Lame-Duck Treasurer Investigated For Corruption (The Hartford Courant)- After lame-duck Treasurer Paul J. Silvester agreed to invest $25 million of state pension funds with a firm once referred to his office by Gov. John G. Rowland, at least nine members of Silvester's staff got new state jobs and his brother was interviewed for a judgeship. Silvester, who pleaded guilty in September to federal corruption charges, has told prosecutors that after he lost last November's election, he met with Rowland and requested jobs for 15 people and a state judgeship for his brother. Rowland - who says Silvester also demanded perks, including a three- digit license plate - says he "basically laughed at him," telling Silvester he could not help. Not long after that, Silvester said, he was approached by James A. Mengacci, whose brother, Joseph A. Mengacci, is a close friend of Rowland and heads the state commission that selects candidates for judgeships. Mengacci allegedly told Silvester that if he wanted the jobs and judgeship, he should invest more money in Pioneer Ventures Associates, a fund in which James Mengacci held a partnership interest. Silvester, a Republican, committed the $25 million on December 16, three weeks before his term expired, bringing the state's total investment in Pioneer to $75 million. Now, a review of state records shows that nine former Silvester staffers began new state jobs in the weeks following the final Pioneer investment, including at least one who was hired by the banking department at the direction of the governor's co-chief of staff. Since details of Silvester's allegations first appeared a month ago, the governor's office has sought to minimize the significance of any jobs awarded to Silvester's staffers. On Oct. 3, before it became clear how many people were given new jobs, a source close to Rowland was quoted as saying that "very few, if any" of Silvester's aides got jobs. Then, two weeks ago, Rowland spokesman Dean C. Pagani suggested that Silvester had actually wanted jobs for "20 to 30 people." On Thursday, Pagani upped that figure to 39, saying "the only thing remarkable is the low number of people who got jobs."

Connecticut Addresses Police Brutality (The Hartford Courant)- There is little disagreement that police officers must, at times, use deadly force to protect themselves and others. Less clear, though, is how the incidents should be investigated - and to what extent the inquiries should consider whether an officer violated police policy in the events leading to a fatality. Two groups - one based in law enforcement, the other in civil rights - are developing their own, perhaps conflicting, answers. Although both appear likely to recommend changes to strengthen the investigative process, civil rights leaders say policy violations - such as racial profiling - should be considered in determining whether an officer should be criminally charged. "If we eventually agree on a process," said Litchfield State's Attorney Frank Maco, "we all come out winners." The council was empaneled by the governor this year to study the issue and consider legislative changes. The road to the General Assembly promises to be complicated. Among the changes the council is considering is a proposal that would strengthen the hand of state prosecutors by granting them subpoena powers to investigate shootings involving police. The council, which is expected to issue recommendations by the year's end, is also considering an alternative such as a grand jury with subpoena power. Council members also are discussing a plan that would require all investigative reports of shootings involving police to be forwarded to the statewide police training agency for review. But state Sen. Alvin Penn, the force behind last year's landmark legislation banning the use of racial profiling by police, and Connecticut NAACP President Roger Vann are looking for more radical change. State law now allows anyone, including a police officer, to use deadly force to avert great bodily harm or death to himself or another person. The law does not address the circumstances leading to a fatal situation. Penn said he wants to broaden the investigative scope of incidents of deadly force by police to include consideration of policy violations when determining whether a crime was committed. For example, if a police officer violates the department's pursuit policy and then fatally shoots a suspect, the policy violation could be used as the basis of a criminal charge such as negligent homicide. The General Assembly will likely be faced with sorting through the various, and sometimes competing, recommendations during its next session.

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