You had to be a (expletive) American.. He was acting like a loose cannon, Jette said. The video begins with Spina approaching the drivers passenger-side window. Eckersley oversees the departments field operations. The department did not identify Spina by name in an initial release, but confirmed his identity in a follow-up email. Jette can be heard telling the trooper that he has a license for medicinal marijuana. A GoFundMe account set up by someone claiming to be a close friend of Spinas family has raised $1,435 in the last three days. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. For our troopers, they are dealing with the impact on their personal lives along with workplace stressors of being on the frontline. This article is absolutely an opinion piece and should be taken as such. Ships from and sold by COINS, PINS, PATCHES & MORE. Grow up. While media continues to portray our nations heroes as callus and racist monsters, we endeavor to shed light on Americas Front Line in an unbiased manner. Thus Spina seems close to qualifying for an annual pension of about $100,000. Like it or not, Mitch called this one right. Ned Lamont, according to a letter from the state police unions leadership. The site claims to make medals for customers including the FBI, the ATF, the U.S. Tags: None Likes 1 Lawdog138 Old Guard 1000 Until then we shall remain their captives. A recent one reportedly made by a former Louisville officer shows nightclub-wielding cops in front of the flaming skyline of the city where protesters took to the streets after Breonna Taylor was shot to death in a botched police raid. As artists, creating collectibles, we leave the judgment to the public but hope our creations will bridge divided, conquer hatred and unite everybody, the company said in a message. Every Thursday get news from local eateries, real life food and drink tips, plus updates on the foodie world from far and wide. Ned Lamont addresses the media in Westport, Conn. It is not clear what role, if any, Eckersley had in disciplining Spina. We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal. Sen. Mitch McConnell got it right. He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. Every Sunday, receive the most in-depth, interesting, and important stories of the week, picked by editors and readers. An email seeking comment was sent to Spina on Tuesday. Chump Change: Presidents since Bill Clinton have dispensed challenge coins. becomes available., Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Spina says he was running the license plate and asks the driver why he was speeding. It shall cease and desist only when: 1) our elected officials have the courage to change current statutory language on our retirement system, 2) we elect a governor with the political will to change the culture of bureaucracy, and 3) the public is educated on how our unions have hijacked the state Capitol. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Andrew Matthews, executive director of the Connecticut State Police Union, said the union does not comment on pending internal affairs investigations. A letter obtained by the newspaper provided Spinas treatment as an example of grievances against the departments current leadership. You had to be an (epithet) American, said Spina. Come on, people. Stew Leonard Sr. remembered at service: 'Most positive energy', Haar: Lamont deflects demands to spend CT surplus on education, Why a New York business wants to move its headquarters to CT, The CT legislature has 500 bills. You couldnt leave it alone, could you? So how will the state police department handle the Spina case? The driver said Spina was right, and Spina responds: I know Im right. He then moves the driver and yells: Sit the [expletive] down. This statement is engraved near the image of the trooper. The motion would, however, signal a worrying rift between the agencys higher-ups and the men and women they lead at a time of increased scrutiny of police in general. Mind your own business and be on your way. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. The most important daily headlines from News, Sports, Business, Living, and Opinion. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. He didn't ticket me because he had no reason to ticket me.. It features a golden relief image of the man whos called himself the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government cradling an assault weapon, looking ready to stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot someone. "You're fucked,". 2 inch challenge coin. Hundreds of Connecticut state troopers voted that they have no confidence in the leadership of Gov. Ben Lambert was formerly a reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group, covering police and public safety in the New Haven area. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Colonel Stavros Mellekas said in a statement that Connecticut State Police were made aware of a video posted on social media involving TFC Matthew Spina. The man allegedly showed. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. (CBP said this coin was not officially approved.) Another coin for border patrol agents is embossed with a grinning skeleton pointing two smoking pistols; another shows Trump in a CBP uniform with the legend protect the border or close the border.. As the driver attempts to say that he has a prescription, Spina orders him out of the vehicle. But if Spina does not complete 20 years of service as he plans to do next year, he will not qualify for a state pension until he turns 65. Those who challenge government actions for the right reasons could be forever barred from political office unjustly by this law. Shamar Walters is a reporter for NBC News' Social Newsgathering team based in New York City. Dont you ever (expletive) with me again. The encounter ends with Spina walking back to his vehicle without citing the driver, and the driver asking him to be safe. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism? If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Coins have been struck to honor an officer who shot and killed four people and commemorate the harassment of a rat who blew the whistle on internal corruption. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. a tirade famously captured on cellphone video. The most important daily headlines from News, Sports, Business, Living, and Opinion. Youre fucked, Spina yelled in a video captured by the driver. A Connecticut state trooper has been put on leave after he was captured on camera profanely berating a motorist during a traffic stop. The letter singles out Lt. Col. John Eckersley, who heads the state polices office of field operations, accusing him of demeaning his subordinates and failing to publicly defend the rank-and-file troopers he oversees. Matthew Spina. We'd love to hear eyewitness Was Trooper Spina a bit over the top? Corporations gave them out to employees. We have also recently launched a resiliency program to help all our employees dealing with this pandemic, Mellekas said. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, The Yankee Institute for Public Policy says more than 1,600 retired state employees already enjoy pensions that large. State police said they would release more information as it becomes available. In a message sent to members on July 14, the organization, which represents around 1,040 troopers and sergeants, said it plans to mail out confidential ballots in the coming days so that rank-and-file personnel can register their displeasure with the agencys decision to place Trooper Matthew Spina on administrative leave pending the results of an internal affairs investigation into his conduct. The bigger issue here is whether, now that state government's finances have been devastated by the virus epidemic as well as by pension obligations, and many state residents have been ruined financially, Connecticut can afford a pension system that allows its beneficiaries to use it not just for secure retirement but for a life of luxury. Low 46F. This newspaper knew this ages ago but no one in Hartford listens. We're a nonprofit (so it's tax-deductible), and reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget. Error! Unfortunately the State of Connecticut, responding to political pressure, suspended Trooper Spina indefinitely. Kevin A. Jette, age 31, passed the officer, who was pursuing another. And as cops began equipping themselves and acting more like soldiers, they started minting their own. His first role was as a combat engineer and later as Special Forces Engineer Sergeant. Invalid password or account does not exist. Hows that sound? Spina was suspended, yet in a challenge coin made for his fellow law enforcement officers, he was immortalized as Every LEOs hero. (A spokesperson for the Connecticut State Police said, The coin does not represent our values.) Other coins have commemorated blue flu walkouts and the riot squads (hats and bats) that responded to Baltimores Freddie Gray protests in 2015 and the George Floyd protests in 2020. States have to go bankrupt in order to legally get rid of the Golden Pension Club. Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. The vote produced similar results of no confidence in Commissioner James C. Rovella of the Department of Emergency Services, the state agency that oversees the force, and Lt. Col. John Eckersley. Trooper Matthew Spina, a 19-year veteran of the state police, was seen in video captured by the driver screaming profanities and commands as he orders the man out of the vehicle on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven in May. All rights reserved, Southington Drive-In Announces Summer Movie Schedule, Police Identify Man Found Dead on Side of the Road in Watertown, 7 Bodies Found During Search for Missing Oklahoma Teens, Here's Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 Kentucky Derby, NBC & Telemundo Connecticut Job Opportunities. Police say that no law enforcement action was taken against Jette during the stop. Spina continues to yell at the driver and then appears to start searching the car, according to the video. Own your actions and stop complaining. This officer yelled and gave a tongue lashing to an individual who broke multiple laws. Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism? In July, the Hartford Courant reported the unions plan to hold a vote of no confidence. We won't share it with anyone else. A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Gwyneth Paltrow won't recoup attorney fees in ski crash suit, 'Zombie' misinformation: 'Rape Day' hoax resurfaces on TikTok, 'Very homophobic': Teachers' union leader Randi Weingarten says House hearing crossed the line, Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Essex County Exec. 4. Jette said that Spina had no grounds to pull him over and wants to make sure the officer is held accountable. A caption read: For those who like hunting there is no hunting like the hunting of man. One version included an image of a Black man being cornered by armed officers with the inscription LET THE GAMES BEGIN. Several NYPD Gang Squad coins feature the logo of the comic book vigilante the Punisher, whose co-creator has called out its use as a symbol co-opted by forces of oppression and to intimidate black Americans. Asked about one of the Punisher coins, an NYPD spokesperson told the New York Daily News that the idea that it encourages officers to be anything but professional and duty-bound is ridiculous., 3. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Family desperate but holding out hope for Storrs woman missing in Japan, South Windsor PZC continues to mull warehouse zone changes, Tolland mother, daughter continue fight to end epilepsy, Feds: Hospitals that denied emergency abortion broke the law, East Windsor hearing set on grant program money, Trump rape accuser: 'Not surprising' I didn't call police. We won't share it with anyone else. No Quarter: With 36,000 cops, New York City is rolling in challenge coins. Numismatists collected them. The company, reached through Facebook, said they had designed the coin. During a traffic stop in May 2020, Connecticut State Trooper Matthew Spina screamed obscenities and placed his hand on his gun while ordering a motorist to get out of the car. For our troopers, they are dealing with the impact on their personal Keep it Clean. This is when the driver said Spina threatened to throw him off the bridge if he ever saw him again. A state police news release said that Raury P. Duffy, 34, of Nathans Lane, was driving with a suspended or revoked license when Trooper Matthew Spina stopped him on an entrance to Interstate 95 . Be Nice. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June. All Rights Reserved. Don't knowingly lie about anyone statement goes on to say. In a release, Col. Stavros Mellekas described Spinas behavior as disturbing and not indicative of the great work of the women and men of the Connecticut State Police and their dedication to protecting and serving during this pandemic.. Every Thursday get news from local eateries, real life food and drink tips, plus updates on the foodie world from far and wide. So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. NEW HAVEN Connecticut State Police are investigating after a trooper was filmed berating a motorist during a profanity-laced traffic stop on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, with the trooper barred from interacting with the public, according to the agency. God help you if theres anything illegal in this car.. Who the f--- do you think you are worrying about what Im doing? Spina can be heard saying. Trooper Matthew Spina, a 19-year veteran of the state police, was seen in video captured by the driver screaming profanities and commands as he orders the man out of the vehicle on the Pearl. in at least the last five years Spina has been working so much that his overtime earnings have nearly equaled or exceeded his base annual salary of almost $100,000. I cant [expletive] wait to be done., The tirade ends with Spina yelling: Mind your business and be on your way. While not an excuse, we are Marshals Service, and the U.S. Border Patrol, among other groups, though the coins are never sold as official or authorized.. Warning, the video on YouTube, as seen here, will be disturbing to some readers. Also you want the pension apply, do the time and you will get it. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. that is degrading to another person. We have no indication Trooper Spina created the coin.. State Trooper Matthew Spina pulls over a motorist near New Haven, Connecticut, on May 18, 2020. Imagine over a thousand retirees getting over $100,000 plus benefits for retiring. Dont you ever f--- with me again, Spina can be heard saying as he leaves. How the (expletive) am I going to catch a speeder if Im not speeding? he asks rhetorically. Choose wisely! Low 46F. Once I realized it was a police officer, I pulled my hand back in. Unfortunately, the coin could certainly erode public trust in police, it is emblematic of the challenges facing police leaders as they try to create change. We hold our Troopers to high standards and the behavior displayed in the video is not reflective of the values of Commissioner (James) Rovella or my administration, Mellekas said in a statement. No more golden pensions. lives along with workplace stressors of being on the frontline, Mellekas said. 1st Responder Nation, a company dedicated to these types of coins, often used as tokens of appreciation, advertises the coin with Spinas name for $13.99. We accounts, the history behind an article. The man allegedly showed unhappiness with Spinas driving before the stop, saying Spina was following another car too closely. There was an error processing your request. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. PLEASE SHARE, THANK YOU. Chance of rain 80%.. Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at nrondinone@courant.com. The driver says he was only going 60, and Spina explains the speed limit is 40. DL1-16 new Version 2 Dispensary Container CSP Challenge Coin inspired by Connecticut State Police CT Trooper Matthew Spina. View the profiles of people named Matthew Spina. DL1-16 New Version 2 Dispensary Container CSP Challenge Coin Inspired by Connecticut State Police CT Trooper Matthew Spina $24.99 In Stock. Yes, but that kid walked away without even getting a ticket. pandemic. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Don't Threaten. Chance of rain 80%. The coin does not represent the values and philosophies of Commissioner Rovella and Colonel Mellekas, Foley said. The state police union also sued the state over the police accountability law signed by the governor in the wake of protests over the killing of George Floyd. It's us but for your ears. How the (expletive) am I going to catch a speeder if Im not speeding, Spina says. See our GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. The pension system is often used not just for a secure retirement but also for accumulation of great wealth during a second career, long before a beneficiary stops working. But unofficial coins often celebrate cops behaving badly. A seasoned Connecticut Trooper, Matthew Spina, 19 years of service, deals with a driver with 7 prior arrests, some felonies, including violence and harassment. or anything. The creation and profits do not benefit the Connecticut State Police.. The driver is off-camera for most of the video but can be heard answering Spinas questions and obeying his commands. Why might Spina drive himself crazy with overwork? Create a password that only you will remember. The only investors who wont let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its futureyou. Inexpensive, too! Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. The state police commander, Col. Stavros Mellekas, announced Tuesday that the trooper has been placed on paid administrative duty, with no contact with the public, pending an internal affairs investigation. racist or sexually-oriented language. The following day, Jette released another video giving his account. Unfortunately, the recent treatment and actions taken against TFC Matt Spina is the ultimate example of a serious failure of our leadership and is evidence the statement of We have your back is artificial and insincere, the message reads. Spina then says, You think Im kidding? The suit claims the laws mandates for the release of public records runs counter to the most recent state police collective bargaining agreement, which allows troopers to prevent their personnel records from being released to the public. Spina declined to comment Wednesday. In the video Spina expresses contempt for the public he polices, and he rejoices that he has only 14 months to go until retirement. Andrew Matthews, executive director of the Connecticut State Police Union, said the union does not comment on pending internal affairs investigations.
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