They walked away with knowledge that will help them in their investigations and testimony.”
The final day of the academy focused on forensic science and federal task force operations. Deputy Director of Identification Lucinda Lopes Phelan and Deputy Director of Forensic Biology and DNA Cheryl Carreiro of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Scientific Services presented on latent prints, firearms case files, and DNA courtroom testimony.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo and Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin
The academy concluded with a detailed briefing from the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (C.A.S.T.), led by Task Force Officer Michael Beauton and Special Agent David Carney, who demonstrated how cellular data is used to track suspects and corroborate timelines in violent crime and gang investigations.
Chief Spagnolo noted that the exposure to tools like cell phone extractions and forensic science was eye-opening for many officers. “Some didn’t even know these investigative resources existed,” he said. “It was truly an invaluable experience.”
Ultimately, Chief Spagnolo said, the academy helped prepare officers for one of the most intimidating parts of the job - testifying in court.
“It’s a formal process, and the outcome of a case can hinge on how well an officer communicates and presents evidence. This training helps remove the guesswork and builds confidence.”