Sredzinski Recognized by Police Chiefs Association

MONROE – Representative J.P. Sredzinski (R-112) was honored Thursday as a “Legislator of the Year” by the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association for his efforts on behalf of law enforcement during the 2016 legislative session.

Rep. Sredzinski was singled out for his work on Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) consolidation legislation. In his profession outside the legislature, Rep. Sredzinski serves as the Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor for the Town of Stratford, and used his firsthand experience from this position to educate his colleagues about the PSAP issue.

There has been a push by some in the legislature to regionalize dispatch centers as a cost saving measure to the state, but opponents of the mandated consolidation, including Rep. Sredzinski, have argued that this law will be used by the state as a punitive tactic against smaller towns. He has attempted to negotiate for later implementation dates and smaller population thresholds for exclusion in the bill, among other strategies, to protect small to mid-sized towns.

The bill ultimately was not brought up for a vote in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Sredzinski (left) is presented with a “Legislator of the Year” award from the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association along with Rep. John Shaban (center).

Rep. Sredzinski (left) is presented with a “Legislator of the Year” award from the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association along with Rep. John Shaban (center).

“It is truly an honor to be recognized by the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association since this is coming from those of you who are literally on the front lines of our communities’ safety. It’s even more special as I work with many of you in both my legislative role and my full-time career in public safety communications,” said Rep. Sredzinski as he accepted the recognition. “It is important that legislators hear the voices of law enforcement and public safety professionals as they consider legislation, and I have worked hard to be that voice at the Capitol. Thank you for all the work that you do each and every day to protect our citizens.”

Earlier this year, Rep. Sredzinski was honored as “Legislator of the Year” as part of the Connecticut Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Awards. He also was recognized as the “Line Supervisor of the Year” for his work as a dispatch supervisor from NICE System’s PSAPs’ Finest Awards, a global recognition program for emergency communications professionals.

For more information on the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, please visit their website at www.cpcanet.org.