Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of February 9, 2015
Office
of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky
Hill, Connecticut
The meeting was called to order at 12:43 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.
In attendance were: Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John Russotto; State’s Attorneys David Cohen (Stamford-Norwalk), Michael Dearington (New Haven), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John Smriga (Fairfield) participated by telephone conference call due to the snowstorm.
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Austin, Jr., legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette and Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis.
State’s Attorney Lawlor made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 12, 2015, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Sedensky and passed unanimously.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that guests originally scheduled for the meeting will be rescheduled.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported the Governor’s budget will be delivered to the General Assembly on February 18, 2015. The last rescissions ordered by the Governor included an $80,000 reduction for the Division.
Mr. Blanchette reported that the Division is arranging a meeting with the General Assembly’s Black and Latino Caucus to outline current statutes and procedures governing the investigation of deadly force by peace officers. There was a review and discussion of the existing practices. State’s Attorney Shepack reported that the Operations Committee has been unable to hold its planned meeting on the issue because of winter weather. The Operations Committee will again attempt to schedule the meeting.
Mr. Blanchette reported the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut has expressed intentions to seek legislation concerning ex parte orders. The State’s Attorneys were asked to report specific examples of cases demonstrating the value of the law authorizing the use of ex parte orders.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on issues that have arisen regarding the availability of Dr. H. Wayne Carver to testify in criminal proceedings concerning autopsies he conducted prior to his retirement as Chief Medical Examiner. State’s Attorney Lawlor reported on a concern that arose regarding the availability of a former employee of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Forensic Science Laboratory to testify in criminal proceedings.
State’s Attorney Preleski reported that the Board of Pardons and Paroles voted to grant parole to Gary Castonguay, who was convicted of Murder for killing Plainville Police Officer Robert Holcomb. The State’s Attorneys expressed their concern with the Board’s decision.
There being no further business, State’s Attorney Froehlich made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.