Col. Henri F. "Rik" Erkelens, R.I.P.

Col. Rik Erkelens was the First Inspector General for the State of Connecticut, and was one of the inspired, intelligent speakers at local government meetings who inspires the best in all of us.  Partisan malarkey resulted in the Inspector General's office bing abolished (later revived).  As The New York Times reported in 1987: "Mr. Erkelens, who has a staff of five people, angered some legislators by initially requesting money for wiretaping devices, undercover disguises and guns. He said the equipment was needed to protect his staff and to investigate what he once called ''white-collar crime, high-level, big-money crime.'' Mr. Erkelens did not pursue his request, and the legislature did not authorize the money.  In advocating abolishing the office, the Deputy Speaker of the House, David Lavine, Democrat of Durham, said last month that Mr. Erkelens had sought to give the office ''a distinct uniformed-and-booted look.'' Mr. Lavine said, ''The paramilitary (sic) aspect offended any number of us.''  

In my view, the antagonistic then-legislator David Lavine sounded a bit unhinged. Inspector General criminal investigators investigating bid-rigging and other crimes deserve protection, and modern means of gathering evidence, in compliance with the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. 

As counsel for the late courageous EPA Inspector General Senior Special Agent Robert E. Tyndall -- my friend, former client and mentor -- an ethical criminal investigator and prevailing complainant in a DOL environmental whistleblower case, who who helped expose misconduct of controversial Reagan-appointed EPA Inspector General John C. Martin (1983-1996), I know a lot about Inspectors General.  Thus, I greatly enjoyed talking to Col. Rik Erkelens about the work and function of IGs, and how they are both necessary and proper in a complex government.  From the record, it appears to me that Col. Erkelens was unfairly attacked for working to make Connecticut government more honest and less wasteful. As the late U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy said, "If we do not, on a national scale, attack organized criminals with weapons and techniques as effective as their own, they will destroy us."

From St. Augustine Record:

COL. Henri F. “Rik” Erkelens (US Army Retired) embarked on his final deployment on September 8, 2024, surrounded by family. Preceded in death by his wife Marguerite, he is survived by his daughter Allison, sons Rick, Scott, Christopher, Todd, and their families. Born on January 18, 1934, Rik lived his life dedicated to family, community and country. The son of a Dutch immigrant, he earned his Eagle Scout at age 16 and graduated from Norwich University as a Cadet Captain. A highly decorated combat veteran, his military career was distinguished by his humanitarian efforts in Vietnam and his leadership in modernizing tank warfare, including the development of the M-1 Abrams tank. After retirement from the Army, Rik became Connecticut’s first State Inspector General, investigating government corruption. Moving to Florida, he became a community leader in St. Augustine working tirelessly to preserve and promote the city’s military heritage. The cannon memorial in Oglethorpe Park is a testament to his tenacity. Rik was a great lover of history, a skilled sailor and a passionate traveler. He took his family on adventures by sea and land across three continents. Closer to home, he loved Sunday brunch with his kids, his grandkids and his great-grandson, as well as the epic Independence Day barbeques he hosted for family and friends every year. A service for Colonel Erkelens will be held at Trinity Parish Episcopal Church Downtown on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 11am. A celebration of life will follow at the St. Augustine Yacht Club at 1:00pm. Donations in his memory can be made to the Fisher House Foundation, supporting military families.