A Connecticut State Police (CSP) policy implemented in September 2025 ‘restricts’ troopers from communicating directly with several offices, instead requiring them to forward requests through the chain of command of the Colonel’s Office.
The policy, which was sent to all sworn CSP personnel from Deputy Commissioner Colonel Daniel Loughman, restricts sworn CSP members from initiating direct contact with the Legal Affairs Department without prior approval from the colonel’s office and also from responding to media inquiries.
All communication with the Commissioner’s Office, Legal Affairs, and external entities must go through the colonel’s office. The policy also places restrictions on how sworn personnel can contact the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Fiscal department and Fleet.
“All communications for approvals from the Commissioner and/or the Commissioner’s staff, or requests for information or clarification from the Commissioner and/or the Commissioner’s staff shall be forwarded up the employee’s chain of command through the Office of the Colonel.” the policy, obtained by Inside Investigator, states.
It also stipulates that requests requiring approval must include a decision memorandum that “explains the issue, relevant research conducted and background on that issue, and the nature of the approval requested.”
The policy also prohibits sworn CSP members from initiating contact with the Legal Affairs Unit without prior approval from the colonel’s office.
“All inquiries, requests or communications intended for the Legal Affairs Unit must be routed through the proper chain of command up to the Office of the Colonel. Only the Office of the Colonel or designated representatives of the Colonel are authorized to communicate directly with the Legal Affairs Unit. This policy is essential to maintain the integrity of agency legal processes.” the policy states.
The policy also states that requests for expenditures of agency funds “must be conducted through the appropriate chain of command.”
“The Office of the Colonel or their designee retains the sole authority to authorize expenditure of agency funding within the Division of State Police to ensure clarity, accountability, and proper management of agency resources.” the policy states.
It further specifies that sworn CSP members may only contact Fleet for vehicle assignments and must follow the chain of command by submitting an email request, including the model; vehicle identification number; registration; and mileage of the current vehicle assigned to them, to their immediate supervisor.
Finally, the policy prohibits sworn CSP members from communicating with “external entities,” including private attorneys or defense counsels and the media.
CSP members are directed to refer any requests from private attorneys to the Legal Affairs Unit and inform the attorney of the referral.
They are also instructed not to file complaints against members of the judiciary, private attorneys, state attorneys, or other “professionally licensed individuals” and instead should “[c]ompile a memorandum describing the proposed complaint and forward it up the chain of command to the Office of the Counsel.”
CSP personnel who receive media requests are prohibited from speaking to the media and are instead to “[i]nform the media requestor that you are not authorized to speak on behalf of the agency” and refer them to CSP’s Public Information Office.
“What’s being imposed here is a gag order, plain and simple.” Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Center (NEFAC), said of the policy’s restriction on sworn CSP members speaking to the media.
While Silverman said more information about the policy, including whether there are consequences for violating it, is needed, similar types of restrictions on public employees’ speech are often found unconstitutional under the First Amendment because they impose prior restraint. Prior restraint occurs when government prohibits speech before it occurs.
“The First Amendment protects the ability, in this case of police, to speak openly and candidly about their experiences. Any policy that prevents them from doing so and restricts the ability of journalists to have conversations with those employees raises many red flags.” Silverman said.
Under a section titled “Enforcement,” the policy directs supervisors and commanding officers to ensure compliance and “report any violation” to the Office of the Colonel.
According to an statement from CSP Public Information Office (PIO) in response to questions from Inside Investigator, the memo “reiterates longstanding policy that CSP is a paramilitary organization and chain of command procedures must be followed.”
“This is done to ensure maximum efficiency and to uphold the chain of command. The Legal Affairs Unit, for example, has a limited number of attorneys and oversees an extremely high volume of litigation, FOIA requests, and contract work. That unit was receiving repeated inquiries directly from personnel in the field, such as requests for basic statutory and caselaw interpretation, which would have better been directed to the Trooper’s supervisor.” PIO wrote. The response to Inside Investigator’s questions was not attributed to any PIO employee.
“Chain of command is effective in this instance as it acts as a filter, allowing questions to be answered at the appropriate level. If a question goes unanswered through the chain of command, it is forwarded to the Office of the Colonel, which then engages one of the attorneys within the unit with answering the question. As it relates to PIO, it has been agency policy for several decades that all press inquiries go through PIO so that accurate information is conveyed to members of the media.” the office continued.
The Connecticut State Police Union also did not respond to a request for comment about whether they had any concerns about how the policy may impact troopers’ ability to do their job or report potential misconduct.
Editor’s note: Whistleblowing is the act of informing on a person or organization engaged in an illicit activity. Speaking up about financial practices, physical and sexual abuse, or systemic failures, for example, are courageous efforts to stand up against wrongdoing. At Inside Investigator, whistleblower identities are kept confidential and will not be disclosed under the protection of the First Amendment and Connecticut’s Reporter Shield Law. State police and others are welcome to submit information about wrongdoing, here: https://insideinvestigator.org/whistleblower/
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