Sen. Rob Kane, Middlebury Police Chief Testify on Public Safety Measure

Acting Middlebury Police Chief Richard Wildman (left) and Sen. Rob Kane (right) testified before the state legislature’s Public Safety Committee March 14 on behalf of a proposal which would require the Division of the State Police to use the Connecticut Statewide Police Emergency Radio Network to notify all local police departments of any ongoing shooting incident at a school, shopping mall or another heavily populated location.

On March 14, Sen. Rob Kane and Acting Middlebury Police Chief Richard Wildman testified before the state legislature’s Public Safety Committee on behalf of a proposal which would require the Division of the State Police to use the Connecticut Statewide Police Emergency Radio Network (CSPERN) to notify all local police departments of any ongoing shooting incident at a school, shopping mall or another heavily populated location.

“We want to make sure that all local police agencies are notified when there is an active shooter anywhere in the state,” Sen. Kane said. “It’s a common sense idea, and it was very well received by both Republicans and Democrats on the committee.”

The bill came at the request of Chief Wildman, who noted that this proposal will enable local departments to send resources to the affected town and also increase security at heavily populated locations in their own communities.

The proposed legislation should not come at an extra cost taxpayers since all local police departments already have CSPERN.

“Chief Wildman did an excellent job in his testimony, and we appreciate him coming to Hartford to do so,” Sen. Kane said. “His idea may lead to a new state law which will better protect the public.”

Sen. Kane (www.senatorkane.com) represents the 32nd Senatorial District, which includes Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Middlebury, Oxford, Seymour, Southbury, Roxbury, Washington, Watertown and Woodbury.