Patch Newtown, CT --In their mission to find responses to the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission has heard from governors, police insiders and educators.
On Friday, they'll hear testimony from eight experts from Connecticut and across the nation, representing a wide spectrum of experience on issues of mental health, trauma and responding to the kind of unprecedented crises Newtown faced after the shooting.
Four commissioners from Connecticut state departments will testify before the board:
· Patricia Rehmer, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
· Joette Katz, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families
· Stefan Pryor, Commissioner of the Department of Education
· Jewel Mullen, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health
Two public school system officials from Aurora, CO will join testimony: Superintendent John Barry and school recovery coordinator Francis Pombar. The Aurora community suffered a similar tragedy in July 2012 when a shooter killed 12 and injured 58 in a movie theatre.
In January, Gov. Dannel Malloy formed the commission, chaired by Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson, to eventually make legislative recommendations on safety, gun violence prevention and mental health. The commission convened with testimony from former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and University of Virginia law professor Richard Bonnie. Gov. Malloy has recommended the commission finish its work by June. Reported by Patch 5 hours ago.