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.