CT Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

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CRACKING OPEN CELL PHONES: The forensic lab is providing the latest technology to help local police quickly access phones they seize. Watch this WTNH-TV report on how the DESPP crime lab is changing the way investigators work -- and helping police solve cases faster. Oxygen Forensics Grayshift Connecticut Division of Scientific Services Ronnell Higgins State of Connecticut - Office of the Governor Ned Lamont Fernando Spagnolo https://lnkd.in/eCKDZfSM

Holiday hot chocolate at HQ: Folks from DESPP's six divisions enjoyed cocoa and treats. Were you there? Ronnell Higgins Daniel L. Ryan Howe Nicole Lake Jeffrey Morrissette Clayton Northgraves Jeremy M. Miller Fendi B. Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security William Turner Lady Mendoza Ashley Zane

DESPP is working to provide clear and concise information about the recent concern about drone activity in Connecticut. Take a minute and watch Sgt. Kevin Pelkey from the CSP's Drone Detection Unit. Also please check out the links to reports by Luke Hajdasz from WFSB TV and Eva Zymaris from WTNH-TV. https://lnkd.in/eWAEhAVc https://lnkd.in/eWEpRKFb

Hartford visit: After meeting with Comptroller Sean Scanlon and fire chiefs from around the state, we checked in with William Tong on Tuesday afternoon. Ronnell Higgins Nicole Lake Michael Mascari, PhD, MPH

Watch that tree: DESPP and the Connecticut Fire Academy have a few words of advice about that tree in your living room: watch out for electric outlets, cords, and make sure you have a smoke detector. Jeffrey Morrissette Ronnell Higgins

STUDENTS SERVING: At Vinal Technical High School in Middletown, students in the Criminal Justice and Protective Services Program are operating the only student-run Emergency Operations Center in Connecticut. At the opening of the expanded EOC Tuesday, students explained how their work is preparing them for careers as first responders. This fall, Vinal students have launched a daily intelligence briefing for first responders around the country. "There is something special going on here,'' said DESPP Commissioner Ronnell Higgins. "This represents an initiative that I hope will transform how we inspire, train and hire young people for public safety positions in the state of Connecticut." The $300,000 expansion was made possible with help from Samsung Electronics America, Comcast and RnB Enterprises, Inc. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alice Pritchard @

Monday Morning DESPP punch list at HQ: traffic safety, auto theft, internships, recruitment, renovations at the firing range, the upcoming legislative session. Ronnell Higgins Brenda Bergeron Nicole Lake Daniel L. Curtis Eller Michael Mascari, PhD, MPH Ashley Zane Sarah Karwan Fendi B. #makingithappen

NOW ON THE JOB PROTECTING YOUR HOME: 62 recruits from the Connecticut Fire Academy graduated Friday afternoon and they will join 18 different departments across the state. Ronnell Higgins Jeffrey Morrissette

Visitors from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped by the state Emergency Operations Center in Hartford this week to visit with leaders from the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security as well as the Department of Public Health. That's state Emergency Management Director William Turner in the middle. Brenda Bergeron Ronnell Higgins