To the Editor:

Serving as the ranking member of the Public Safety Committee allows me to play an integral role in the leadership of all public safety legislation coming out of the Connecticut General Assembly. With my background in Emergency Medical Services and experience in managing 911 Public Safety Communications, I have been able to work with a unique understanding of how public safety officials operate and how the State of Connecticut can improve its laws to make our communities safer.

Here are two recent bills in the last two years that I am proud to have supported:

Public Act 17-166 requires each police department review basic/field training programs and include techniques for handling incidents, such as wandering, that involve juveniles with autism spectrum disorder or nonverbal learning disorder. The requirement applies only if the curriculum for such techniques is available at no cost to the Division of State Police.

Public Act 18-83 requires DESPP to implement an electronic tracking system for sexual assault evidence collection kits. It also requires the Commission on the Standardization of the Collection of Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigations to recommend that the Chief State’s Attorney adopt regulations that require a health care facility that collects sexual assault evidence to contact a sexual assault counselor when consents to such contact.

We are fortunate in the State of Connecticut to have dedicated public safety personnel — working around the clock to provide police, fire, and EMS services. As someone who cares deeply about public safety, I take my role very seriously. I will be sure to work hard at the Capitol to make sure those personnel are supported and given the resources to do their job effectively. This includes improvements to state law as well as opening Connecticut’s municipalities to predictable funding that allows for public safety services to be delivered.

JP Sredzinski

280 Shelton Road, Monroe     September 28, 2018