Split on nominee
State commission deadlocks on inspector general nominee.
The state’s Criminal Justice Commission, in two deadlock votes Thursday, failed to nominate a prosecutor for the new role of inspector general, a key position tasked with investigating deaths at the hands of police in Connecticut, opting instead to send the names of both finalists to the legislature for consideration.
After several hours of interviews, comments and deliberations, the commission cast its votes just before 7 p.m., split 3-3 between NewBritain State’s Attorney Brian Preleski and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney C. Robert Satti. Jr., whoworks in the Fairfield Judicial District.
Voting in favor of Preleski were Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, Reginald Dwayne Betts and MoyN. Ogilvie. Voting for Satti were Robert Berke, Scott Murphy and Judge Melanie Cradle. Murphy was Preleski’s predecessor as NewBritain state’s attorney.
Chief State’s Attorney Richard J. Colaneglo is a member of the commission, but is barred from voting on positions including deputy chief state’s attorney, which includes the inspector general.
Failing to reach an agreed-upon nominee with an Oct. 1 deadline looming, McDonald, the commission chair, offered that they send both names to the legislature for consideration and was met with no objections.
“I am sorry that we have not been able to break the deadlock, but we have spent an awful lot of time trying to resolve this important issue,” McDonald said in closing the meeting. “I should say, by the way, both of these candidates are extraordinarily accomplished attorneys, and the judiciary committee will have a very difficult time, I suspect, as we did, in navigating this process.”
Both Preleski and Satti have decades of experience as prosecutors in the Division of Criminal Justice trying complicated cases. Preleski, New Britain’s state’s attorney since 2011, has been with the division for 27 years. Satti, who has spent a decade as a supervisor, recently celebrated his 40th year as a prosecutor.
As the commission began interviewing the candidates for inspector general, commissioners spoke of having little precedent to guide their inquiries, but stressed questions about transparency, experience with complex cases and whether each attorney was willing to prosecute police officers.
Both Preleski and Satti, aware that the role could cause friction between the office and law enforcement, did not hesitate to say they would prosecute police officers who violated the law in using deadly force. The two