The video begins with Spina approaching the drivers passenger-side window. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Keep it Clean. employees dealing with this pandemic. His views are not necessarily the newspaper's. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. He never asked me for my license, my registration, my proof of insurance or to even see my medical marijuana card. A Connecticut state trooper has been put on leave after he was captured on camera profanely berating a motorist during a traffic stop. With the fellow stowed in the back seat, the trooper spotted the man's eyeglasses on the ground. Numismatists collected them. Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation. It just never (expletive) end in this (expletive) job. By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from Mother Jones and our partners. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. How the (expletive) am I going to catch a speeder if Im not speeding, Spina says. 1 of 2. For Spina seems to be only middle-aged, and achieving pension entitlement by middle age through government employment and not retiring but instead taking other employment for 15 years or so has become a hallowed and lucrative tradition in Connecticut. Spina then says state police are understaffed. He didn't ticket me because he had no reason to ticket me.. Middletown, Connecticut - Wednesday, January 29, 2019: James C. Rovella, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the former Hartford Police Chief who now heads the Connecticut State Police. ACT trooper was barred from public interaction after this alleged profanity-filled traffic stop. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Who the f--- do you think you are worrying about what Im doing? Spina can be heard saying. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism A seasoned Connecticut Trooper, Matthew Spina, 19 years of service, deals with a driver with 7 prior arrests, some felonies, including violence and harassment. Blame the labor negotiators who have enabled this, but the ones who can fix it are the supervisors who are now corruptly approving the overtime (expecting it themselves when they retire), and blame the top managers in the public service agencies, the comptroller, and the fovernor who do not stop it administratively and thereby are complicit in the loss of faith in government. 1. Invalid password or account does not exist. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Police say that no law enforcement action was taken against Jette during the stop. It turns out that in at least the last five years Spina has been working so much that his overtime earnings have nearly equaled or exceeded his base annual salary of almost $100,000. Success! At the scene of a domestic squabble, a state trooper wrestled a drunken defendant into his squad car. Family desperate but holding out hope for Storrs woman missing in Japan, South Windsor PZC continues to mull warehouse zone changes, Tolland mother, daughter continue fight to end epilepsy, Feds: Hospitals that denied emergency abortion broke the law, East Windsor hearing set on grant program money, Trump rape accuser: 'Not surprising' I didn't call police. Unfortunately the State of Connecticut, responding to political pressure, suspended Trooper Spina indefinitely. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Ned Lamont, according to a letter from the state police unions leadership. Be Proactive. God help you if theres anything illegal in this car.. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. The solution for Connecticut government is simple: Decide you don't want this waste to continue and act appropriately. The pension system is often used not just for a secure retirement but also for accumulation of great wealth during a second career, long before a beneficiary stops working. In 2019, ProPublica found a coin circulating among Customs and Border Protection officers that depicted a mass of people marching under a Honduran flag. It is not clear what role, if any, Eckersley had in disciplining Spina. 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. "You're fucked,". While not an excuse, we are sensitive to this and also referred the trooper to our employee assistance program.. pandemic. Family desperate but holding out hope for Storrs woman missing in Japan, South Windsor PZC continues to mull warehouse zone changes, Tolland mother, daughter continue fight to end epilepsy, Feds: Hospitals that denied emergency abortion broke the law, East Windsor hearing set on grant program money, Trump rape accuser: 'Not surprising' I didn't call police. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Watch on Mellekas did not name the trooper, but the video shows his name tag, which identifies him as Matthew Spina. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Border Patrol, among other groups, though the coins are never sold as official or authorized.. Keep it Clean. Joseph DiVincenzo at Turtle Back Zoo, Flying Above Tornado-Damaged Virginia Beach, UK's diverse communities ambivalent about king's coronation. Don't knowingly lie about anyone The driver interfered with the Troopers pursuit of a motor vehicle and unknown to Trooper Spina, apparently baited him and subsequently filmed the contact. 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. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. The Yankee Institute for Public Policy says more than 1,600 retired state employees already enjoy pensions that large. See our GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. 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.. dedication to protecting and serving during this pandemic, Mellekas said in the statement. Imagine over a thousand retirees getting over $100,000 plus benefits for retiring. An internal affairs investigation is underway. We are troopers and we will fight back when treated with disrespect, he added. This ought to tell you why our department, instead of having 1,300 (troopers), has 850 right now. do recognize that all of us everywhere are under extreme stress during this 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. | Buffalo News. Error! Spina searches a bag inside the car before allowing Jette to leave. For our troopers, they are dealing with the impact on their personal Matthew Spina. It's probably so he can participate in the part of state government's pension system that has become a racket. Ships from and sold by COINS, PINS, PATCHES & MORE. But his name tag, clearly seen in the video of the I-95 stop, identifies him as Trooper Matthew Spina. 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. Rovellas office and Eckersley also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. investigation after being made aware of a troopers disturbing behavior in a Theres no way to take on the legacy of mass incarceration other than to undo it, one step at a time. Spina tells the motorist that police officers are permitted by law to disregard traffic laws during the performance of their duties. Embattled Tolland strip club reopens after filing appeal The vote comes after the union, which represents. 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. 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. Theres no way to take on the legacy of mass incarceration other than to undo it, one step at a time. 4. Also you want the pension apply, do the time and you will get it. The man allegedly showed. Hows that sound? Spina was suspended, yet in a challenge coin made for his fellow law enforcement officers, he was immortalized as Every LEOs hero. (A spokesperson for the Connecticut State Police said, The coin does not represent our values.) Other coins have commemorated blue flu walkouts and the riot squads (hats and bats) that responded to Baltimores Freddie Gray protests in 2015 and the George Floyd protests in 2020. Warning, the video on YouTube, as seen here, will be disturbing to some readers. 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. CT State Trooper Loses His Cotton Picking Mind On Chud Who Flipped Him The Bird, Smashes His Pot And Threatens To Throw Him Off Of New Haven Highway Bridge Trooper Matthew Spina of the Connecticut State Police is in hot water after a rage filled stop in New Haven took a turn for the hardo. The unions missive alleges that Spinas punishment is politically motivated. a tirade famously captured on cellphone video. 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. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters. The Connecticut State Police Unions leadership has decided to hold a vote of no confidence against high-ranking members of the state police command staff in response to the disciplining of a trooper caught on camera berating a motorist during a traffic stop. The driver, who is not identified, posted the video on YouTube. It usually starts by asking for a driver's license and registration. 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. Can you pitch in a few bucks to help fund Mother Jones' investigative journalism? Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies and light rain after midnight. 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. ULMG-1559. A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Gwyneth Paltrow won't recoup attorney fees in ski crash suit, 'Zombie' misinformation: 'Rape Day' hoax resurfaces on TikTok, 'Very homophobic': Teachers' union leader Randi Weingarten says House hearing crossed the line, Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Essex County Exec. not reflective of the values of Commissioner Rovella or my administration, the I got pulled over for speeding when I was 21 home on leave from Iraq in 2003. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Seconds later, Spina yells: Mind your own god damn business. I cant [expletive] wait to be done., The tirade ends with Spina yelling: Mind your business and be on your way. accounts, the history behind an article. Last year Spina made $99,000 in regular pay, $97,000 in overtime, and another $7,000 in miscellaneous pay, presumably private-duty pay, another sort of overtime, for a total of $203,000. The system offers troopers pensions that are payable immediately upon 20 years of service, and it calculates pension payments by taking half the average of the salaries of a trooper's three highest-earning years. Low 46F. A letter obtained by the newspaper provided Spinas treatment as an example of grievances against the departments current leadership. Rovella received 681 votes of no confidence from troopers, Eckersley received 682. The suit claims the laws mandates for the release of public records runs counter to the most recent state police collective bargaining agreement, which allows troopers to prevent their personnel records from being released to the public. Five people were seriously injured, including two . Come on, people. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. 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. 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. Coins have been struck to honor an officer who shot and killed four people and commemorate the harassment of a rat who blew the whistle on internal corruption. He is not wearing a mask or gloves despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. I am willing to bet Mr. Powell wouldnt be able to cut it. In the video Spina expresses contempt for the public he polices, and he rejoices that he has only 14 months to go until retirement. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. 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. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. This officer yelled and gave a tongue lashing to an individual who broke multiple laws. Even still, that police officer had no reason to do what he did. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. That phrase could not be confirmed by listening to the video. The trooper spoke down to me and hit me with a $375 ticket.all of which I deserved. DL1-16 new Version 2 Dispensary Container CSP Challenge Coin inspired by Connecticut State Police CT Trooper Matthew Spina. A video of Spina mocking and hurling insults at a driver he had pulled over along the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven received international attention in May shortly after being uploaded to YouTube. Look at the over-generous pay given to the various college employees. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. 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. By Matthew Spina , Charlie Specht. Spina notes he was following a truck and looking for violations because the governors office has gotten multiple complaints on traffic stops., It just never (expletive) ends in this (expletive) job. 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. Share Share on Facebook Tweet Tweet on Twitter Pin it Pin on Pinterest . person will not be tolerated. Webinar Speaker Bios Matt Spina During a tenure of fourteen years in the military, serving on active duty and in the reserves, Matthew Spina began working with explosives in the United States Army in 1989. - YouTube https://www.youtube.com Trooper 1st class Matthew Spina out of Troop F in Westbrook becomes irate with a motorist for flipping him the bird. start bringing in more donations than it ever has. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. It's a long term and openly-known scam, and hurtful to all ordinary citizens who have to pay for this corrupt bargain. 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. 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. The video shows Spina was not wearing a mask or gloves amid the coronavirus pandemic. We have no indication Trooper Spina created the coin.. We noticed you have an ad blocker on. State police union blasts commanders, says it supports embattled Trooper Matthew Spina. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Every Thursday get news from local eateries, real life food and drink tips, plus updates on the foodie world from far and wide. Ive got 14 months (to retire). He was acting like a loose cannon, Jette said. Choose wisely! Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Matthew Spina L salary was 122% higher than the average and 119% higher than median State Police Trooper salary in 2016. He spends far too much time thinking about the Boston Celtics. While not an excuse, we are sensitive to this and also referred the trooper to our employee assistance program. Why might Spina drive himself crazy with overwork? While not an excuse, we are Spina expressed displeasure at the motorists critique. The vote comes after the union, which represents some 850 state troopers, criticized the leaderships handling of Trooper Matthew Spina. Here are some top priorities. No more golden pensions. Chump Change: Presidents since Bill Clinton have dispensed challenge coins. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. State Trooper Matthew Spina pulls over a motorist near New Haven, Connecticut, on May 18, 2020. nfbrand 324 subscribers Subscribe 3.2K 225K views 2 years ago Trooper 1st class Matthew Spina out of Troop F in Westbrook becomes irate with a.