The Hundred Club of Connecticut
119 Oakwood Drive | P.O. Box 419 | Glastonbury, CT 06033 CT100@hundredclubofCT.org
Public Safety Leader Friend of Club
The
internationally-known forensic scientist,
Dr.Henry C. Lee, is the new commissioner of the
Department of Public Safety. Dr.Lee, who assumed
the position July 1, succeeds John A. Connelly,
who has returned to his duties as State's
Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District.
Dr.Lee, a longtime supporter of The Hundred
Club, was the principal speaker at the
organization's dinner meeting in 1997. After
entertaining the audience of 600 with several
humorous stories, Dr.Lee told the club's
members, "Law enforcers need more people like
you - people concerned about their neighbors and
their communities".
In 1979 Gov.Ella T.Grasso called on Dr.Lee to
direct the State Police Crime Laboratory and
oversee major crime scenes. At The Hundred Club
dinner, Dr.Lee recalled, "Mrs. Grasso said, 'We
can't afford to pay much.' He added, "My first
lab was a bathroom with one microscope." Under
Dr.Lee's leadership a modern forensic laboratory
was built and a program developed which is
considered among the best in the world.
Currently, a large addition to the laboratory is
being considered.
Dr.Lee came to Connecticut in 1975 when he
joined the University of New Haven as an
assistant professor. He subsequently created the
school's Forensic Science department.
Born in China in 1938, the youngest of 13
children, he fled with his mother and his
brothers to Taiwan as a youth. His father had
lost his life at the hands of the Chinese
communists.
Dr.lee attended the Taiwan Central Police
College because it offered free tuition to
qualified applicants. In 1950 at the age of 22
he graduated at the top of his class with the
rank of captain.
In 1965 Dr.Lee and his wife, Margaret, came to
the United States. Dr.Lee pursued his studies
and earned an M.S. and a Ph.D. in biochemistry
from New York University.
Dr.Lee is the recipient of many awards and in
1992 was elected a distinguished fellow of the
American Academy of Forensic Sciences. He is an
editor of seven academic journals, has authored
or co-authored 18 books and more than 200
articles in professional journals. Police
authorities estimate that Dr.Lee has
investigated more than 6,000 cases throughout
the world and has testified in approximately
1,000 criminal and civil cases.
While serving as Chief criminalist and Director
of the State Police Forensic Science Laboratory
in Merden Dr.Lee convinced governors and the
General Assembly that money should be
appropriated for the application of forensic
science in the investigation of criminal cases.
In addition, he has successfully brought appeals
to corporate board rooms and obtained millions
of dollars worth of equipment for the state
laboratory.
As Commissioner of Public Safety, Dr.Lee hopes
to create a management training institute for
the State Police and complete the development of
a modern communications system.
The
internationally-known forensic scientist,
Dr.Henry C. Lee, is the new commissioner of the
Department of Public Safety. Dr.Lee, who assumed
the position July 1, succeeds John A. Connelly,
who has returned to his duties as State's
Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District.