By Police1 Staff
HARTFORD, Conn. — At a time when troopers are in short supply, the state announced several layoffs within the police agency Tuesday.
Four lieutenants, two sergeants, five troopers and the incoming class of 79 cadets were notified that due to budget cuts, they were being laid off, Fox 61 reported.
Connecticut State Police Union President Andrew Matthews told the news station that 169 members are eligible for retirement. Almost 70 officers could be eligible in the next six months. The police union said a total of 86 officers, including the incoming cadet class, have been laid off. According to WTNH, the police force has dropped by more than 250 officers since 2009.
“If we don’t get another class in it will affect not only the capabilities of the state police but public safety in general throughout the state,” Matthews said.
Matthews said they offered the governor multiple alternatives to layoffs, including discontinuing the use of temporary workers.
“The state of Connecticut actually has retired troopers that work for the agency who collect a pension and they’re allowed to work up to 960 hours a year,” he told Fox 61. “They do investigative work and they make about 34-dollars an hour so that’s roughly about 32-thousand dollars a year.”
This is the first time command staff has been laid off in budget cuts, WTNH reported. The lieutenants who were cut have served with the state police for 12 to 18 years.
“Some of these individuals that are gonna be getting laid off have families, have children and now they need to go home tonight and tell their spouse and their children in four weeks they’re not gonna have a job,” Captain Michael Thomas said.