At an office facing more than its share of troubles, Gov. M. Jodi Rell has made a solid choice to take over. John A. Danaher III, grandson of a U.S. senator and leader of the corruption probe into the office of Bridgeport's former mayor, deserves a quick confirmation in the Legislature.
Chosen to take over the Department of Public Safety, Danaher steps into a difficult situation. A recent investigation found Connecticut State Police often overlooked charges of drug and alcohol abuse, corruption, harassment and assault among the ranks, and that the public safety department, which oversees state police, responded with lax penalties for severe rule-breaking. The governor responded by increasing oversight, and it will be up to Danaher to continue to bring transparency and discipline back to the state office.
He comes well prepared. A top assistant to U.S. Attorney Kevin J. O'Connor, Danaher led the probe that brought down former Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim on corruption charges; Ganim is now serving a nine-year prison term. He also led the investigation of Philip Giordano, the former Waterbury mayor and U.S. Senate candidate, and other high-profile cases.
From a family steeped in public service (his grandfather was U.S. senator from Connecticut, and his father is a retired special agent for the FBI), Danaher brings a wealth of experience to the job. He is the right choice to bring respect back to a troubled public safety system.
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