White House meeting benefits local police leaders
New London, Norwich, Groton Town chiefs among state contingent
Four local police leaders, among a group that participated in a first-of-its-kind conference in the District of Columbia last month, said the contacts they made could benefit them for months to come.
For two years, the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, or the IGA, has been hosting local leaders from various states, teaching them about available federal government services and who to contact should they need help.
Connecticut and Rhode Island, which sent about 100 police, politicians, board members and community leaders to the joint meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Oct. 18, were among the last states to be invited.
The goal, the IGA said in a news release, has been to improve relationships, promote federalism and advance shared priorities.
“They said this has never been done, where they go directly to each state to have a discussion,” said Groton Town police Chief Louis J. Fusaro Jr., who attended the conference.
Fusaro said he and the others there weren’t sure why the IGA selected them. When they asked, the IGA declined to answer, he said.
But officials did say they handled Connecticut differently because it doesn’t have county-level government, Fusaro said.
Many states sent sheriffs and county commissioners to their meeting with the IGA. Because Connecticut has neither, the IGA selected a mix of state and local politicians and police.
During the three-hour meeting, top delegates from federal agencies discussed small business regulations, commerce, education, energy and veterans affairs — topics the IGA selected specifically for Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Many who were present had some kind of tie to Connecticut, Fusaro said, and the day also included a tour of the East Wing of the White House.
“They’re trying to convey the message that the door’s open,” Fusaro said. “That ‘We don’t care whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, independent — we’re still here. If you
need something, call us.’”
New London police Chief Peter Reichard, who attended the conference along with Capt. Todd Bergeson, said the list the IGA handed out includes contacts for every federal agency and the White House.
The information “gives a name and face to administration members” police may have to deal with, Reichard said.
Norwich police Chief Patrick Daley, another member of the Connecticut contingent, said he wasn’t sure why the Trump administration opted to have the meeting in person but he found it useful.
Daley, whose department applies for many U.S. Department of Justice grants, said he expects to consult the contact list next time police have a question.
Daley said he also plans to share the list at the next city staff meeting he attends, so others will know who to call when they’re dealing with a federal program.
He said local politicians “have been great” in terms of supporting and being a voice for the department “but it doesn’t hurt getting support from the federal Executive Branch, as well.”