K-9 officer has collected $282k in overtime in 2023 with 18 days to go in the year.

Even veteran members of the State Police force are agog at K-9 officer Bruce LaChance’s 2023 overtime. The 15-year Trooper First Class has made $282,506 in overtime so far this year. That’s in addition to his projected salary of $106,000, according to the state’s Open Payroll website. LaChance’s total pay this year is $422,040. That’s an increase from last year’s $229,208 in overtime, which was 64% of his total pay of $356,648.

Governor Ned Lamont has had no success getting state police overtime costs under control. The LaChance example also raises urgent safety issues. How can a trooper work that many hours and remain effective?

In a separate development, two high-ranking civilian officials in the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection were suspended from their positions Wednesday. DESPP did not release details. CTInsider.com, which has five reporters on the story, reported the suspensions were unrelated to the continuing investigation into thousands of fake traffic tickets that came to light earlier this year.

Daily Ructions has learned the cause of the suspensions will likely add to the problems the fractious agency’s new commissioner, Ronnell Higgins, who begins his tenure with high hopes that he will be able to solve the accumulating challenges to DESPP’s ability to carry out its responsibilities to the public.

Published December 14, 2023.

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