Hartford's Mayor Pedro Segarra today did something he should have been doing months ago, he terminated an incompetent Department head. After a couple days of planning, the head of Hartford's Department of Emergency Telecommunications Andrew Jaffee was shown the door this morning and walked out of 253 High Street..
It was a long time coming, but for whatever reason, Segarra sent someone packing who had been living off the taxpayers of Hartford for far too long. Jaffee's failures are well documented, just enter his name in the search bar above to read more about probably one of the most ineffective Department heads in Hartford's recent history.
Unfortunately , unlike an incompetent Finance Director or stumbling COO, Jaffee's incompetence could actually cost Hartford residents their lives. Recent examples of mishandled calls have been well documented, at least one resident who was eventually found in her home rotting and decomposing after a botched medical call was the first. The Linnmore street homicide was the latest.
We will never know if a proper response would have made a difference, but when Hartford residents dial 911, they should be confident in knowing that they are getting a professional timely response from one of Hartford's most important Departments. Whether a medical, police of fire call the 911 Center is the lifeline to all residents able to dial a phone.
Surprisingly, from a media standpoint the termination was also handled properly. Segarra has been criticized for isolating himself from any negative scrutiny or answering the tough questions. His media spokesperson is trying her hardest to manage the 'Segarra Message" but is failing miserably. Television reporters have now resorted to basically "ambushing " the Mayor when he heads to his car to get their questions answered.
I am not sure who orchestrated today's response, but it was textbook. A "media Availability" with the Mayor was called and Segarra stepped up to the microphone and laid out his explanation. He needed to restore confidence in the system and Hartford's residents deserved better. Done, no spin, move on.
I am not convinced that we are moving in the right direction yet, but it is a good start by Segarra. Lets see what happens with our COO and Finance Director, that will tell much more of the story. Is Jaffee the start of the remaking of the Segarra Administration or is it just an anomaly?
It is up to you Mayor to convince us.
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22 comments:
even if Pedro fires Sandy,Molleda etc, he will replace them with cronies or yesmen.look what he did with Figueroa,he went from a liberal firebrand to Pedro's puppy.People will do anything for a paycheck.
Segarra won't fire a minority who lives in Hartford. Jaffee was low hanging fruit.
I am curious to see what the outcome of the IA investigation uncovers. Just think of all the money the City spent on Communication upgrades over the last couple of years (while under Jaffee). I wonder if there were any kickbacks given from contracts for equipment which should have gone to the dispatch center.
Maybe if they want a better Communications Expert they should hire BROOKMAN! Then no B.S. I would gladly allow my tax dollars to go toward His Salary!
They should have FIRED JAFFEE when he was on Jennings Rd. The only thing he was concerned about was the new bldg and making sure everyone knew he was in charge of it. He didn't give a Damn about tthe Dispatch Center or what went on inside the Dispatch Center cause he DOESN'T LIVE IN HARTFORD!!! Shame on the MAYOR for letting it go on for this LONG. He's JAFFEE'S BOSS so why wasn't he staying on top of what he wasn't doing????? JAFFEE only did what the MAYOR allowed and the DISPATCHERS were only doibg what JAFFEE allowed. If MANAGEMENT isn't doing their JOB what the HELL makes you think the people under them are going to do their's??? PLEASE bring PD back to MANAGE the DISPATCH CENTER.
The police have enough trouble taking care of the streets and responding to calls. How can you posibly think the police can manage dispatch? Look at the past with lawsuits against the police. That's why the police aren't in there today.
How long do residents have to wait for police? They stay offline until the chief or mayor call's and all these units seem available? Makes you wonder if the police truly want to respond to calls. Remeber the police are one's that decide when and if they are going to respond to a call.
The mayor did the right thing
When I started with the city 20 years ago HPD looked like the outside of a trash can now HPD resembles the inside of that same trash can. The Dept cannot possibly be any more mismanaged or upside down than it is right now. Bring in the Feds.
Anonymous 5:26,
I have to disagree, the Dept. does have a long ways to go, but I think it is in the best shape it has been in years, at least management wise. Financially I think it is a mess, but I am not sure you can blame that on the HPD Administration. The Chief can only request the budget he thinks he needs to meet the requirements of policing the City, The City Hall brain trust of frustrated Chief's seem to think they know better and cut. Classic case of "get it done" but we aren't going to fund it.
Brockman you have been completely bamboozled by Rovella and you cling to his every word. There is no longer any chain of command, management, or accountability in the PD. CSO's are tripping over each other and conditions officers have been rendered useless by change of assignments to monitor downtown. The STF is effective but who wouldn't be with a 1/2 million dollar overtime budget.
No Paul aka the "Doc"......the department was a million times worse when you were up there. Getting demoted was the best thing ever, you deserved worse than that. You ruined this PD and it is still recovering from your mess. You were never ever a cop, and you never will be. You need to jump on that same one way flight out of here as Jaffe.
Kevin, Please stop socializing with HPD'S upper management and go back to being somewhat unbiased. Your best perspective is from the "outside" looking "in". And always remember this ....Some of the Finest/Bravest cops and firefighters make the lousiest Chiefs!
I'd like to say this as its my first comment here. I'm a minority officer out of the last academy class with very little time on the job and still looking for guidance. I will say this, the majority of the supervisors do not help us new guys and do nothing to teach us. Most supervisors we do not see for an entire shift, and when we do need them, they're unable to be found. The supervisors on probation are pretty good though, but most of the senior ones, forget it.
I will say I've had numerous instances as so have my classmates where the shooting task force has showed up, they've done nothing but help us and all are very friendly. They've also had several of us go to quirk and have helped us with arrests and the reports. The sergeant that everyone talks about at stf is one of the only supervisors that is respectful, professional and is always willing to help. I really don't see many supervisors like him, maybe that's why he has the position he has. Maybe the patrol supervisors should take example from him.
This job and city so far seems to be a great place. If everyone took the pride I see in the stf members, HPD would be a much better place. If the stf really does have 1/2 million dollar budget, I really don't think "anyone" could produce results. Way to many lazy disgruntled people in this place concerned about only money and not results.
I'll keep doing my job and will treat others with respect and rise above.
A/B relief
I hope you are able to keep your positive attitude as you advance in your career. Please try to never forget that you and your classmates are the future of the department and ultimately the City. Remember the things that you see that aren't right and avoid that as you move into those supervisory positions yourself
Sgt. Michel and Ruiz are two of the BEST sergeants in patrol....they deserve the credit!
Hartford is a beautiful city. You always hear the negative and not anything positive. There are many city employees who takes pride in their career with the city. People need to focus on some of the positive because there are many.
Like I said which wasn't posted stf is doing nothing that intel and narcotics weren't doing 3 years ago when fully staffed. Maybe u will post this time Kevin...
anonymous 1:13pm
check again genius, your comment was posted where you wrote it, "another huge seizure for the shooting task force", it was posted last night
I don't quite understand the bashing of Molleda. I realize that he is ultimately the head of several areas of dysfunction but, when you stop and look at the history of the areas, that definitely seems to be the overriding factor.
Payroll didn't pay the state - they have had four payroll managers within the past few years, beginning prior to Molleda joining city hall.
He joined initially to clean up Management and Budget - which seems to have happened. Perhaps he hasn't had enough time to clean house and properly re-org? Just a thought.
He was appointed 2 years ago, pray tell how long does he need to right the ship? At this pace, the ship will surely sink and us taxpayers will be asked to build a new one.
We beg to differ! Seems to us the major malfunctions and deterioration of the department is under the current finance directors watch. His tenure. Check your facts please. The finance department is the heartbeat of the City. No credibility, no direction, no guidance, No more!
Dear sir,
Why don't you write about the backlog of candidates interested in becoming HPD officers? I have seen many good people apply for HPD wait many years only for HPD to call back while the candidate is already in the academy for a suburb. I think HPD loses lots of good people because of this backlog leaving the dept to scrape the bottom of the barrel.
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