Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at nrondinone@courant.com. As the nation reeled from the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minn., The News continued to highlight the often . This salary His agency had warned against it many times. I love how EVERY comment is edited by staff. 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 captured on cellphone video, posted on the internet, and viewed internationally. The airbag saved him from more serious harm. Dont you ever [expletive] with me again.. The value of our artwork is inits uniqueness, creativity, and thought provoking nature. SOME HAND PAINTED, SOME SEWN, BUT ALL FROM THE CREATIVELY TRANSFORMATIVE MIND OF AN ARTISAN. The fear of art ends now. Coastie's are America's life line at Sea. In July, the Hartford Courant reported the unions plan to hold a vote of no confidence. Some poke fun, some express frustration; but like all art, the interpretation, feelings, or emotions evoked by the medium are all in the eye of the beholder.We are not affiliated with any Government Agency. Shop our Thin Red Line Collection and represent your Fire Departent with Pride with the largest collection of Fire Department Collectible Coins and Pins available today. 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. Our creations are not approved, endorsed, sponsored, nor authorized by, or associated with any agency, department of government entity. 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. It appears Spina is ready to return to his police vehicle when he asks the driver for his marijuana. A-009 Thin Green Line Jason Voorhees Goalie Mask Friday the 13th Sheriff Border Patrol CBP. The video, which has been viewed more than 300,000 times, shows the tense exchange that ensued. Invalid password or account does not exist. While slowed by the impact, Barkers Charger continued for another 76 feet. Our preferred mediums are metal and enamel. accounts, the history behind an article. Still, the state trooper was busy on his cellphone one summer day as he sped toward traffic backed up on a straight and flat section of the Thruway. You have permission to edit this article. An internal affairs investigation is underway. These remarks invite a review of his payroll records at state Comptroller Kevin Lembo's wonderful OpenCT internet site. Sen. Mitch McConnell got it right. God Bless America & the Laws that prevent Art & Free Speech Censorship. The overall message we intend to convey, while educating the public, is to embrace art and to support law enforcement. Our creations are not approved, endorsed, sponsored, nor authorized by, or associated with any agency, department of government entity. Time for employee-employer contributions as in 401Ks. 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. Freedom is forged in acceptance, empathy, understanding and the beauty of diversified ideas and people. The trooper has been transferred to desk duty while his misconduct is under investigation. Error! So how will the state police department handle the Spina case? Police say that no law enforcement action was taken against Jette during the stop. That phrase could not be confirmed by listening to the video. Spina let the motorist go without issuing a ticket. racist or sexually-oriented language. Trooper Barker never faced a charge as serious as assault, and his criminal caseended quickly. Until then we shall remain their captives. 0. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. 6. We have no indication Trooper Spina created the coin.. Distracted driving hit close to home for the State Police. compliance. 1.5 inch cloisonn pin with dual pin posts. Warning, the video on YouTube, as seen here, will be disturbing to some readers. He was charged on Dec. 30, 2019. There was an error processing your request. Spina was initially taken off the road shortly after the video of the traffic stop was posted, but records of a grievance filed with the state police show that he was later suspended. It's our right to free expression and it's important!Editorial cartoons -- also known as political cartoons -- are works of art that have been around as long as there's been political discourse and dissent. By Matthew Spina | Buffalo News A medical examiner partly faults medical personnel at the Erie County Holding Center for the death of an inmate, saying they did not properly respond to his withdrawal from addictive drugs, primarily alcohol. Those elements represent just a small peripheral portion of the coins we design. Barker's police car wasgoing 73 mph when the collision occurred. The trooper, Matthew Spina, pulled over the driver, Kevin A. Jette, on Monday after Jette allegedly sped past him on Interstate 95 near New Haven as Spina was pursuing another car for speeding. A Court of Claims judge has ruled that Barkers negligence caused the crash and State Police are liable for damages suffered by the minivans occupants. 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Chris Powell is a columnist for the Journal Inquirer. THEY REPRESENT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS BY A VETERAN FIRST RESPONDER ARTIST. Just then, a 23-year-old driver, texting on three separate threads, struck Gallagher. In the immediate aftermath of the crash, the State Police said its trooperwas responding to a call when the minivan, and the lives of the men inside, were sent spinning. Ive got 14 months I cant (expletive) wait to be done, Spina said. The sum will compensate a passenger left paralyzed from the waist down when Trooper Stephen C. Barkers police vehicle slammed into the rear o, Records show that though Trooper Stephen C. Barkers supervisors were immediately suspicious of his story after the first crash, in November 2. Cloudy with rain and snow in the morning. No more golden pensions. I am willing to bet Mr. Powell wouldnt be able to cut it. or anything. This newspaper knew this ages ago but no one in Hartford listens. The coin, which includes a state police insignia on the front with words that include every [law enforcement officer]s hero, also includes an apparent engraving of a trooper along with lines from the tirade viewed widely on YouTube. The Thin Gold Line represents 911 Dispatchers and we have the largest collection of Dispatcher Collectibles available. His views are not necessarily the newspaper's. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. guarantee that information on this website 100% accurate or complete. Contact Matthew, search articles and Tweets, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place. $18.99. 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If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. . You also certify that the reproduction of any images you submit does not infringe upon any intellectual property rights. He called the circumstances that led to the crash pretty bad and said Erie County prosecutors would have done more to keep the reckless endangerment charge in play. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). States have to go bankrupt in order to legally get rid of the Golden Pension Club. Jette said he saw Spina driving erratically in traffic and flipped his middle finger at him without realizing he was a police officer. Remaining cloudy in the afternoon. Theres no fine., You do have to pay the $93 surcharge, the judge said. We are Patriotic Artists, not Big Brother.POLICE, MILITARY, FIRST RESPONDERS CHALLENGE COINSWe have provided custom challenge coins and merchandise to the following agencies: DHS, CBP, HSI, Border Patrol, FAM, FBI, ATF, Secret Service, Disney Security, Security, Executive Protection, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, NYPD, LAPD, Chicago Police, Broward Sheriff, Firearms Instructor, Sheriff, K9, Canine, ID Reels, Pins, Patches, Badge, Challenge Coins, Body Armor, Badge Wallets, Knight Rider, Ghostbusters, Disney and more. Correctional Officers are represented by the Thin Gray Line. Wallace was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three to nine years in prison. We love Dispatchers! This is a carousel. in Dept of Emrg Svc & Public Prot. We take a creative approach to each of our works of art. When arraigned less than a month later, on Jan. 16, 2020, a deal had already been worked out. He suffered chest and shoulder injuries yet, by comparison, was lucky. It's probably so he can participate in the part of state government's pension system that has become a racket. Sponsored Sponsored Sponsored. In a statement, Col. Stavros Mellekas, the deputy commissioner of the state police, called Spinas behavior disturbing and said an internal affairs investigation had begun. $28.49. CT trooper barred from public interaction after profanity-filled traffic stop, Hamden school board member Walter L. 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Shamar Walters is a reporter for NBC News' Social Newsgathering team based in New York City. The company, reached through Facebook, said they had designed the coin. ULMG-553. It is our goal to be all inclusive and to have items representative of the diverse communities that make America such an excellent country. Retracing the path of controversial Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe includes many stops in Connecticut. But we are not the U.S. Government 1 7/8 inch commendation bar with high end metal pull clasps, not the cheap pinch clasp seen on others. He did not respond to messages seeking comment for this article, nor did the State Police. Former Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick E. Swanson, who the transcript indicates negotiated the plea, declined to comment when asked about the terms. This byline is mine, but I want my name removed. The trooper, Matthew Spina, pulled over the driver, Kevin A. Jette, on Monday after Jette allegedly sped past him on Interstate 95 near New Haven as Spina was pursuing another car for. GL10-002 Trooper Matthew Spina Retired CSP Version 7 Challenge Coin Connecticut State Police CT. The coin does not represent the values and philosophies of Commissioner Rovella and Colonel Mellekas, Foley said. Spina loudly explains that a car tailed him then passed him and the driver flipped him off while he was following a tractor-trailer looking for a violation. 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. had annual salary of $95,162. We often poke fun at serious things. We often use pop culture elements to create a parody or a satire by putting those elements into a different perspective. Given the department's habit of concealing or minimizing misconduct by troopers, Spina may receive no serious discipline at all, or the department may delay any discipline until Spina completes the 14 months he needs for his 20-year qualification, thereby making discipline meaningless. We are creating these small pieces of artwork in a transformative way. Matthew Spina. Two obvious questions arise as the recklessness of New York State Trooper Stephen C. Barker comes to light: A New York State trooper was arrested on New Years Eve after a July incident in which he collided with a minivan and injured five people. 30% off when you spend $150. Free shipping Free shipping Free shipping. In opposition, the defendant does not contest that it is liable for the acts or omissions of its employee, Trooper Barker, and has not come forward with any non-negligent explanation for Trooper Barker's conduct.. As the incident continues to unfold, Spina yells that it just never ends in this job., Apparently nearing retirement, Spina yells: I got 14 months. Chautauqua's new DA, who was elected in November, would not defend it. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. 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. God Bless America!!! UConn women open Big East tournament play against Georgetown, Girls basketball roundup: Coventry tops East Windsor in Class S tournament second round, Woman gets 7 years in fathers stabbing death in Windsor Locks, Biker in Glastonbury crash that killed 2 had 4 times legal alcohol level, Bolton hearing on marijuana regulations Wednesday. George Cole of Arcade, who was 66 at the time, and Timothy W. McCann of Depew, 70, were sitting directly in front of him. If you work for an agency or organization, know your department's policy for creating coins, that is your responsibility. Was Trooper Spina a bit over the top? Grow up. God help you if theres anything illegal in this car.. Youre [expletive] speeding, which also was engraved on the back of the coin. Theres an (expletive) clue to the (expletive) public, what a bunch of (expletives) you are.. Schmidt said dispositions can take into account a defendant's criminal history, and in this case Barker had no criminal past and was contributing to society as a trooper, he said. $15.99. The stop lasts for roughly five minutes. Cohen pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, three years on probation and 1,000 hours of community service. Guy who cuts his own hair. But when it came time to defend Barkers actions in the lawsuit, the government attorney representing the State Police did not argue that the trooper was responding to a call. While not an excuse, we are sensitive to this and also referred the trooper to our employee assistance program. Dept of Emrg Svc & Public Prot. There are lots of excuses. The driver was pulled over for speeding and briefly placed in handcuff but was not issued any citations. @UncleLouie ARTISTIC ACTIVISM: As a Veteran First Responder, I create products that are works of art. Peter Yankowski is a breaking news reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. We have also recently launched a resiliency program to help all our employees dealing with this pandemic, Mellekas said. PayrollCT is not a consumer Partly cloudy skies. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. and 10 In this Aug. 7, 2020, file photo, Connecticut Gov. Our products are works of art and our creations are not approved, endorsed, sponsored, nor authorized by, or associated with any agency, department of government entity. Spina continues to yell at the driver and then appears to start searching the car, according to the video. EL4-011 Trooper Matthew Spina inspired Connecticut Highway Patrol Police Parody. Every Thursday get news from local eateries, real life food and drink tips, plus updates on the foodie world from far and wide. There was a problem saving your notification. Many times, our artwork runs a close parallel to journalism, political cartoons, parody and satirical mediums as well. Low 27F. "It certainly wouldn't have happened today.". Barker was terminated in. Matthew Spina in year 2018 was employed in Dept of Emrg Svc & Public Prot and Don't Threaten. Be Proactive. 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. The man allegedly showed unhappiness with Spinas driving before the stop, saying Spina was following another car too closely. Flag pins for First Responders. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The trooper hit the brakes at 81 mph, but it was too late. Our coins, pins, and products are created in a transformative way.We will not be silenced. While doing this, we sometimes use things happening in the world within our artwork. Weve been made aware of a profane challenge coin that has the image of Connecticut State Police badge, Brian Foley, an aide to Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner James Rovella, said. This is even better than it looks. This byline is for a different person with the same name. 20% OFFUse code BackTheBadge at checkout. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Out of 707 members whose votes were qualified, 687 voted no confidence in the governors leadership, according to the results of the vote. FREE SHIPPING when you spend $20. Why might Spina drive himself crazy with overwork? We're Patriots. Rovella received 681 votes of no confidence from troopers, Eckersley received 682. Medical examiner faults Erie County Holding Center staff for inmate's death but sees no 'criminal neglect', You Should Think Twice Before Buying Cooking Oil In Bulk, Hogan, stripped of his law license, states his case to the legal community, Gunfire hits man's leg in Niagara County's Town of Wilson, Judges suspend law license of HoganWillig founder Corey J. 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