8/17/2019 DOCUMENT: Exposed: Intimidation Tactics and Gross
Misuse of Authority (5/9/16) (Connecticut State Police Union)
1/1
CONNECTICUT
STATE
POLICE UNION
Date:
May
9, 2016
uf{Iot\
AMMO
#16-06
To:
All
Union
Members
From:
Matthelvs,
President
Exposed: Intimidution Tuctics
und Gross
Misase
of
Authoritv
Connecticut
State
Police
Union
takes
pride
in the
reputation
it
has
built
over
the
past
35
-vears.
Our
Union
leadership is
consiste
diplornatic. fair, professional
and responsive no matter the circurnstances.
Vy'e
are
proud
of
our
strong
legac-v
and
all
the
accornplished
on
behalf of onr
members
and their
families.
We are
olso
proud
for
holding
those
qccount&ble
for
intimidsting,
mistreøting,
tsrgeting,
snd threqtening
our
members
whenever necessary snd do not
qpologìze
for
ø
our
good
nøme and to
protect
our membership.
a Union. lve believe everyone,
regardless
of
rank or
title,
desen'es being treated rvith
dignity
and
respect.
Unfortunatelv,
some
of
our agency believe
rank
has its
privileges
and
the
Internal Affairs
process
only exists
for
NP-
I
.
Ranli
has its
place
in
State
Police,
but
not
within
the
Connecticut State
Police
Union
or
among other
union
leaders.
Unfortunatel-v,
sonre of o
cannot
grasp
tlris distinction.
Clearlv, some managers
v,ere
promoted
ø'ell
beyonel their
level
of
competence sncl seek
becouse
of their
egos. Thev
then
misuse
their suthoritv to deliberatelv
clestroy others. Fortunatel,v,
the
rnajority
seek
or
leadership
positions
because they
possess
the
skills
and
intellect
to
make
a difference.
These individuals
understand
th
honor in being
given
the
responsibilir-n-
of supporting and caring
for
those rvho
make this
agency-
unique.
managers
believe
the-v
should
be
respected
b-v
lorver ranking Troopers
sirnpl-v
because they
hold
a
higher
rank. Th
do
not
understand tlrat
respect is
eanred
by holv
you
conduct
yourself.
As
Troopers, we
must recognize snd
obev
rsnk
-
clo not
have
to
respect
the inclividual holding
the
rank.
One
ranking
officer
rvho
does
not
seem to
understand
this
concept
--
and
desen'ing
of our
respect
-- is Michael
Thomas,
acting
President
for
the
Captains and
Lieutenants
Union.
For
good
reason,
our
B
recentl-v
decided to
publicly
address the
Union's
concems about
Thomas.
Over
the
pqst
six
vears.
Thomas's
n&me was
times
as someone í'ho
ignores Union members' rights, cloes not
suoport Troopers in
the
lield,
sncl has
the
philosophv
of
Do
ss
I sav...Not
ss
I do. In
2010
,
as an
NP-l
Union
Board
member
Thomas
video
recorded
Union
and
rvould
report
back
to
command
staff
about
our conversations.
As
a
Lieutenant, Thomas atternpted to
inten'ier,v
an
NP-
about a
motor
vehicle accident rvhile the
Trooper
r,vas
in
a
hospital
bed despite
being
informed
the member
invoked
his
righ
Union
representatir,e. When the
Union
Stervard
refused
to
leave
the
Trooper's
bedside,
Thomas
berated the
Stervard
and
carne
r,vi
of
hinr
asking,
Wh¡r
are
you
chicken
harvking tne?
Fear
and
intimidation
the State Police
or
v,íth
our
Union
lesdership and membership.
years,
Thomas
has
demonstrated
holv
unfit
he is
to command.
Clearly,
he
does
not follow
tlie
Golden
Rule
of
Do
unto oth
you
would
have thern do unto
yon.
For
example,
in2014.
as a
Troop
Commander,
Thomas requested
an explanatory
from
a
Tro
rvas
nearly
stnrck
b-v a
speeding
nrotorist. llthen the Union member invoked his right
to
confer
u,ith
the Union,
Thomus orde
initiste o crimínal investisation
agqinst
the
Trooper.
(See
attached
IA report)
Without
a
civilian
complain
a
criminal
investigation
because
he
did
not respect the Trooper's contractual
right
to
cousult
rvith the Union befo
questions.
Not surprisinglv, when
Thomqs wss accused
of sexuallv
hsrassing s
female
employee
under his cammand,
fsiled
to conduct
an
Internal Aff&irs
investigation, and in
fuct,
oromotecl
him to Coptsin.
Hor,vever.
rve
have
had members
and demoted for
less.
Such
practices
rvill
no longer
be
tolerated.
April
of
2016, r,vhile
representing
the Captains and
Lieutenants
Union
at the
legislahrre,
Thomas
complained
to
legislators
that th
Union
leadership rau
the
department
r,vith
Cornrnissioner
Schriro and
Commissioner
Schriro lvould
not
consider NP-9's
Thomas also cornplained that under CGS:
5-246, he
and
his members should be allorved to
u'ork
HCP,
rvhich
is
our bargain
r,r'ork
per
Article 4l
.
Unforhrnately
for
the
NP-9
membership,
the-v
ratified
their contract in
20 I
I
rvhich
unambiguousl-v
states
børgaining
unit
members
shsll
not be entitled to any
overtime puy.
Lamenting
to legislators
shows
& Isck
of
professionalism
person
r,vould
understand
if
the
agenc1. s
comrnand
did
not have
the same
relationship
r,vith
NP-9,
as
it does r,vith NP- l.
W
atternpt
to undermire
NP-l
failed,
Thomas next
contacted the Colonel and
explained
he
leamed
that
during a
recent
Union
mee
disclosed
to the
menbership
Thomas had requested
a criminal
investigation
against
our
member. Tltomas requested
the
Colonel
1.'our
President and demand
he not
speak
disparagingl-v
about
him
[Thomas].
ll'hst Thomas
fails
to understsnd
is
that
v,e
right funder
the
First
Amendment und CGS: 5-2
721
to
¡.on*nunìanlç, fnaÍs
lo our
m.ptnlt¿¿rs-
rve
move fonvard, rve r,vill continue to
support
those
in
comrnand r,vho support
otr
tnembers.
Holvever.
so
loug
as
Thontas
is
act
President
of the
Captains
and
Lieutenants
Union. onr Uniorr
leadership
r.vill
not have
a
meauingful
rvorkiug
relationship
rvith thos
rnembers
rvho
do
not
li've
bv
the
Golden
Rule.
Michael
Thomas
and
those
rvlto lead
sirnilarlv.
shoulcl consicler
this a
v,arnin
t¡ou
disrespect, intimidste,
mistrest, target, or thresten
our
members,
for
self-
eniovment
or
otherwise, we v'ill responcl.
