Date: Fri 23-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

state-police-Bardelli

Full Text:

Former Newtowner Named To Head State Police

BY EVAN BERLAND

ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARTFORD -- Connecticut's longest-serving state police officer has been named

commander of the nearly 1,000-member force. He takes over from an embattled

chief who opted to retire rather than be demoted.

Maj John Bardelli, named January 15 to replace Col William McGuire as head of

the state police, has spent 32 years with the law enforcement agency, earning

a law degree along the way. Now a resident of Bethlehem, Bardelli, 53, is a

former resident of Newtown and a 1962 graduate of Newtown High School.

Mr Bardelli's appointment was announced by new Public Safety Commissioner John

Connelly at his swearing-in ceremony.

"I agree with his philosophy. I believe he agrees with mine," Mr Connelly

said.

Mr Connelly moved swiftly to deal with recent controversy surrounding Mr

McGuire, a state police commander whose nomination for Public Safety

commissioner had been withdrawn amid charges he had abused his powers.

Mr McGuire filed for retirement Wednesday, just eight days after Mr Connelly

was recommended for the post of Public Safety Commissioner, whose

responsibilities include overseeing the state police and fire marshal's

office.

Mr McGuire was told he would not remain head of the state police or be named

one of its two lieutenant colonels, Mr Connelly said.

Mr Connelly and Mr Bardelli have at least two things in common: both are US

Navy veterans and both are lawyers. Mr Bardelli obtained his law degree from

the University of Connecticut, and passed the bar in 1981 while serving as a

state police captain.

Mr McGuire had been the governor's first pick to head the Department of Public

Safety, and had been serving both as its acting commissioner and head of the

state police.

The legislature must approve the governor's nomination. Key lawmakers already

have indicated they will support Mr Connelly.

The governor said he wanted Mr Connelly to serve in his administration when he

took office three years ago, and offered him posts in the departments of

Corrections and Public Safety. Connelly turned down the offers in part so he

could follow through on the prosecution of Richard Reynolds, a drug-dealing

cop killer now on death row.

Gov Rowland said he is excited about Connelly taking over the department.

"We've had some problems in the last several months, gotten undo public

attention. This is a chance for us to start with a fresh, clean slate," the

governor said.

Mr Connelly, in turn, said Mr Bardelli has widespread support to head the

state police.

"The people I've talked to, both within the state police and out of the state

police, have a great deal of respect for Major Bardelli," Mr Connelly said.

In taking over, Mr Bardelli received his fifth promotion, to colonel, since

leaving the training academy as a trooper in 1966.

He said morale among police is not as low as some critics have claimed, but

admitted to some inconsistency with management.

"I think we have to settle down and get back to basics here," said Mr

Bardelli.

He is a father of five and married to Edith Bardelli, a 21-year state police

veteran who serves as a detective assigned to the casino unit.

State police critics who had vocally opposed Mr McGuire's promotion said last

week Mr Bardelli is a good pick.

"I think he will be a confidence-builder in attempting to try and carry out

the mission of the state police and get them back on track again," said Rep

Scott Santa-Maria, a Bethel Republican and police officer.

State police Union President Robert Veach said Mr Bardelli is well-respected

by rank-and-file troopers. But he said a lot of work must be done to overcome

staffing and equipment shortages that have helped lead to "obvious morale

problems and inefficiencies."

Mr McGuire had come under fire after he was accused of dispatching police to

search a copier store's security video in an attempt to find the sender of an

anonymous fax critical of his work. He was also accused of verbally abusing a

female state trooper and of making anti-lesbian comments about another

trooper.

He has denied the allegations. A state police spokesman said Mr McGuire was

not available for comment.

Mr Bardelli said the state police will not condone sexual harassment or

anti-gay remarks.

"We'll make sure that is the message that's sent out," he said.