Herbst Forms 'Law and Order' Task Force

TRUMBULL, CT — Republican governor candidate Tim Herbst has formed a "Law and Order Task Force" to look at the state's criminal justice practices and policies.

"Gov. Malloy has used the cover provided by a nationwide trend of decreasing crime to weaken our state's support for law enforcement, pursue unproven and dangerous prison policies that let criminals out of jail early, shelter criminal illegal aliens from federal law enforcement, eliminate capital punishment and much more," Herbst said.

Connecticut saw a 20 percent reduction in the violent crime rate between 2012 and 2016, according to FBI crime data. It was the largest percentage drop of any state during that time period. The next closest states were New Jersey (-16%), Florida (-12%) and Pennsylvania (-11%). A total of 13 states saw crime rates drop between 2012 and 2016, one state saw no change and the rest saw increases.

"In just the last several months, an inmate gave birth in a prison cell at the York female prison rather than at a hospital and without the proper medical care, another inmate escaped from the maximum security prison in Somers, a convicted felon, released from prison early under Malloy's early release program, drove his car through the front of Middlesex Hospital and tried to light himself on fire and now a convicted felon released on parole is suspected of murdering three people in Griswold," Herbst said. "These incidents are on top of crimes and tragedies we know have been perpetuated by felons deemed safe to release early from prison by this administration, including the murder of a convenience store owner in Meriden by Frankie 'the Razor' Resto and the murder of a 14-month old toddler in Bristol by Arthur Hapgood."

The task force includes Senior Assistant State Attorney David Gulick, State Rep. Dr. William Petit and several current and former law enforcement members.

Herbst said he wants to end Malloy's early prison release program, make changes to the prison management system, restore capital punishment and crack down on sanctuary cities.

Patch file photo