Andy Thibault

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COOL JUSTICE
Unsung Heroes among Marshals

By ANDY THIBAULT, Columnist
Law Tribune Newspapers
February 13, 2006
   
` I'm very lucky to have these guys.'

The prisoner, like many others, is not someone you would invite to dinner. Michael Betts, 44, has a long rap sheet including rape and many burglaries, larcenies and assaults.

Strangely enough, it was semi-normal behavior that got him into trouble again. On Jan. 9, Betts' probation officer learned he had a girlfriend. This was a violation of probation because he failed to report a new relationship. Not that he had ceased other activities: In early January he was arrested and accused to two counts of harassment and interfering with police. Betts had been an inmate at Garner prison in Newtown, which has a large population of mentally ill inmates.

When Betts was in the lockup at Hartford Superior Court on Jan. 31, a judicial marshal did not have this view of Betts. What he saw was another human being. This human being was in distress. He was hanging from the bars of his cell with clothing around his neck. The marshal called for help and colleagues helped cut Betts down, saving his life.

The marshals declined to be interviewed, saying through an intermediary that they were just doing their jobs and they did not want to draw any attention to the incident.

I mention this incident because it struck me - in the overall scheme of Connecticut's jails and holding cells - as an aberration. So many suicides have occurred in this state in the past five years - mostly in the jails of the Correction Department - I got the impression we were instituting suicide factories as subsidiaries.

The chief judicial marshal for Hartford, Larry Callahan, seems very happy in his job and comfortable with his team.

"I am extremely proud of the way they reacted in that situation and the way they act every day," Callahan said. "Most stuff goes unnoticed. I'm very lucky to have these guys."

Break-up Troubles Avoided

Most of us remember the story of the state trooper who fatally shot his former girlfriend last November. Trooper Victor Diaz had stalked Newington police officer Ciara McDermott at her West Harford home and broke into her house while she was still at work.

Diaz went through the e-mail in McDermott's computer and then ambushed her upon her arrival, shooting her in the body and head. Diaz shot himself to death before police arrived.

A much milder brewing incident nevertheless kindled fears last month among the rank and file of the Hartford and Newington police departments. It turns out another Newington officer broke up with a Hartford officer, triggering some tense moments. The Newington officer was able to document potentially threatening comments made by her ex-boyfriend. She brought the matter to her bosses, who referred her to Hartford PD.

The comments, a source said, were to the effect of, "So you're going to bring Newington into this … I'll kick their asses."

Newington Police Chief Richard Mulhall said no complaint was made, and the actions did not reach the legal threshold for a threat. The Hartford officer, sources said, was referred to counseling. Hartford Police Chief Patrick Harnett did not return several phone calls.

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