CT Awards Ceremony Tonight, April 30,
Dinosaur State Park, 6:00 p.m.

DEEP Honors Environmental Conservation Police Officers: Annual Ceremony Recognizes Outstanding Performance

Exemplary efforts to protect public safety and environment cited

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) tomorrow night (April 30) will recognize several of its Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police Officers for their exemplary work while protecting Connecticut’s citizens and the environment.

“Those we are honoring are part of an outstanding law enforcement tradition that dates back more than a century,” said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee. “Our officers play a unique role by performing traditional law enforcement duties as well as enforcement of the state’s fish and wildlife laws, investigation of boating accidents, handling of exotic species, and conducting search and rescue operations.”

At the DEEP’s annual EnCon recognition ceremony, to be held this year at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill Commissioner Klee will join EnCon Police Colonel Kyle Overturf in presenting 24 awards in six categories:
• Unit Citations: Recognizes exceptional collective effort by members of a district, sector or special. Awards presented to: HRSI Team – Sergeant Keith Schneider, Sergeant James Kane, Sergeant Jeffrey Samorajczyk, Officer Paul Hilli, Officer Keith Williams, and Officer Stephen Stanko. Old Saybrook Robbery – Sergeant Eric Lundin, Officer Jeffrey Bruno, and Officer Liam O’Brien.
• Medal for Meritorious Service: Sergeant James Wolfe, Sergeant Eric Lundin, Officer Scott Arsenault, Officer Jeffrey Bruno, Officer Britni Scatena, Officer Robert Monday, Officer Alexandria Blackwell, Officer Santo DeFelice, Officer Liam O’Brien, Officer Joseph Smith (Wallingford PD), Robert Stock (civilian), Douglas Stock (civilian). A Medal for Meritorious Service award bar with 2 gold stars will be permanently displayed on each officer’s uniform.
• Medal for Outstanding Service: Sergeant James Wolfe, Sergeant Eric Lundin, Special Conservation Officer Robert Clark, Officer Timothy Hill, Officer Keith Williams, Officer Edward Yescott, Officer Santo DeFelice, Officer Robert Monday, and Officer Liam O’Brien. A Medal for Achievement award bar with one gold star will be permanently displayed on each officer’s uniform.
• Boating Officer of the Year: Officer Laura Pettus
• Shikar-Safari Officer of the Year Award: Officer Scott Arsenault
• Lifesaving Award: Special Conservation Officer Erno Nandori and Special Conservation Officer Michael Godart
State Environmental Conservation Police

Known as “Special Game Protectors” when first created in 1895, the State Environmental Conservation Police are responsible for protecting the public and Connecticut’s natural resources through public education and outreach, prevention of crime and accidents and the enforcement of laws and regulations. EnCon officers work in three law enforcement districts - East, West and Marine - and nine areas of expertise: Fish and Game, Boating, Commercial Fishing, Wildlife Management, Parks and Forests, Recreational Vehicles, Search and Rescue, Homeland Security, and Public Outreach.

All EnCon officers are fully certified law enforcement officials with full arrest powers. In addition to traditional law enforcement duties, they have special responsibilities for protecting Connecticut’s natural resources and wildlife.

The EnCon police are a part of the DEEP’s Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and are under the command of Colonel Kyle Overturf.

2014 Conservation Officer Awards

Unit Citation Award

Hunting Related Shooting Incident (HRSI) Team

Sergeant Keith Schneider
Sergeant James Kane
Sergeant Jeffrey Samorajczyk
Officer Paul Hilli
Officer Keith Williams
Officer Stephen Stanko

On March 17, 2014 the Hunting Related Shooting Incident (HRSI) team was requested by the States Attorney’s office from Derby to assist in a shooting investigation in Shelton. The incident involved the shooting of a 15-year old male student from Shelton High School in a residential neighborhood. Sergeants Keith Schneider, James Kane, Jeffrey Samorajczyk and Officers Paul Hilli, Stephen Stanko, and Keith Williams worked for two days at the crime scene gathering evidence and reconstructing the incident. Their investigation revealed new evidence concerning the weapon involved and location of the shooter. The unit worked collaboratively with the Shelton Police Department and the State Police Major Crime Squad in an effort to determine a suspect in this homicide investigation.

Robbery in Westbrook

Sergeant Eric Lundin
Officer Jeffrey Bruno
Officer Liam O’Brien

On April 8, 2013, Troop F was advised that Old Saybrook Police Officers were engaged in a motor vehicle pursuit of a vehicle occupied by two suspects from a robbery in their town. The pursuit entered into the town of Westbrook. A State Trooper in the area heard the radio broadcast, activated his emergency lights and siren as the fleeing vehicle approached him from behind. The fleeing vehicle struck the trooper’s vehicle, resulting in both vehicles traveling off the roadway and down a steep embankment.
When the vehicles came to rest after the crash, the robbery suspects immediately opened fire at the trooper from four feet away. The Trooper leaned across the seat of his vehicle for cover and upon doing so was shot in his left ear and left shoulder. The injured trooper returned fire, striking the two armed suspects who temporarily ceased their fire due to their injuries. The Trooper was then removed from the scene by responding officers and immediately transported to a medical facility.

A stand-off with two armed suspects ensued. Troopers, along with local municipal police officers and EnCon Officer Liam O’Brien, Jeffrey Bruno and Sergeant Eric Lundin, arrived to assist with the perimeter of this very active and dangerous scene. This stand-off ultimately resulted in one of the two armed suspects being shot. The two armed suspects were subsequently removed from the vehicle, taken into custody, medically treated at the scene, and transported to area hospitals. The two armed suspects were convicted felons with violent criminal histories.

Lifesaving Award

Special Conservation Officer Erno Nandori
On August 27, 2013 Watertown PD issued a Silver Alert for an eighteen year old suicidal female. Special Conservation Officer Nandori located the female unresponsive in her vehicle at Black Rock State Park, Watertown. The girl had consumed a large quantity of prescription narcotics. Officer Nandori initiated a medical response and assisted in getting the female medical attention. His alertness and actions played a significant role in saving the female’s life.

Special Conservation Officer Michael Godart
On Sunday June 23, 2013 Special Conservation Officer Godart was on patrol in Gay City state Park in Hebron. Upon entering the park he noticed a beach chair and towel on the trunk of a car parked away from the designated parking area. Upon investigation, he saw a man unconscious in the driver’s seat. The vehicle was running, the heat control was set at high and there was a garden hose attached to the exhaust pipe that was running into the trunk area of the car. Officer Godart requested medical assistance and additional officers to the scene. Sergeant Matt Tomassone arrived to assist. The officers administered CPR until the ambulance arrived and transported the man to a local hospital where he later recovered. SCO Godart’s actions were responsible for saving the individual’s life.




Medal for Meritorious Service

The Medal for Meritorious Service shall be awarded to any person who renders service beyond the ordinary course of duty with alertness, perseverance, or timely judgment in the performance of a difficult task which results in the protection of life, the recovery of stolen property, the prevention or solving of a major crime, or the apprehension of an armed or dangerous person.
Sergeant James Wolfe
Sergeant Eric Lundin
Officer Jeffrey Bruno
Officer Robert Monday
Officer Santo DeFelice
Officer Liam O’Brien

On August 27, 2013 an e-mail was received by numerous DEEP employees from an individual threatening their safety and claiming he would poison the waters in Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth. Officers Robert Monday, Liam O’Brien and Santo Defelice along with Sergeants Eric Lundin and James Wolfe, immediately responded to the park.

Officers arrived at the park and quickly located the suspect’s vehicle. With assistance from the State Police, officers secured the scene and began searching the park for the suspect. During their search, the suspect continued to send threatening e-mails including threats against the responding officers. A short time later, the suspect was located and taken into custody. He was charged with numerous crimes including making terroristic threats.

During the incident, Officer Jeffrey Bruno along with members of the Madison Police Department responded to the suspect’s residence. His investigation and interviews with family members was instrumental in determining the threat to the park and possible motives behind the suspect’s actions.


Medal for Outstanding Service

The Division Medal for Outstanding Service or Achievement is awarded for successful performance of an extremely complex or difficult investigation, the demonstration of exceptional skill or ingenuity in the apprehension of a wanted person, outstanding service to the public or the agency, or to an officer who continuously achieves excellence in the performance of his or her duties over an extended time period.

Officer Timothy Hill
Officer Keith Williams
Officer Edward Yescott
Special Conservation Officer Robert Clark

On September 22, 2013 Officer Edward Yescott, Timothy Hill, Keith Williams and SCO Robert Clark responded to Dennis Hill State Park in Norfolk, CT for the report of an assault and possible road rage incident. SCO Clark was the first officer on scene and identified the female victim who stated that a male had physically assaulted her and that he left the park before the officers’ arrival. The victim refused medical attention but reported that she had been punched and kicked by the male suspect who was also identified by the victim as someone she knew.

While investigating the incident SCO Clark recovered a coat that the victim was wearing which contained a can of Red Bull energy drink. The can looked and felt like an unopened drink but SCO Clark noticed a false top on it which concealed 33 glassine baggies containing a powdery off white colored substance. Based on the training and work experience of officers at the scene they suspected that the substance and packaging was consistent with narcotics distribution. A field test indicated a positive reaction to heroin.

The victim later admitted that her assailant was a drug dealer and that he dropped her off at the park to sell heroin. She was later arrested for various illegal drug violations. The officers continued their investigation and by working with other law enforcement agencies, the male suspect was located and arrested on charges of domestic assault and drug violations.




Boating Officer of the Year Award

The Boating Enforcement Officer of the year awards is presented annually to an officer of the Division whose efforts in boating safety and boating safety enforcement are deemed to have contributed significantly to the safety of recreational boaters in Connecticut.

Officer Laura Pettus

Officer Laura Pettus is a 13-year veteran of the Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police and has been assigned to multiple enforcement sectors throughout her career. In 2012 she handled over twenty boating incidents including boating enforcement, boating accidents and abandoned vessels resulting in six arrests and seven written warnings for a variety of violations.

On April 21, 2012 at 11:30 PM she was tasked with responding to and leading the investigation of a fatal boating accident on Mashapaug Lake in Union, Connecticut. A bass boat, which was operating at night, had crashed into boulders and trees on the shoreline resulting in the death of the passenger and minor injuries to the operator. The crash was particularly difficult to process due to the remote location which was extremely difficult to access.

After a lengthy and thorough investigation lead by Officer Pettus, the operator was arrested by warrant. He was charged with Manslaughter Second Degree, Manslaughter Second Degree with a Vessel, Reckless Operation of a Vessel First Degree While Under the Influence, Failure to Maintain Proper Lookout While Operating a Vessel, Operating a Vessel at Speed in Excess of Slow-No-Wake within 100 feet of Shore, Failure to Comply with Federal Requirements Regarding Anchor Lights, Insufficient Personal Floatation Devises and Exceeding Speed Limit.

Officer Pettus successfully conducted an extremely difficult and thorough investigation coordinating with officers from multiple agencies and the Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit while employing exceptional skill resulting in the arrest of the vessel operator. During 2012 she also had more than 275 law enforcement incidents with 70 arrests and 47 written warnings. For her thoroughness, timeliness and perseverance she has been nominated for the Boating Officer of the Year for 2013.


Conservation Officer of the Year
Shikar-Safari Officer of the Year Award

The Shikar-Safari Club International, an organization that promotes wildlife conservation and protection, sponsors the Shikar-Safari Officer of the Year Award. The award recognizes and honors officers who have shown exemplary performance of their duties in the protection of wildlife, enforcement of game laws and implementation of conservation programs.

Officer Scott Arsenault

Officer Scott Arsenault has been employed by the State of Connecticut since 1994 and has been worked for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection since 2000. Officer Arsenault is well versed in all phases of conservation law enforcement and has an unparalleled knowledge of his patrol zone which has been an asset during the past year.

During the past year, Officer Arsenault has taken enforcement action in the following areas: juvenile arrests, fishing, hunting, trapping, criminal arrests and transports, forty eight hour probable cause hearings, preparing arrest warrants, boating accident investigation, illegal dumping, and search and rescue.

Officer Arsenault has handled numerous late night complaints including one night last fall when he responded to a threatening complaint at Hopeville Pond State Park, Voluntown and his investigation resulted in the arrest of a juvenile for Breach of Peace and threatening.

Another time notification was made about a suicidal male believed to be in the area of Dawley Pond, Voluntown. Very quickly, Officer Arsenault located the vehicle and the male subject and had him safely transported to Backus hospital.

Later in the fall, Officer Arsenault responded to a report of an individual trespassing and unlawfully discharging a fire arm. Upon arriving at the scene, he was engaged in a foot pursuit with the suspect, and caught the suspect who was intoxicated, and in possession of a loaded firearm. The suspect initially refused to cooperate and surrender the weapon. Scott’s conditioning and defensive tactics were challenged, the suspect was safely taken into custody and charged accordingly. This incident is an example of Scott’s extraordinary ability to function under adverse conditions.

Taking into consideration all of Officer Arsenault's contributions to the Division of the Environmental Conservation Police during 2013, the selected candidate for Officer of the Year for 2013 is Officer Scott Arsenault.



Cyndy Chanaca
Office of Communications
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127
P: 860.424.3219F: 860.424.4053E: cyndy.chanaca@ct.gov

You ought to come up with a special award for the two guys who run around New Haven Harbor freezing their arses off in that little open runabout. They do a great job and also manage to keep their sense of humor. They checked me out last November - I was running my 43' cruiser up the main NH channel after blackfishing, and this little boat kept changing its course while approaching from stbd and staying on a collision course with me. I'm thinking to myself "are these guys nuts?" They finally got along side of me and showed their badges, so I pulled out of the channel. Everything checked out fine, and they even took my wiseass comment about thinking I was being boarded by Somali pirates with a chuckle.