Fifty-seven state troopers from the newest recruiting class, the 121st Training Troop, received pink slips on Wednesday afternoon.
Gov. Dannel Malloy said 6,500 state employees will need to be laid off throughout state government after unions rejected a deal last month that would have cut $1.6 billion from the budget.
The entire group of state troopers will be laid off on Aug. 24, unless the unions can come to some sort of new deal.
"It's a concern, not only for public safety, which is critical to the service we provide, but it's critical to the troopers' safety too," State Police Union President Andrew Matthews said.
The layoffs could be felt at the 11 troops around the state.
Among the group of nearly 60 troopers to receive notices was Trooper Michael Buck, 26, who works at Troop H in Hartford.
"I knew something was coming," Buck said. "I just didn't expect it to come to the state police based on our current numbers."
Local
Trooper Buck spent six years in the military, served two tours in Iraq and plans to get married in October.
"All of that was for my final goal to become a Connecticut State Trooper and for that to be jeopardized is heart wrenching," Buck said.
State police top brass believe that public safety will not be compromised.
"We will transfer people into appropriate roles to ensure that we continue to deliver public safety to the people of the State of Connecticut," Lt. Paul Vance said.
