Department News

10/30/09 – The State Capitol Police Department, in conjunction with Legislative Management’s Wellness, Safety and Health Committee, held a Halloween Safety Program for the Legislative Community.  Officer Timothy Boyle conducted the program; answering questions on safe ‘trick or treating’ and providing a handout with helpful tips for a safe Halloween.  Click here for handout.

9/11/09 – The State Capitol Police Department participated in a ceremony held at the Capitol to honor the lives and memories of those who were lost eight years ago in the tragedy of September 11th, 2001. In their honor, at precisely 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the first World Trade Center tower, the State of Connecticut Liberty Bell replica was rung eight times representative of the eight years since the attack. Click here for pictures.

06/11/09 - The State Capitol Police Department supports the Project Child Safe campaign by offering gun safety kits free of charge to the Legislative Community. The SCPD obtained a number of gun locks safety kits which were supported by a U.S. Department of Justice grant.  The gun lock safety kit includes a brochure that covers a variety of options for firearms storage and a free cable-style gun lock.  Project Child Safe is a nationwide community partnership program to help ensure safe and responsible firearm ownership and storage.

05/03/09 - The State Capitol Police Department is proud to announce that it has been re-accredited by the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council. The department was found to be in compliance with the P.O.S.T. Council’s standards for recognition and has been re-accredited for the next three years. State accreditation is a voluntary process through which law enforcement agencies demonstrate excellence in management and service delivery by complying with state accreditation standards. Click Here for POST Council’s Certificate.

4/23/08 - Chief Michael J. Fallon welcomes new police officer Glen Richards to the ranks of the State Capitol Police Department. Officer Richards has completed his field training and is a valued addition to the department bringing twenty-five years of police experience. He is certain to enhance the service delivered to the Legislative Community by the SCPD.

04/19/09 – The 2009 NCAA National Champion University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball Team was honored with a victory parade through the streets of the City of Hartford that culminated in a rally held on the Capitol grounds. The SCPD provided security for the event. Click Here for Pictures

03/21/09 - It is with great pride that the State Capitol Police Department announces that it has been accredited for the third time by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, CALEA. The department successfully passed an agency evaluation review by a CALEA certified team of independent assessors in December of 2008, and received final approval this March. The SCPD is committed to a professional excellence standard in serving the Legislative Community. Click Here for CALEA Commission Letter.

02/18/09 - The State Capitol Police Department has put into service a new Extendo Bed mobile command post module for the department’s supervisor SUV. The equipment was acquired through a Homeland Security Grant funded by the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS).  The new command post will enhance the department’s ability in responding to critical situations and ultimately help provide a more secure environment for the Legislative Community.  Click here for picture.

11/01/08 -   The State Capitol Police Department is preparing for an on-site accreditation assessment as part of the process for again receiving  National Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). This on-site assessment verifies that the agency complies with the professional law enforcement standards established by CALEA.  Public Notice SCPD National Accreditation On-Site Assessment

10/01/08 - The State Capitol Police Department announces an anonymous tip link located on the SCPD web-site home page. The link allows people to text in a message concerning suspicious activity on the State Capitol Campus. The message does not require any personal information unless the individual chooses to add it or wishes to be contacted. Tipsters are reminded to include as much information as possible in their text message such as physical descriptions and clothing, time of day, type of vehicle etc. Of course, in the event that anyone is attempting to report an incident that is active or serious in nature, it is requested that contact be made to the SCPD immediately by dialing 240-0240. Debra Maselek, Administrative Services Coordinator, from the Office of Legislative Management commented “This site is awesome, and is yet another way the Capitol Police have made us feel safe in our work environment.”

9/11/08 - The State Capitol Police Department participated in a memorial ceremony held at the Capitol to commemorate the heroes and victims of the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11th, 2001.  In their honor, at precisely 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the first World Trade Center tower, the State of Connecticut Liberty Bell replica was rung seven times representing the seven years since the attack. Click here for picture.

9/5/08 - Chief Michael J. Fallon announced the hiring of three new police officers, Reymundo Diaz, Jeffrey Vaccaro, and Keith Zengel. The officers joining the ranks of the State Capitol Police Department each bring with them over twenty years of police experience, as all are already certified by Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council. This latest hiring represents the commitment that the SCPD has to continuing recruitment bringing outstanding qualified officers to the department. The SCPD training Sgt. Dennis O’Connell noted, “The collective experience and training certifications these officers bring to the SCPD have greatly enhanced our ability to deliver outstanding police services to the Legislative Community”.

8/28/08 - The State Capitol Police Department to utilize PowerPhone desk reference manuals in their 24-Hours Dispatch Center.   The manuals are designed to enable dispatchers to react effectively and deliver accurate, scripted information during “high stress” calls for service. Lieutenant Walter Lee, Commander of Operations stated, “A dispatcher’s role is to dispatch resources that can resolve the emergency at the scene but while they are in route, to also try to prevent the situation getting any worse.” The Medical Reference Manual provides the ability to help and guide a caller through the potential life saving steps until responding emergency personnel arrive on scene. Lieutenant Stephen Hajdasz, Commander of Operations Support commented, “This manual enhances the dispatcher ability to relay potential life saving information to the caller on scene during a high stress incident.”

8/1/2008 – The State Capitol Police Department will partner with the City of Hartford’s Department of Emergency Services and Telecommunications to enhance the emergency communication skills of officers. As part of their duties, SCPD officers are routinely assigned to a desk function that involves handling call-for-service intake and dispatching. Through this initiative SCPD officers will partner with Call-Intake Technicians in Hartford’s 911 Center to experience “live time” stress, observe and develop the skills necessary to better handle urgent calls for emergency assistance. “We have our busy moments but it is a different environment at the Capitol…it’s important that the officers get this exposure and stay sharp. You never know what you face on the other end of the line when you answer that phone…you have to be able to react accordingly” stated Chief Michael J. Fallon. Additionally, in that the State Capitol is located in the center of the city, SCPD officers routinely communicate with the 911 Center dispatchers in the course of their duties requesting EMS and fire services. This is a seen as an opportunity to establish relationships and improve interoperability between emergency service providers. 

7/1/2008 - Chief Michael J. Fallon announces a Supervisory Leadership program for the State Capitol Police Department. In partnership with Legislative Management’s Training and Staff Development (TSD) Unit the program will target all of the department’s supervisors with an emphasis on the sergeants and corporals. The program consists of core classes and a host of management focused electives. The supervisors will attend classes instructed by TSD staff such as critical thinking, strategic planning, goal setting, time management, impromptu speaking, and ethics. A certificate will be presented upon completion. Chief Fallon commented, “Proper and effective supervision requires constant and relevant training, skill building, and knowledge expansion. I know firsthand that this is an area where many departments fall short. We promote people and turn them loose on the workforce without the supervisory skills and support they need to succeed…then we wonder what went wrong. This program will benefit my supervisors and further professionalize the department…it is the path to success.”       

 6/4/2008 - The State Capitol Police Department deploys state of the art Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices for immediate medical response to persons in cardiac distress. These new units are more effective and easier to utilize than the aging devices they replaced. All SCPD sworn and security personnel are trained in their utilization.  Lieutenant Stephen Hajdasz who commands the SCPD Training Unit commented, “Research shows that the AEDs save lives, every minute that the heart is not beating when a person has a sudden cardiac arrest lowers the odds of survival by up to 10 percent.”

05/01/08 – The State Capitol Police Department participated in an “Safe Kids Day” event at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center Hartford, Connecticut on Thursday, May 1st. Officer Long talked with children about bike safety.
 Click here for photo.

4/21/2008 - The State Capitol Police Department becomes the first state capitol law enforcement agency to extend the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training model to security technicians in an effort to enhance campus security. As a result of the training security technicians are better able to recognize persons with mental illness and/or those in crisis at points of entry.

4/4/2008 – A joint swearing-in and promotion ceremony was held at the State Capitol in the Legislative Office Building on Friday.  During the largest ceremony of its kind in the department’s history Chief Michael J. Fallon promoted four senior members of the department to lieutenant, sergeant and corporal and swore in a lieutenant and two new officers. Chief Fallon commented, “This is a great day for the department. These supervisors and officers are truly Connecticut’s Finest…I am confident that they will serve the General Assembly and citizens of the state with pride and distinction.”  Promoted were Lieutenant Walter Lee, Sergeant Dennis O’Connell, Sergeant Robert Bates and Corporal Armando Segovia. Sworn-in were P.O.S.T.C. certified officers: Lieutenant Stephen Hajdasz, Officer Curtis Sinatro and Officer Erica O’Connor.  Please click for picture.

3/15/2008 – The State Capitol Police Department marches in the 37^th Annual Greater Hartford St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hartford in front of record crowds.
Please click for picture.

3/2/2008 – The State Capitol Police Department, the Connecticut Supreme Court Police Department and the City of Hartford’s Department of Emergency Services and Telecommunications (DEST) have formed a strategic partnership to establish joint utilization radio communication channels for use during emergencies. “It just makes sense that we [the departments] work together so we can communicate better during times of emergency” said Director Gary Stango of Hartford’s DEST.

3/1/2008 – The State Capitol Police Department establishes a dedicated Training Unit to enhance the professional training and development of sworn personnel and civilian security staff. Also, to better enable the department to maintain compliance with accreditation and regulatory demands.  Chief Fallon commented, “This is another step in the professional development of this department and its staff. This unit will enable us to better train and equip our personnel in our effort to maintain a heightened level of preparedness and deliver better quality customer service.”  A sergeant will be assigned to supervise the unit.

2/29/2008 – A new lieutenant is appointed to the State Capitol Police Department.  Stephen Hajdasz, a twenty year veteran and former Captain with the Hartford Police Department joined the ranks of the SCPD and as part of a reorganization plan launched in January 2008  will head the newly created Operations Support Division.  Chief Michael J. Fallon commented, “Lieutenant Hajdasz is tops in his field and we are fortunate to have him on the team. He brings a wealth of proven police experience in both operations and support; as well as knowledge of the City and its communities, to the department.” Lieutenant Hajdasz will oversee training, accreditation, technology, fiscal accountability and recruitment for the department.    

2/21/2008 – The State Capitol Police Department redefines and identifies its core values. They are Integrity, Duty, Tolerance, and Respect. Lieutenant Walter Lee who heads the Operations Division commented, “These values represent who we are and what we represent each day.”  Chief Michael J. Fallon expressed his satisfaction and pride with the redefined values in that they were the result of input at all levels of the department.