Thirty-three Connecticut state troopers will be compensated with a day off after they were mandated for “voluntary overtime assignments” at Lime Rock State Park for the LIUNA 150 NASCAR event in July, according to a stipulated agreement between the Connecticut State Police Union and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
“In July of 2026, the Union filed a grievance after discovering the agency improperly mandated uniformed Troopers to work voluntary overtime assignments at Lyme (sic) Rock Park,” wrote CSPU President Tod Fedigan in an August 11 update to union members.
Although troopers can be mandated to work overtime due to staffing shortages, they can also voluntarily sign up for overtime shifts. State troopers were on hand to conduct traffic control, crowd safety, and escort the race team haulers on their “parade” to the track during the July 10 and 11 events.
“We are incredibly proud to be a part of these major community events,” the Connecticut State Police posted on Facebook on July 10. “Our top priority throughout the weekend is ensuring a safe, smooth, and fun experience for all the race fans, teams, and local residents.”
In exchange for the day off for those troopers, the union dropped its grievance, one of several grievances or complaints filed over the past year by the union.
In October 2025, the CSPU filed a grievance alleging troopers had missed overtime opportunities when the department switched to a new scheduling and payroll system, part of a $6 million, year-long upgrade meant to improve system oversight and function, calling the switch a “unilateral change and display of incompetence.”
The union also filed a complaint with the state labor board following DESPP’s $120 million contract with Axon for new body cameras, GPS systems, tasers, license plate readers, and drones, alleging the new body camera systems constitute a change in working conditions.
Recently, the union alleged that troopers’ body cameras, which have the ability to be watched in real time by others, had been accessed by civilian staff, prompting Colonel Daniel Loughman to issue an order saying that there must be a “legitimate articulable law enforcement reason, or supervisory purpose,” for accessing the Live View feature.
The union and DESPP are currently in their last round of negotiations over “economic and non-economic proposals” for a new labor contract, following General Assembly approval of a $70 million contract in 2023 and an $8.2 million wage reopener in 2025. However, Fedigan informed troopers they were willing to go to arbitration if troopers aren’t “fairly compensated.”
“If the parties are unable to come to an agreement, 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,” Fedigan wrote.
The previous contract boosted wages and bonuses in an effort to recruit more troopers to the chronically understaffed state police force that accounts for some of the most overtime spending in the state. While troopers may be earning more pay, the number of troopers has not shown much improvement, and overtime costs continue to climb.
From fiscal year 2024 to FY 2026, overtime costs at DESPP have increased from $43.7 million to $53.9 million, part of an overall $36 million increase in overtime spending across state agencies, according to the Office of Fiscal Analysis. Overtime pay is factored into state pensions and can lead to pension spiking.
CPUS President Fedigan credited Colonel Laughman with helping the union and DESPP come to an agreement awarding a day off to the 33 troopers who were mandated to stay for the NASCAR race, but warned the union would not tolerate “intentional violations of our contract.”
“In the future, we ask all Troopers to send a confidential email/notice to the Union when you learn of a similar situation(s),” Fedigan wrote. “Intentional violations of our contract, which cause significant hardships for our Troopers and their families, will not be tolerated by your Union leadership.”
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