The Connecticut State Police Union (CSPU) says that civilian staff and supervisors at the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection have “improperly” accessed live feeds of state troopers’ body-worn cameras while those troopers were interacting with the public, according to a contract negotiation update sent to troopers.
“The Union recently discovered that some civilian staff and supervisors have been improperly, without justification or notice to our Troopers, accessing the live feed of the Axon BWC’s while Troopers are actively interacting with the public,” wrote State Police Union President Todd Fedigan in an August 11, 2026, update on union negotiations with the state.
“This is not only a change in working conditions, but is also a breach of the States’ agreement to cease and desist regarding additional changes while the parties negotiate DESPP’s unilateral implementation of Axon earlier this year,” Fedigan continued. “As a result, the Union has met with Colonel Loughman and has requested the unauthorized monitoring of our Troopers cease immediately.”
DESPP contracted with Axon for $120 million, which includes AI-assisted body cameras, vehicle cameras, upgraded tasers, license plate readers, and drones. The CSP Union has argued that implementation of this technology, which allows supervisors to essentially tap into a trooper’s camera and watch their activities in real time, constituted a change in workplace conditions and is therefore subject to contract negotiations. The Union filed a complaint with the state labor board in April 2026.
The disagreement over the Axon technology and how it is being used by DESPP to monitor troopers comes amid ongoing contract negotiations between the union and the state following a $70 million contract approved in 2023, which offered wage increases and bonuses, and a one-year, $8.2 million wage reopener that was approved in 2025.
But it also comes amid heightened tension between the public and police over the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) that monitor and log every car that passes by a camera. Flock, one of the most well-known companies that have deployed these cameras across the country, has suddenly found itself on the defensive as members of the public have crowded into town meetings calling on municipal leaders to reject the camera systems.
While police departments claim the technology helps them catch criminals or find missing persons, the information can also be accessed by departments across the country, including federal law enforcement agencies, and can be misused.
Departments are resistant to turning over ALPR data as part of Freedom of Information requests, and, in at least one instance in Colchester, cameras were used without express permission from town officials or public input.
Already, state and municipal officials are pulling back on their support of ALPRs, and some towns have issued moratoriums on the technology.
A meeting of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association was held on August 12, 2026, to discuss the implications and issues around technology such as Flock and Axon.
The meeting came just one day after State Senators Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, and James Maroney, D-Milford, issued a letter calling on municipalities to pause the installation of ALPRs until new legislation can be enacted. Gov. Ned Lamont also urged towns and cities to hit pause on surveillance technology.
However, as much as police may support the technology for crime fighting, it appears they may not be so amenable to being on camera without their knowledge. Fedigan wrote that the union has not had an opportunity to negotiate the new Axon policy and, therefore, no one should be accessing troopers’ cameras short of an emergency.
“Until the Union has had the opportunity to negotiate the new Axon policy, unless there is a bonified emergency or other official purpose authorized by OFO or the Colonel’s Office, NO personnel should be monitoring the activities of our Troopers,” Fedigan wrote. “If the future, if the Union verifies any additional unauthorized access, we will demand the offender submit an explanatory to their superior(s) and we will request a formal disciplinary investigation.”
Fedigan also indicated that the union and the state are entering the final phase of their negotiations for the 2026-2030 contract. Fedigan wrote that “the Union is prepared to take our case to arbitration to ensure our Troopers are fairly compensated for the dangers and risks they face every day protecting Connecticut.”
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