Lt. J. Paul Vance, the long time spokesman for the Connecticut State Police, has been reassigned to head the department’s traffic unit. The move could be controversial with the Connecticut news media and perhaps the national news media.
With years of experience under his belt, Vance was perfectly prepared to act as liaison to the press when the world focused its attention on Newtown, Connecticut after the Sandy Hook school shootings. Few spokesmen have done a more credible and professional job in similar situations. Vance not only kept the public informed, but helped manage a crisis situation that could have easily spun out of control.
According to a report on the Hartford Courant website, the reassignment was not Vance’s idea. The state police commander told the Courant only that “we’re going in a different direction,” but failed to explain who would replace Vance.
