(Rocky Hill, CT) - The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair of the Criminal Justice Commission, today announced that Deputy Chief State's Attorney, Inspector General Robert J. Devlin, Jr. has informed the Commission of his intention to retire at the end of his term on July 1, 2025.
Inspector General Devlin was appointed by the Criminal Justice Commission on September 27, 2021, after the State of Connecticut established the Office of Inspector General that same year.
“Inspector General Devlin’s time as Connecticut’s first Inspector General capped 39 years of distinguished service to our state as a public defender, prosecutor and judge committed to ensuring justice by upholding the rule of law, keeping our communities safe and protecting the rights of all citizens,” Justice McDonald said. “We are grateful for his service and wish him well in retirement.”
The Inspector General is responsible for leading the Office of the Inspector General, conducting investigations of peace officers in accordance with C.G.S. §51-277a, prosecuting any cases in which the Inspector General determines a peace officer used force found to not be justifiable pursuant to C.G.S. §53a-22 or where a police officer or correctional officer fails to intervene in any such incident or to report any such incident, as required under subsection (a) of C.G.S. §7-282e or C.G.S. §18-81nn, as applicable. The Inspector General also will make recommendations to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under C.G.S. §7-294b concerning censure and suspension, renewal, cancelation or revocation of a peace officer’s certification.
“The Criminal Justice Commission is indebted to Inspector General Devlin for establishing high performance standards for the Office of Inspector General during his inaugural term,” Justice McDonald said. “Connecticut is now a leader with respect to transparency in police use-of-force cases thanks to his hard work, dedication and thoughtful approach to an often difficult and challenging job.”
Justice McDonald said the Office of Inspector General, under the leadership of Inspector General Devlin, issued timely reports to the public containing body-worn and dashboard camera footage of police use-of-force incidents and recommended policy changes for improved policing. Justice McDonald said the Commission was especially grateful for the time the Office of Inspector General spent making sure victims and their family members felt included during the difficult process of investigating use-of-force cases.
“The regular meetings with victims and their family members, and ultimately the explanations of how decisions were reached, showed victims and their families that they were truly heard,” Justice McDonald said. “Just as important, Inspector General Devlin treated the subjects of the office’s investigations with respect and in accordance with the high professional standards expected of prosecutorial officials in the Division of Criminal Justice.”
Since his appointment in 2021, Inspector General Devlin and the Inspectors in his office have educated the community about the work of the Office of Inspector General by participating in more than 325 meetings and presentations held at schools, universities, churches and community centers throughout the state.
During his time as Inspector General, the Office completed 30 use-of-force and in-custody death final reports and issued 29 press releases and 11 preliminary status reports. The Office is currently investigating 17 officer-involved shootings and the deaths of seven individuals while in the custody of police or the state Department of Correction. To view those reports and press releases, click this link to the Division of Criminal Justice website. Annual reports are also available on the website or can be accessed directly at the following links: 2023 / 2022
Inspector General Devlin began working for the State of Connecticut in 1979 as a public defender and later served as a state prosecutor from 1980 to 1987. In 1992, Gov. Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. appointed him a Judge of the Superior Court for the state of Connecticut. From 2010 to 2017, he served as Chief Administrative Judge for the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. On May 15, 2019, he became a judge of the Appellate Court following his appointment by Gov. Ned Lamont and confirmation by the Connecticut General Assembly. He served there until his appointment to lead the Office of Inspector General in 2021.
Inspector General Devlin also served as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Strike Force and was recognized by the U.S. Attorney General in 1992 as one of the outstanding federal prosecutors in America for his work as a member of the prosecution team that secured convictions of the hierarchy in New England organized crime groups.
"Inspector General Devlin has been an exemplary public servant for the state of Connecticut and has set a standard of excellence for the Office of Inspector General,” Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin said. “As the Chief State’s Attorney, I am grateful for his service to the Division of Criminal Justice where he embraced the new role of Inspector General admirably by ensuring the public’s safety and promoting the values of justice, transparency and fairness. On behalf of the Division, I would like to extend my gratitude to Inspector General Devlin for his commitment to the Division of Criminal Justice and a heartfelt congratulations on his well-deserved retirement.”
Established under Article XXIII of the Connecticut Constitution, the Criminal Justice Commission is responsible for the appointment of all state prosecutors in Connecticut.
The Commission is currently seeking qualified applicants for the appointment of the state’s next Deputy Chief State’s Attorney, Inspector General. Click this link to the Division of Criminal Justice’s website to apply and for further information.
In addition to Justice McDonald, Senior Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, the commission's membership includes Appellate Court Judge Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Robert M. Berke, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Scott J. Murphy and Moy N. Ogilvie and Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin. By law, Chief State's Attorney Griffin does not participate in the consideration of Deputy Chief State's Attorney applicants.