Connecticut Judge Allows Trooper Names Investigation to Continue

In a recent development, a judge in Connecticut has denied a request from the Connecticut State Police Union to temporarily withhold the names of 130 state police troopers currently under investigation. The troopers are facing scrutiny for their alleged involvement in recording fictitious traffic stops, leading to an inflated number of traffic citations issued.

Superior Court Judge Rupal Shah, based in Middletown, rejected the union's request, citing technical reasons. Shah pointed out that the union's plea for an injunction was premature since the state Freedom of Information Commission had not yet determined whether the names should be made public.

Several media organizations, including The Associated Press, have sought access to the troopers' names. The Connecticut Mirror also requested this information but faced a denial from state public safety officials. However, The Connecticut Mirror has a pending appeal before the Freedom of Information Commission. The judge emphasized that the union could resort to the courts if the commission eventually decides to disclose the troopers' names.

The union has contended that the names of the troopers should remain confidential until the investigations are concluded. According to the union, 27 out of the 130 troopers have already been cleared of any wrongdoing by state police authorities, and they anticipate further exonerations. They argue that many discrepancies discovered during the audit may be attributed to errors in record-keeping or data entry.

In response to the judge's decision, the union issued a statement on Friday, stating, "We are reviewing the judge’s decision to determine whether it will be necessary to file an appeal."

The investigation stems from an audit conducted by data analysts from the University of Connecticut, which was released in June. The audit expressed a "high degree of confidence" that troopers had reported at least 25,966 traffic stops that had never actually occurred.

The researchers examined data submitted between 2014 and 2021 to a state database tracking the race and ethnicity of drivers stopped by police across the state. The erroneous reports were found to be more likely to identify drivers as white, potentially skewing data intended to prevent racial profiling.

It is crucial to note that the analysts did not determine whether the records were intentionally falsified or the result of human error. They raised suspicion because the reported traffic citations did not appear in the state court system records where all tickets are normally processed.

The union's main concern is that revealing the troopers' names prematurely could unjustly damage their reputations.