DEEP Honors Environmental Conservation Police Officers

On Wednesday evening, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection recognized several of its Environmental Conservation Police Officers for their exemplary work while protecting Connecticut’s citizens and the environment.

One of the officers who was honored was Laura Pettus of Somers. Pettus received a Medal for Meritorious Service and also the Medal of Outstanding Service.

“Those we are honoring with these awards are part of an outstanding law enforcement tradition that dates back more than a century,” said DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty in a statement. “Our officers play a unique role by performing traditional law enforcement duties as well as enforcing laws aimed at protecting this state’s natural resources and wildlife.”

The Medal for Meritorious Service is awarded to a 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.

In October 2012, Pettus was on patrol at Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford on a complaint of illegal operation of All Terrain Vehicles. While investigating the complaint she came up upon a male who was displaying, in plain view, two handguns and a large ‘Bowie’ style knife on his person.  

She made contact with the male at which time she recalled that he matched the description of an earlier reported complaint of a man carrying a large knife on his belt who had brandished a firearm. This earlier incident had occurred within the same area.  Upon investigation, Pettus confiscated the firearms and knife from the male and issued him an infraction for the violation. Upon further investigation, Pettus determined the suspect was the same person in both incidents. With Officer Steve Stanko’s assistance, an arrest warrant was obtained and the man was arrested. Due to his strange actions and behaviors in both incidents, Pettus and Stanko applied for a risk warrant for the suspect and his home.  

The warrant was signed and in November was executed with Sgt. Matthew Tomassone. Tomassone organized and executed the multi-department initiative to conduct the warrant service. Tomassone’s safe and secure plan of approach into the suspect’s home resulted in a safe mission and the seizure of a grenade (which was later found to be inert) and 70 various types of firearms.

Pettus and Stanko showed timely judgment in their actions by completing required tasks speedily and professionally. Tomassone exuded a command presence which helped to maintain a safe environment while being involved in a high stress situation in an extremely challenging environment.

Tomassone, Pettus, and Stanko were all commended for their professional actions that resulted in the arrest of a criminal as well as the seizure of a large number of firearms.

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.

On April 21, EnCon officers responded to Mashapaug Lake in Union for a report of a boating accident with injuries. The accident involved a 17-foot power boat that allegedly ran aground with two people on board. Both victims were then transported to area hospitals for medical treatment where one of the victims later died as a result.  

Pettus and Officer Scott Arsenault conducted a complete and thorough lengthy investigation, including a Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit (BARU) investigation, into the incident which resulted in a warrant arrest for the operator of the vessel for multiple boating and criminal violations.  

Both officers successfully conducted an extremely difficult and timely investigation using exceptional skill which resulted in the arrest.  

Pettus and Arsenault were commended for their excellence in the performance of their duties.

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.