A new report commissioned by Yankee Institute and the Nutmeg Research Initiative uncovers widespread overtime (OT) spiking within the Connecticut State Police that inflates pensions and imposes significant costs on taxpayers.
The study — Overtime Spiking in Connecticut State Employees: State Police (Dept. Of Emergency Services & Public Protection) — is the latest in a series examining OT practices across state agencies, following earlier reports on the Department of Corrections, and a statewide overview released earlier this year. It is authored by the Townsend Group, and the third part in Yankee Institute’s Union Privilege series.
Key findings in the latest report:
- The State of Connecticut spends over $375 million annually on overtime, with State Police alone accounting for over $60 million each year.
- Between 2010 to 2025, State Police accrued $578 million in overtime pay, with 24% concentrated in the years immediately before retirement eligibility.
- Among the 13 top OT earners who recently retired, pensions are on average 34% higher than their final base salary, with starting pensions averaging $140,700 per year.
- In the years leading to retirement, officers’ overtime earnings averaged 177% of base salary.
The report concludes that overtime spiking is a systemic and long-standing practice, enabled by management decisions and outdated pension rules that remain in effect for more than 800 officers hired before 2017. While reforms for newer hires have curtailed the practice, the majority of current employees remain eligible to inflate pensions through excessive OT.
“This is not about individual officers exploiting a loophole — it’s about a broken system,” said Red Jahncke, CEO of The Townsend Group, founder of TheRedLine.com, and lead author of the study. “Management has allowed this costly practice to persist for more than a decade, saddling Connecticut taxpayers with millions in avoidable costs every year.”
The study calls on lawmakers to extend post-2017 reforms to all employees, closing the loophole that permits overtime spiking. Without action, Connecticut will continue to face unsustainable payroll and pension obligations.
“As it currently exists, the system abuses the generosity of Connecticut’s taxpayers, who deserve a system that is fair, sustainable, and accountable,” said Carol Platt Liebau, President of Yankee Institute. “It’s time to end overtime spiking once and for all.”
The full study — Overtime Spiking in Connecticut State Employees: State Police (Dept. Of Emergency Services & Public Protection) — is available at YankeeInstitute.org and The-Red-Line.com.
Previous Reports in Yankee Institute’s Union Privilege Series:
- Overtime Spiking in Connecticut (March 2025)
- Blatant Lawlessness: How the CT Department of Labor & Union Leaders Disrespect Union Workers and Ignore the Law (August 2025)
Find The Townsend Group’s Previous Report on the Department of Correction Below:
TO READ THE FULL REPORT:
- Click beneath report to expand screen for full view.
- Click on side arrows to flip the pages.
- Click on “+” or “-” to zoom in and out on pages.
