Sen. Gordon Reacts to Tolland Street Takeover 911 Recordings

August 14, 2023

Sen. Gordon Reacts to Tolland Street Takeover 911 Recordings - CT Senate Republic

State Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) today issued a statement on the multiple 911 recordings released in connection with the unlawful Tolland street takeover incident this past May.

 

“These recordings are disturbing to say the least. Law-abiding citizens should never be in a position of pleading for help, only to be told by authorities that help is not an option. These recordings also support what we all knew about the lack of a police response. As soon as I heard about the street takeover in May, I held meetings with DESPP Commissioner Rovella and state police leadership to identify what happened and what needed to change,” said Senator Gordon.

 

“I also hosted a public informational forum in Tolland with Representatives Nuccio and Ackert, and Town Manager Brian Foley so that people could learn about what happened and actions to take to stop these dangerous gatherings. I do strongly support and thank the men and women of the Connecticut State Police, including in Troops C and D. They work day and night for our communities. However, the evidence that I’ve seen and the concerns I hear from the public illustrates that the department needs better communication and coordination to swiftly help people who are in danger. Specifically, just because an undercover officer may not observe an immediate threat to the public, this does not suggest that one does not exist. My main priority continues to be the safety of all residents and law enforcement. I will continue to offer more solutions on how law enforcement can better respond when incidents like this happen.

 

“As a first step, the legislature passed a bipartisan law to combat these street takeovers. This new law enables local, state and federal authorities to take a proactive approach and prevent incidents like this from occurring. I’ve also heard of significant improvements to CSP policies on how officers communicate. While we hope that incidents like this never happen again, I’ll be closely monitoring the quality of future police response on behalf of our residents,” he said.