When political appointees fail to make the safety of our members and the public their top priority, failed to preserve the history of the State Police, or make decisions based on preserving their own position, then we cannot in good conscience support them, union president John Castiline wrote in a letter Tuesday. After berating the driver for questioning his actions before the traffic stop, Spina says, Unbelievable. Low 46F. becomes available., Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. employees dealing with this pandemic. The stop lasts for roughly five minutes. It recorded the following interaction: Spina approaches the passenger door window, and the driver asks Spina why he was tailgating another driver and speeding. ACT trooper was barred from public interaction after this alleged profanity-filled traffic stop. Matthew Spina Profiles | Facebook Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. The following list is based on analytics calculated for JournalInquirer.com, specifically the number of times each story was viewed. Andrew Matthews, executive director of the Connecticut State Police Union, said the union does not comment on pending internal affairs investigations. A law enforcement source said the coin has been circulating among state troopers and other police officers. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Chance of rain 80%. Until then we shall remain their captives. Sep 16, 2021 Updated Jan 27, 2022. 01-03-2022, 08:35 PM CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE TROOPER LOSES IT! It is also evidence that political appointees talk out of both sides of their mouths and when a crucial point is reached, they choose their own political survival, rather than standing up for what is right for our troopers.. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Twitter He never asked me for my license, my registration, my proof of insurance or to even see my medical marijuana card. 2. Copyright 2023 Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. There was an error processing your request. Rovella received 681 votes of no confidence from troopers, Eckersley received 682. 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. Social media users roundly condemned Spinas behavior, and the state polices commanding officer, Col. Stavros Mellekas, labeled the episode disturbing in a statement announcing the start of the internal affairs probe. Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies and light rain after midnight. The video quickly went viral, in part due to coverage from the New York Post and the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom. Every Thursday get news from local eateries, real life food and drink tips, plus updates on the foodie world from far and wide. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. The trooper was removed from working with the public and placed under investigation after a video of him berating a motorist in an expletive-laced rant on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven was posted on YouTube. The company, reached through Facebook, said they had designed the coin. You had to be an (epithet) American, said Spina. In the video, posted on YouTube Monday, the trooper is seen cursing at a man who was allegedly speeding on the span also know as the Q bridge in New Haven. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Commanding officers voiced their disappointment over the incident and Spina, who has served with the state police for 19 years and is nearing retirement, was suspended from the force. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Send help right to the people and causes you care about. 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. 'Sit the down.' Commemorative coin capturing trooper's profanity | Buffalo News. Spina goes on to find marijuana in the car the motorist says he has a medical license and continues to speak heatedly to the motorist throughout the stop, justifying his driving as an attempt to catch another motorist. 'Sit the down.' 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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A Connecticut state trooper has been reassigned temporarily after a video appeared online showing him berating a driver in an expletive-fueled outburst that derided the. The following day, Jette released another video giving his account. How the (expletive) am I going to catch a speeder if Im not speeding? he asks rhetorically. For our troopers, they are dealing with the impact on their personal 'Who the f*** do you think you are!' Connecticut state trooper berates 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. There are lots of excuses. A seasoned Connecticut Trooper, Matthew Spina, 19 years of service, deals with a driver wi Walt Snyder needs your support for Support Trooper Matthew Spina But some Connecticut residents have defended the trooper, arguing that Spinas lengthy career in law enforcement should not be judged based on a six-minute-long video. Breaking news alerts - delivered to your inbox - the minute we put it online. Create a password that only you will remember. Unfortunately for our command, our troopers ignore such propaganda campaigns and know, without needing to openly express it in the presence of command for fear of retaliation, that the union has a long history of protecting and defending our troopers, even when it was not a popular position or politically correct, and without concern for the empty threatened consequences., The statement ends on a note of solidarity: Dont worry Trooper Spina the union has your back!. The trooper lashes out at the driver for much of the video. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. It just never (expletive) end in this (expletive) job. investigation after being made aware of a troopers disturbing behavior in a State police said they would release more information as it becomes available. 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. Jette said that Spina had no grounds to pull him over and wants to make sure the officer is held accountable. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Kevin A. Jette, age 31, passed the officer, who was pursuing another. 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. It appears that being a state government employee is a great gig. The Connecticut State Police Union did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Youre [expletive] speeding, which also was engraved on the back of the coin. Look at the over-generous pay given to the various college employees. Matthew Spina L salary was 122% higher than the average and 119% higher than median State Police Trooper salary in 2016. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A Connecticut state trooper has been reassigned temporarily after a video appeared online showing him berating a driver in an expletive-fueled outburst that derided the general public and expressed how he cant wait to retire. 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. His views are not necessarily the newspaper's. We have also recently launched a resiliency program to help all our During a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in New Haven on Monday, Trooper Matthew Spina went on a foul-mouthed tirade, which was captured on cellphone video, during which the driver claims the cop. Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. 2020 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.), Visit The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) at www.courant.com. While not an excuse, we are sensitive to this and also referred the trooper to our employee assistance program. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters. And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. 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. Be Nice. Share with Us. Trooper Matthew Spina pulled over the driver Monday after he allegedly saw him speeding on Interstate 95 near New Haven. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Theres no way to take on the legacy of mass incarceration other than to undo it, one step at a time. Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox. We will release more information as it The first military challenge coins, one story goes, were handed out in 1969 by a US Army colonel to build camaraderie in his Special Forces unit. Was Trooper Spina a bit over the top? In the description of the video on YouTube, the man alleges that Spina threatened to throw him off the bridge if he were to come across him again. The trooper has been transferred to desk duty while his misconduct is under investigation. In that case he probably would have to keep working another 15 or 20 years in a different job. 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. Coppers Pennies: Official challenge coins tend to be shiny and inoffensive. Trooper Matthew Spina from Connecticut State Police appears to have a mental breakdown 14 months from retirement. While An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Spina quickly asks: Why were you speeding?. 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. You couldnt leave it alone, could you? #MathewSpina #StateTrooper #FilmPolice #Con. Eckersley oversees the departments field operations. Spina continues to yell at the driver and then appears to start searching the car, according to the video. It's a long term and openly-known scam, and hurtful to all ordinary citizens who have to pay for this corrupt bargain. He also complains that the state police are understaffed. 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. Shamar Walters is a reporter for NBC News' Social Newsgathering team based in New York City. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Time for employee-employer contributions as in 401Ks. A Connecticut state trooper has been placed on administrative leave after a video was released depicting the officer yelling at a man who was pulled over for allegedly speeding, state police. Numismatists collected them. Choose wisely! The union leadership no longer has confidence in the ability of leaders like LTC Eckersley to lead our membership and we no longer support them, their illogical policies, or their offensive behavior toward our membership, the organization wrote. Not surprisingly, Trump broke the mold with a blinged-out medallion featuring an image of Mar-a-Lago as well as a collectible with portraits of him and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un (yours for $100 at the White House Gift Shop). Joseph DiVincenzo at Turtle Back Zoo, Flying Above Tornado-Damaged Virginia Beach, UK's diverse communities ambivalent about king's coronation. Last week, the Hartford Courant reported that a challenge coin featuring Spinas likeness and select quotes from the video including Youre (expletive), how does that sound? and Its called shut the (expletive) up, has been circulating among state police personnel. Mellekas also said that many troopers are under extreme stress because of the COVID-19 pandemic and that Spina, who has been with the state police since 2001, has been referred to the agencys employee assistance program. A seasoned Connecticut Trooper, Matthew Spina, 19 years of service, deals with a driver with 7 prior arrests, some felonies, including violence and harassment. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Share with Us. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation. Use the 'Report' link on PLEASE SHARE, THANK YOU. This is even better than it looks. CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE TROOPER LOSES IT! Dont you ever [expletive] with me again.. The creation and profits do not benefit the Connecticut State Police.. Spina says he was running the license plate and asks the driver why he was speeding. At the scene of a domestic squabble, a state trooper wrestled a drunken defendant into his squad car. State paying $12M to settle first case stemming from trooper's distracted driving crash. Low 46F. In July, the Hartford Courant reported the unions plan to hold a vote of no confidence. Andrew Matthews, executive director of the Connecticut State Police Union, said the union does not comment on pending internal affairs investigations. Theres an (expletive) clue to the (expletive) public, what a bunch of (expletives) you are.. 1 of 2. Walt Snyder is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Matthew Spina. A Connecticut state trooper has been put on leave after he was captured on camera profanely berating a motorist during a traffic stop. Heads and Tales: Its not just cops who have embraced challenge coins. Five people were seriously injured, including two . Chump Change: Presidents since Bill Clinton have dispensed challenge coins. But no you just couldnt leave it alone, could you? Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism? Error! Spina then says, You think Im kidding? hold our Troopers to high standards and the behavior displayed in the video is Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at nrondinone@courant.com. Police: Man bit state trooper - Connecticut Post The man allegedly showed. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Challenge coins are often awarded within the military, police departments, fire departments, and fraternal organizations to recognize outstanding service, but Connecticut State Police officials have said the challenge coin commemorating Spina was produced by an outside company and does not represent the values or philosophy of their agency. I cant [expletive] wait to be done., The tirade ends with Spina yelling: Mind your business and be on your way. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. (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.. An email seeking comment was sent to Spina on Tuesday. Add to cart Version 2. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. No wonder state Trooper Matthew Spina hates his job, just as he told the motorist he abused with five minutes of crazed rage during a traffic stop in New Haven two weeks ago, a tirade famously. State Trooper Matthew Spina pulls over a motorist near New Haven, Connecticut, on May 18, 2020. Spina tells the motorist that police officers are permitted by law to disregard traffic laws during the performance of their duties. 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 president is also the subject of many unofficial coins, including one for the NYPD counterterrorism unit that protects Trump Tower. We won't share it with anyone else. By Matthew Spina , Charlie Specht. https://www.wfsb.com/news/youtube-record. We noticed you have an ad blocker on. Spina was placed on an administrative assignment which does not allow him to interact with the public, state police said. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. 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. Corporations gave them out to employees. We are troopers and we will fight back when treated with disrespect, he added. Theres a (expletive) clue to the public, what a bunch of (expletive) you are, Spina yells. One side was embossed with a Jamaican flag and the phrase Fort Jaha racist nickname for the neighborhood, which has a large West Indian community. The Collectible Coins That Celebrate the Dark Side of American Policing Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies and light rain after midnight. While not an excuse, we are Spina then says state police are understaffed. Embattled Tolland strip club reopens after filing appeal The vote comes after the union, which represents. Be Truthful. The trooper becomes irate after Jette questions him about the stop. This newspaper knew this ages ago but no one in Hartford listens. Why might Spina drive himself crazy with overwork? Inexpensive, too! Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies and light rain after midnight. lives along with workplace stressors of being on the frontline, Mellekas said. He then goes to the front of the car where the driver is handcuffed. The media has really gone off the deep end. If subversive groups can raise $100,000 to post bail for a protester destroying public and private property, surely we can show our appreciation to Trooper Spina's years of service on there frontline dealing with people such as this. This officer yelled and gave a tongue lashing to an individual who broke multiple laws. This is a carousel. He wrote he was pulled over by Spina on Monday on the Interstate 95 Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven, after flipping off Spina for driving erratically, not knowing Spina was a state trooper. You have permission to edit this article. dedication to protecting and serving during this pandemic, Mellekas said in the statement. The only investors who wont let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its futureyou. 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. While not an excuse, we are sensitive to this and also referred the trooper to our employee assistance program..
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