Skip to Content Skip to Chat
Report an accessibility issue.
Connecticut’s Official State Website Logo State of Connecticut
×
 
Close Search
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Haitian Creole
  • Hindi
  • Italian
  • Korean
  • Pashto
  • Polish
  • Portuguese (Brazil)
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Filipino
  • Ukrainian
  • Vietnamese
Division of Criminal Justice
DCJ Logo
Division of Criminal Justice
Division of Criminal Justice
☰ Division of Criminal Justice Main Menu
× Close
⮐ Back
⮐ Back
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Office of the Chief State's Attorney
    • State's Attorneys
    • Office of Inspector General
    • Criminal Justice Commission
  • Programs & Services
    • Specialized Units
    • Traffic Stop Complaints
    • Juvenile Court Prosecutors
    • Sexual Assault Evidence Collection
    • Criminal Records
  • Employment
  • News & Announcements
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Directory by Department
    • Featured Sites & Resources

You are about to Logout

Are you sure you want to log out of your account? If you do want to logout, please click "Logout".
Logout
Press Release Homepage
Division of Criminal Justice logo

Division of Criminal Justice Association Honors Division of Criminal Justice Prosecutors and Staff with Annual Awards

6/09/2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Southington, CT) – The Connecticut Criminal Justice Educational and Charitable Association held its Nineteenth Annual John M. Bailey Memorial Scholarship & Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at the Aqua Turf in Southington, Connecticut.

The 2023 Oliver Ellsworth Prosecutor of the Year Award was presented to State’s Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky of the Judicial District of Tolland. While State’s Attorney Gedansky has had a long and distinguished career with the Division since 1991, he was honored with the award for his exemplary work in the matter of State v. Richard Dabate, the successful prosecution of an Ellington man charged with the murder of his wife, Connie Dabate. The investigation and prosecution of the murder, referenced in the press as the “Fitbit murder,” was highlighted in an NBC Dateline episode earlier this year.

The 2023 Kevin T. Kane Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Tracey Kelly, Program Coordinator for the Witness Protection Unit of the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. Program Coordinator Kelly began her career at the Division of Criminal Justice working as a paralegal in the Appellate Bureau and later transferred to the former Gang and Continuing Criminal Activities Bureau where she helped work to create The Leroy “B.J.” Brown and Karen Clarke Witness Protection Program from the ground up. She continues to work tirelessly for the program and for the witnesses the program protects.

Clarke and her 8-year-old son, LeRoy, were found shot to death in their Bridgeport home on Jan. 7, 1999, just days before they were scheduled to testify in the trial of a major city drug dealer. Since its inception, The Leroy “B.J.” Brown and Karen Clarke Witness Protection Program has opened more than 1,000 cases and relocated over 3,000 witnesses and their family members.

The 2023 Employee of the Year Award was presented to Inspector Douglas Jowett of the Cold Case Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney for his meticulous work as lead inspector on three cold case trials, State v. Michael Sharpe, State v. Brandon Jones, and State v. James Brown.

A 2023 Special Recognition Award was presented to Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney David M. Kutzner of the newly established Special Litigation and Legislative Affairs Unit for his tireless efforts in the creation of the Connecticut Prosecution Standards, a guide that embodies the professionalism of prosecution in Connecticut. The guide, a compilation of best practices across the nation but tailored specifically to Connecticut, was unveiled at the Division’s June 8, 2023 training conference and distributed to prosecutors.

The Connecticut Criminal Justice Educational and Charitable Association, which was created by members of the Division of Criminal Justice, provides scholarships to the sons/daughters of those who have served in law enforcement or who intend to pursue a career in law enforcement or juvenile justice. At the June 8, 2023 dinner, scholarships were awarded in the name of former Chief State’s Attorney John M. Bailey, in the name of retired Juvenile Prosecutor Francis J. Carino, and in the name of Inspector Racheal Cain and her husband, Christopher.

For more information about the awards and scholarships, visit the Connecticut Criminal Justice Educational and Charitable Association’s website: ccjeca.org.

CT Division of Criminal Justice

300 Corporate Place
Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Phone: (860) 258-5800
FAX: (860) 258-5858
EMAIL: conndcj@ct.gov
Home
About Us
Contact Us
Programs & Services
ct.gov logo with flag embelishment
  • About CT
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Directories
  • Social Media
  • For State Employees
US Flag Status icon
United States
Mast: (Full)
CT Flag Status icon
Connecticut
Mast: (Full)

© 2025 CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website