By David Owens
Hartford Courant
HARTFORD, Conn. — About 75 Hartford police officers, joined by colleagues from Bristol, Manchester and the state police, rallied in front of Hartford Superior Court this morning where a Hartford man accused of shooting a Hartford officer made his second appearance before a judge.
The purpose of the rally, and a press conference by police union leaders, was to call for tougher penalties for those who assault police officers. The shooting Nov. 12 of Hartford Officer Michael Bodner, and comments by someone of his friends and relatives attempting to justify the shooting, drew the officers together this morning. The murder Sunday of four officers near Seattle, Wash., underscored the danger officers face each day.
“We as police officers are tasked with maintaining the peace and order in a diverse society,” said Officer Richard Rodriguez, president of the Hartford police union. “When individuals decide to attack the very fabric that holds society from falling into chaos, we need to take a united stand against such actions.”
Already this year, Rodriguez said, 20 percent of Hartford police officers have been assaulted.
“Being assaulted is not, I repeat not, part of this job,” Rodriguez said.
An assault on a police officer, added state police union President Steve Rief, is an assault against the foundation of the nation’s civil society.
“There has to be a strong stand taken,” Rief said.
Several legislators attended the rally and said they would sponsor and work to pass legislation that enhances the penalties for assaulting a police officer. State Rep. David McCluskey said he would also write Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane asking for aggressive prosecution of those who assault police officers.
“We have to send a strong message that lawlessness will not be tolerated,” McCluskey said.
Dwayne Powell, 26, the man accused of shooting Bodner on Nov. 12, appeared briefly in Superior Court and had his case continued to Dec. 15. He is charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault and assault on a police officer. He remains jailed on $3.5 million bail.
Later this morning in Superior Court, in a hearing that lasted just a few minutes, Powell’s case was continued to Dec. 15.
His public defender asked Judge Carl Taylor to order that police transmissions from the night of the shooting be preserved. He also said Powell “seems to feel he’s still in need of [medical] treatment,” and that Powell continues to remain silent about the case.
Bodner and his partner, Officer Karen Spearman, stopped Powell the evening of Nov. 11 to question him as they investigated a series of burglaries in the Blue Hills neighborhood.
Powell ran from the officers, struggled when caught, then pulled a .380-caliber handgun and shot Bodner twice, police said. Bodner is recovering from his wounds.
Bristol police officer Lang Mussen said he attended the rally because “You have to show support.”
“Considering what happened outside of Seattle, this was a good rally,” added Hartford police Sgt. Edward Yergeau.
Copyright 2009 Hartford Courant