Lamont supports moving ticketing probe to feds

By Jaden Edison The Connecticut Mirror

Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday backed the chief state’s attorney’s decision to hand over to federal authorities a criminal investigation into state police who allegedly submitted tens of thousands of phony traffic stop tickets to Connecticut’s racial profiling database.

“I think it’s appropriate,” Lamont said. “I think Pat Griffin, the state’s attorney, thought it was important to step back and let them. We’re gonna coordinate in any way we can, be absolutely forthcoming, no stone left unturned.”

The governor’s comments were in response to a recent statement from Griffin, Connecticut’s top prosecutor, who told WTNH News 8 that he has relinquished control of the criminal probe into the potential wrongdoing to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“I think DOJ brings the tools and the resources necessary to conduct this investigation, on the one hand. On the other, I think that the investigation will be thorough,” Griffin said. “I think that it will be independent, and I think when it’s concluded, I’m hopeful that

See Ticketing, A13

This week, the Berlin Police Department shouted-out its newlyformed Cadet program, which gives young people an opportunity to learn about law enforcement. "In the first year of our program, our Cadets have made a name for themselves; winning medals at every challenge they have attended," the Berlin PD stated on social media. "Recently, some of our Cadets attended a week-long, live-in Police Academy. While there, they excelled and, again, won multiple medals. We also held a promotional process and promoted our first group of four supervisors to the rank of Sergeant.

Congratulations to all of our Cadets' hard work ... [we] look forward to seeing them continue to grow in our community."

Ben Bronz Academy: Fostering confidence and an enthusiasm for learning

Press Release

Berlin resident James Hamel was one of five students recognized at the 2023 graduation of Ben Bronz Academy in West Hartford. Hamel thanked Linda Holian, Berlin’s director of special education, for supporting him throughout his BBA career.

Holian was in attendance and awarded Hamel his high school diploma.

Ben Bronz Academy is a state-approved private special education school servicing students in grades 2 through 12 who struggle to learn.

Among the crowd of about 200 supporters at the June 14 graduation ceremony were schoolmates, teachers, parents, family members and board members of the school.

“In elementary school, I had a hard time learning anything due to my learning disabilities,” graduate James Guyer said. “Thanks to Ben Bronz Academy, I was able to overcome the challenges I faced early on,” he said.

Guyer will attend Middlesex Community College.

Graduate Frank Spirito, who is headed to the University of Connecticut, thanked the teachers and staff at Ben Bronz for helping him make gains academically and socially.

See Academy, A13