Public Safety, First Responders & Veterans
Rep. Bolinsky is committed to our safety and restoring law & order around our state. Endorsed by statewide law enforcement associations, he supports law enforcement and will not give-in to Progressive reforms, like the 2019 "Police Accountability Act" which removed officers' "qualified immunity" protections, making frivolous prosecution possible. He also believes the "defund the police" movement, and policies like "No Cash Bail", that free charged criminals in as little as 3-hours, compromise public safety by putting repeat offenders back on the street, as if their arrests never happened.
This has undermined Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) morale, led to early retirements, and has made recruiting new officers difficult. Bolinsky is committed to "undoing" the damage done by those who thrive on destabilizing our society by tearing down our criminal justice system, and opposes catch & release policies that put repeat offenders and minors back on the street without consequences, allowing criminals to "return to business", often before the arresting officer completes her or his paperwork.
In Newtown, law enforcement, and those who serve occupy a special role. From our women and men in blue to our School Resource Officers, to our Fire, Ambulance, K-9, Underwater Rescue and Emergency Telecommunicators, each is woven into our community's fabric. Mitch will never sacrifice public safety.
Working for Law Enforcement
- Co-sponsored 2024 Fallen Officer Fund. (PA 24-27)
- Honoring the service and sacrifices of K-9 police dogs, and search/rescue animals lost in the line of duty, with restitution to town's that train and lose K-9 Officers. (PA 24-65)
- Working 4 years to amend Police Accountability Law to restore "Qualified Immunity" for on-duty officers.
- Co-sponsored Special Act 23-20 to fight Catalytic Converter thefts.
- Battled & beat efforts to eliminate School Resource Officers from our Public Schools in 2021, 2022 & 2023,
Working for First Responders
- Honored to lead the State Delegation in renaming DOT Bridge No 00505 "The Chief William T. Halstead Memorial Bridge" - connecting Newtown & Sandy Hook, via Church Hill Road over I-84's Exit 10.
- Uncovered, investigated and recovered $116,000 misappropriated charitable funds from the Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Program, intended for first responder mental health resources. Returned to Newtown Sandy Hook Foundation in 2023.
- Repeatedly preserved Newtown’s historic Horse Guard.
Working for Emergency Dispatch Communicators
- Co-sponsored legislation to classify Emergency Telecommunicators as First Responders
Working for Veterans
- Co-sponsored 2024 property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans, transferrable to spouse (PA 24-46)
Special Constituent Legislation
- Co-sponsored PA 23-106, protecting victims of Domestic Abuse, by electronic monitoring of abusers.
- Co-sponsored and advocated expanded use of Domestic Abuser registries for women and families.
- Legislated to end Dual Arrest requirement of in Domestic Violence complaints.
- Co-sponsored legislation for School Counselors, Classroom Safety, Dyslexia-Education and restoring an Employment Program for Special-Needs High-School graduates.
- Worked with a Newtown advocate for criminal justice reform to pass a law requiring the admission of newly-discovered evidence to retry and acquit wrongfully convicted persons.
Endorsed by POACT (Police Officers Association of CT), CT Fraternal Order of Police (CTFOP), National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) & 17,000-member Connecticut Association of Realtors.