Troopers continue ticket blitzing

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Memorials placed at the scene of fatal accidents are becoming to common on the roads and highways in Connecticut, and that is one reason for the highly publicized and hotly debated ticket blitz by the Connecticut State Police. 

The most recent enforcement came out of Troop "D" in Danielson.

"I already got pulled over," said Juan Sullivan in downtown Danielson.  "He just wanted to see my license, that's it, the state police (did).  Just making sure I got a license, that's about it."

Finding troopers at work is an easy task.  It's a clear sign that the so-called negative publicity isn't slowing the ticket blitzing effort down.

"The cops are everywhere!" said Kurnal Patel, standing outside his package store in Danielson.  "Every single second they are stopping the people."

It was last week that News 8 first reported about a memo that went out from a state police lieutenant, challenging troopers to write as many tickets as possible. The winning shift would get a pizza.  The union worries, among other things, how troopers will be viewed by the public, as well as how they may be evaluated if certain numbers aren't met.  State Police leadership said evaluations aren't done by a single ticketing campaign.

An investigation into the practice, called for by Governor Dannel Malloy, revealed no wrong-doing, and focused ticket enforcement will continue.  

On Route 44, two crosses in the ground were left in memory of  17-year-old Sabastian Duclau and 18-year-old Jacob Sterczala. Both were killed last September.  Police said speed was a factor in the accident.

"It shouldn't have been (Sabastian) or Jake.  They were so young," said Devin Auger last September, a friend of the two boys lost.

Wednesday, the union told News 8 that they would alert the press for future blitz efforts.  They did that today, saying Troop C has a blitz tomorrow, and Troop K is performing an operation on Monday, April 9.  The times for each campaign begins at a minute past midnight, and will run through a minute before the next day.

For details on the upcoming ticket blitzes click here .