Apparently all it takes to get Connecticut state government off its ass to really do something about racial profiling is a sickening scandal, vast civil rights violations and a federal investigation that could indict more than a dozen East Haven cops.
Last week, minority state lawmakers and Gov. Dannel Malloy agreed that something has to be done to make Connecticut's 12-year-old anti-racial profiling law work — including using $1.2 million in federal money that's been left untapped for years because of bureaucratic bungling and confusion.
Malloy issued a strong statement in response to minority legislators who came out demanding action. State Rep. Kelvin Roldan, D-Hartford, said Latino and black legislators are determined "to absolutely make this a priority, to make sure illegal profiling doesn't take place in Connecticut."
The governor said he will "continue to insist that every effort is taken to protect individual rights in every community, and that racial profiling is eliminated."
Malloy said he's now moving quickly to use the federal money that's been moldering for five years, and lawmakers agreed to finally put some teeth into this state's anti-racial profiling law.
Last month, a federal civil rights investigation issued a damning report on systematic and unconstitutional harassment and abuse of Latinos by East Haven police. A federal grand jury now appears ready to indict as many as 15 of those local cops and commanders who may have been involved in a cover-up.
