In the 2019 crash near the Thruway's Dunkirk exit, Trooper Barker had been texting throughout his shift, State Police Investigator John J. McCusker wrote in a court document. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Even still, that police officer had no reason to do what he did. The trooper spoke down to me and hit me with a $375 ticket.all of which I deserved. This byline is for a different person with the same name. State payroll records show Spina has nearly doubled his salary in recent years with overtime pay. 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. Grow up. We often use pop culture elements to create a parody or a satire by putting those elements into a different perspective. @UncleLouie ARTISTIC ACTIVISM: As a Veteran First Responder, I create products that are works of art. End censorship. 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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. Time for employee-employer contributions as in 401Ks. In the video, posted on YouTube Monday, Trooper Matthew Spina is seen cursing at a man who allegedly was speeding on the span also known as the Q bridge in New Haven. 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Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. At one point during the incident, Spina says: Why am I speeding? I cant [expletive] wait to be done., The tirade ends with Spina yelling: Mind your business and be on your way. Ned Lamont, according to a letter from the state police union's leadership. Trooper Barker failed to observe and react to slow and stop his vehicle in order to avoid the collision, Sampson wrote in a decision that affected all five passengers, each with their own legal action pending against the state. His views are not necessarily the newspaper's. 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. Matthew Spina started working at Dept of Emrg Svc & Public Prot on 29th June 2001. The Connecticut State Police Union did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. As seen on MTV Cribs, CNN, Fox News and other TV news and news websites worldwide. The trooper hit the brakes at 81 mph, but it was too late. We directly contribute to those in need, including children with cancer, a mission that is very close to our heart. Mind your own business and be on your way. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. 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 couldnt leave it alone, could you? 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. 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. 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. Wallace was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three to nine years in prison. The fear of art ends now. But if Spina does not complete 20 years of service as he plans to do next year, he will not qualify for a state pension until he turns 65. God Bless America & the Laws that prevent Art & Free Speech Censorship. Shop the largest collection of Correctional Officer Collectibles in America. Spina goes on to find marijuana in the car the motorist says he has a medical license and continues to speak heatedly to the motorist throughout the stop, justifying his driving as an attempt to catch another motorist. Trooper Barker never faced a charge as serious as assault, and his criminal caseended quickly. He was suspended, but was collecting about $95,000 a year in salary, according to the state Comptroller's Office,when charges were lodged against him in December 2019. At 81 mph, Barker would have needed 273 feet to stop completely, the police calculated. 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. We're Patriots. The Caravan and its passengers, meanwhile, were launched into a full 360-degree rotation and came to rest 155 feet away. Jette said he saw Spina driving erratically in traffic and flipped his middle finger at him without realizing he was a police officer. Cloudy with rain and snow in the morning. Cole was left paralyzed from the waist down, and McCann was paralyzed from the chest down. There was an error processing your request. We endeavor to create art that adds new dimension, new perspectives and starts new conversation and sometimes even sparks a debate. Error! Two critical components to what LEO Challenge Coins represents. I was respectful the entire time and never had hard feelings against the trooper. We have even directly contributed funds that allowed many children of fallen police officers to be taken on Christmas shopping sprees. 6. 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. $28.49. Theres no fine., You do have to pay the $93 surcharge, the judge said. 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. The company, reached through Facebook, said they had designed the coin. God Bless America!!! We hopeour art gets people talking. 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. I am willing to bet Mr. Powell wouldnt be able to cut it. State police union blasts commanders, says it supports embattled $18.99 Sold out. In this Aug. 7, 2020, file photo, Connecticut Gov. Dept of Emrg Svc & Public Prot. 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. 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. For our troopers, they are dealing with the impact on their personal lives along with workplace stressors of being on the frontline. Pension racket may explain state trooper's crazed rage. Freedom is forged in acceptance, empathy, understanding and the beauty of diversified ideas and people. He was suspended, but was collecting about $95,000 a year in salary, according to the state Comptroller's Office, when charges were lodged against him in December 2019. 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. He was previously a reporter for the Danbury News-Times and the Ridgefield Press. The video, which has been viewed more than 300,000 times, shows the tense exchange that ensued. This salary percent higher than median salary Our creations are not approved, endorsed, sponsored, nor authorized by, or associated with any agency, department of government entity. Articles by Matthew Spina's Profile - Muck Rack How the [expletive] am I gonna catch a speeder if Im not speeding? Spina yells to the driver. He turned on his flashing lights and put down flares to close one lane before helping the motorist. The stop lasts for roughly five minutes. If you work for an agency or organization, know your department's policy for creating coins, that is your responsibility. Ned Lamont, according to a letter from the state police unions leadership. BL3-009 LEOSA Retired LEO Leather shield Wallet. Create a password that only you will remember. in Dept of Emrg Svc & Public Prot. 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. Sale, Click here to see our entire catalogue now. Gregorek had just bought a video game and was filling out a customer satisfaction survey on his cellphone at the moment of impact, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn said. Veteran First Responder Owned Florida Company. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. When ordering custom coins, you are responsible for any and all trademarks and copyrights. Court of Claims Judge J. David Sampson found Barker negligent. Keep it Clean. FREE SHIPPING when you spend $20. Did you know that our art is protected by law? Barker was terminated in August 2020, the comptrollers records show. guarantee that information on this website 100% accurate or complete. He died three years later. Our preferred mediums are metal and enamel. Stephen C. Barker, a 33-year-old state police officer fromKenmore, who had been a trooper for five years, suffered a head injury when the police cruiser plowed into the minivan. Use the 'Report' link on Barker's police car wasgoing 73 mph when the collision occurred. Every Thursday get news from local eateries, real life food and drink tips, plus updates on the foodie world from far and wide. I will accept your plea, Sheridan Town Justice Lydia Romer told the trooper, according to a transcript. Five people were seriously injured, including two who were partially paralyzed, when New York State Trooper Stephen C. Barker rear-ended this minivan at 73 mph near the Dunkirk exit of the State Thruway on July 15, 2019. The state police union also sued the state over the police accountability law signed by the governor in the wake of protests over the killing of George Floyd. percent higher than average Seconds later, Spina yells: Mind your own god damn business. 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. A letter obtained by the newspaper provided Spinas treatment as an example of grievances against the departments current leadership. A-009 Thin Red Line Jason Voorhees Goalie Mask Friday the 13th Firefighter Fire Department Fighter. I got pulled over for speeding when I was 21 home on leave from Iraq in 2003. It's probably so he can participate in the part of state government's pension system that has become a racket. He was charged on Dec. 30, 2019. that is degrading to another person. Spina was placed on an administrative assignment which does not allow him to interact with the public, state police said. We often poke fun at serious things. Then, just 52 seconds before the impact at 1:04 p.m., Barker opened aFacebook page, according to McCuskers statement. It shall cease and desist only when: 1) our elected officials have the courage to change current statutory language on our retirement system, 2) we elect a governor with the political will to change the culture of bureaucracy, and 3) the public is educated on how our unions have hijacked the state Capitol. As the driver attempts to say that he has a prescription, Spina orders him out of the vehicle. Competitive retail energy is a vital, long-term solution capable of transforming Connecticuts energy market in a way that benefits consumers, Behind Nika Mhl's surprise call from UConn great Sue Bird, Cannabis advocates protest CT's recreational-use rollout, CT SPCA volunteers 'humbled' as hundreds file to adopt pets, Warrant: Ex-CT 'lunch lady' sent nude pics to student for months. 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. Out of 707 members whose votes were qualified, 687 voted no confidence in the governors leadership, according to the results of the vote. The parties had already agreed to a conditional discharge, meaning punishment would be withheld if Barker stayed out of trouble for a year. Connecticut trooper on leave after profane rant caught on camera We take a creative approach to each of our works of art. The fear of art ends now. 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. 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. Distracted driving is dangerous driving and comes with serious consequences, then-State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said during one publicity blitz heading into the summer of 2018. reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq, (FCRA). The topic of distracted driving was never mentioned, nor were the injured parties or the collision. 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. In the description of the video on YouTube, the man alleges that Spina threatened to throw him off the bridge if he were to come across him again. $18.99. Until then we shall remain their captives. and 10 Low 27F. 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The trooper was removed from working with the public and placed under investigation after a video of him berating a motorist in an expletive-laced rant on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven was posted on YouTube. Regular price $18.99 Sold out - + Add. Thankfully, in addition to having Constitutional 1st Amendment protections for our expressions, we also have 17 U.S. Code 107 to allow us to use certain assets in our artwork. We won't share it with anyone else. $9.99 GL10-002 Trooper Matthew Spina Retired CSP Version 7 Challenge Coin Connecticut State Police CT. Be Truthful. We create collectibles, artwork and items for everybody. He didn't ticket me because he had no reason to ticket me.. 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. God help you if theres anything illegal in this car.. The officer should have been pleased with the resolution, Todoro said. Partly cloudy skies. Chautauqua's new DA, who was elected in November, would not defend it. A portion of every sale is donated to non-profits who support border security, police personnel, and more. PayrollCT is not a consumer This is even better than it looks. Yes, but that kid walked away without even getting a ticket. We are troopers and we will fight back when treated with disrespect, he added. Jette said that Spina had no grounds to pull him over and wants to make sure the officer is held accountable. Rovellas office and Eckersley also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This byline is mine, but I want my name removed. The states Vehicle and Traffic law exempts the drivers of emergency vehicles from certain rules of the road, State paying $12M to settle first case stemming from trooper's distracted driving crash, Trooper had distracted driving accident months before second crash that paralyzed 2 people, The Editorial Board: Trooper lied about distracted driving, paralyzed two and paid no legal penalty, State trooper charged in collision that injured five, Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else, The impact of climate change will be felt worse in these three U.S. cities, Scientists reveal hidden corridor in Great Pyramid of Giza, Greece train crash: Public anger grows as death toll rises. It would have been legally significant if Barker had been hurrying to a call. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. We can make custom coins for your organization.Our prices are low too, the lowest in the universe!Price for 100 custom coins starts at just $450Email Wholesale@AmericasFrontLine.comART CENSORSHIPOur creations are an artist expression. EL4-011 Trooper Matthew Spina inspired Connecticut Highway Patrol Police Parody. 30% off when you spend $150. THEY REPRESENT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS BY A VETERAN FIRST RESPONDER ARTIST. We have the largest selection of U.S. Imagine over a thousand retirees getting over $100,000 plus benefits for retiring. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. It is our goal to be all inclusive and to have items representative of the diverse communities that make America such an excellent country. accounts, the history behind an article. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Look at the over-generous pay given to the various college employees. That's the beauty of art and it's up to you to decide what they are! ACT trooper was barred from public interaction after this alleged profanity-filled traffic stop. The Dodge Charger's airbag module kept a rolling five-second history of the vehicle's speed, the position of the steering wheel and the force placed on the accelerator or the brake, among other things. George Cole of Arcade, who was 66 at the time, and Timothy W. McCann of Depew, 70, were sitting directly in front of him. Connecticut State Police Union letter by Peter Yankowski on Scribd. These remarks invite a review of his payroll records at state Comptroller Kevin Lembo's wonderful OpenCT internet site. We are a privately owned enterprise who engages in creating works of art in the form of Law Enforcement and Military Collectibles. He did not respond to messages seeking comment for this article, nor did the State Police. In July, the Hartford Courant reported the unions plan to hold a vote of no confidence. Many times, our artwork runs a close parallel to journalism, political cartoons, parody and satirical mediums as well. GL8-002 Masonic Illuminati FreeMason Lodge secret freemasonry challenge coin. PayrollCT is not affiliated with any government entity. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, New York State Trooper Stephen C. Barkeropened a Facebook page on his cellphone just 52 seconds before his, City mourns Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno as investigation into fatal fire launches, Buffalo firefighter makes 'ultimate sacrifice' in blaze that may have sparked backdraft, Paula's Donuts to move Clarence store that faced backlash for tax breaks to Amherst, Vandal damages 'brokenhearted' Russell Salvatore's tribute park in Lancaster, Chad Hall's departure from Buffalo Bills to Jaguars remains a bit of a mystery. CT trooper barred from public interaction after profanity-filled . 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