Chief Rovella
Mayor Luke Bronin has had his fair share of blunders since taking office, but a change in Chief's at this time could potentially be his biggest to date, even bigger than the stadium mess.
Again, according to numerous sources, Assistant Chief Luiz Casanova from the New Haven police Department is potentially being tapped by Bronin to replace Chief James Rovella.
Luiz Casanova
There probably is never an optimum time to change the top leadership of a police department, but now is definitely not the time for such a change. Many of the problems HPD is dealing with now have been of a political nature and to add in another decision driven by politics is wrong.
The largest problem facing HPD currently is driven by staffing deficits and budget issues. And even the budget issue, over $ 9.5 million in overtime costs this year, have been the direct result of the lack of attention to staffing and hiring, driven by our politicians.
For several years, Chief Rovella has put the Mayor and City Council on notice that HPD's attrition rates were unsustainable. No one paid attention until the staffing resulted in a crisis situation which began the dismantling of Hartford's nationally recognized Community Policing program.
No Police Chief is perfect, but Chief Rovella has built strong ties to the community and is well respected and trusted for his efforts. Those ties have proven very beneficial for a manpower strapped Department as the community is called upon more and more to be responsible partners with HPD.
Innovative concepts by Chief Rovella , such as the creation of the Shooting Task Force several years ago have reaped huge results for Hartford in reducing the number of guns and violent crime on our streets. STF was such a success in Hartford, it was eventually used as a model for other cities , including New Haven.
Chief Rovella has been on the cutting edge of leading the way to "do more with less" as his resources continued to drop in numbers. And Hartford's crime numbers have continued to drop also. Now is not the time for change for the sake of a political change.
For the week ending May 28, 2016, the most recent crime stats available on the HPD website show a steady reduction in Crime for the City, year to date. That doesn't indicate a change is necessary to me to satisfy someones political agenda.
Homicides down 41.7%, rape down 12.5%, robberies down 20.3%, aggravated assault down 8.8%, burglary down 9.6%, larceny down 4.0%. The only reporting category that was up were auto thefts, 3.9%, and I think I can live with that overall.
We have just seen an uptick in shootings and homicides in the last two weeks, but up to that time the numbers had been pretty good, considering the lack of proper staffing on our streets, but even another couple hundred cops on street corners probably wouldn't prevent the gang shootings and gun violence
Are there problems? Yes., but name any organization of the size of HPD that isn't going to have problems. It is how the administration deals with those problems and sets the tone fore the organization. Many of the problems that have gained media scrutiny have been brought to light by Chief Rovella because he hasn't been willing to sweep bad behavior under the rug to avoid embarrassment.
The next major problem for HPD is how they deal with reports and related video of possible Police brutality claims. Once again, a situation that was brought to light by Chief Rovella when he requested an IAD investigation into what he thought may have been the use of excessive force by a couple of his officers.
That investigation has the potential to be a powder keg for the City of Hartford and HPD. It is how we handle it that will determine the outcome and the community's reaction.
People trust Rovella. He has been alongside the community , shoulder to shoulder with them , facing difficult issues. It is that trust and those relationships that will take a newcomer from New Haven months, if not years to build, and a lot can happen to negatively impact our community and our Police Department in that time.
Word is that New Haven's Assistant Chief Casanova will be in attendance at tomorrow nights Public Compstat meeting at HPD, we need to show our support for our Chief, Chief James Rovella at that meeting and let Mayor Bronin know we count on Chief Rovella's leadership to guide our Police Department and we don't want a change, especially for purely political reasons and to pander to one group or another to try to gain their support. We have too much riding on the future of our City and the future of HPD.
37 comments:
So long stf. No more river of pink for you guys.
They should make that horse the new mayor. The horse probably could make better decisions then bronin as of lately.
This is a political move by Bronin. Nothing more. New Haven PD is a mess. But none the less, Bronin will make this change, every move he makes is simply for political capital. Police chiefs are hired for one of two reasons; 1. Politcal Appointment or 2. Competency. Bronin comes from Malloy, guess which one he chooses.
Bronin wants his name on the hiring of Hartford's first Latino Police Chief!! Yay Bronin. The poor little fella can't get out of his own way.
CasaNova is telling anyone who will listen he is coming to Hartford. Now he's showing up for HPDs Comstat? Before he's even hired? Yup, sounds like a real professional.
Kevin how come your only allowing some comments to be posted?
All of the comments that have come through have been posted
If it ain't broke don't fix it, unless SaraLuke have spoken
Another disastrous decision by the Greenwich ladder climbers
No doubt, at a nice bump up in pay too. The Bronin Duopoly has well proven they are just marionettes, which might be ok if they made sensible decisions, but they aren't. The string pullers are the same old corrupt gangsters.
Take foley with you rovella. Billy long can stay.
So when is the achilles heel ( not reathis ) west hartford video going to be released and used in an obtuse manner to oust rovella?
I find it disinheartening that bronin would do this.
I smell a massive sick call out on the horizon, and with my note there is ZERO anyone can do.
I hope Brian can balance the "act" with the new chief. I know u like him brockman, but he really is not liked around here. Brian lowers morale when you have awesome detectives like salkeld who refuse to work for a real class act like brian. Brian is one tenth the man of salkeld I bet you dont post this because the truth sometimes hurts .....
Yes good question when will that video be released Kevin you can try an protect Rovella all you want on this blog but I bet we will see some action with the new chief about the Crabtree situation it's been well over a year what's going on ?
A patrolman can hump calls all through the night and do a warrant for an investigation why is this Crabtree investigation taking so long
Do you idiots not understand that there was no paper trail or receipts for the ammo? Crabby would barter and trade with companies. There needs to be a record or actual receipt of some kind to prove larceny from the city. The fact is there is zero paperwork. Also it also falls on the academy commander at the time, since he was the supervisor.
But nothing is going to happen ao go back to the farm with dixie!!
Celebration time amigo weeeeeeepppaaaa
Leather jackets like new haven has would rock. I could patrol the streets in style like the fonz .
You can bet your bottom dollar that casanova will clean house and have a uhaul truck parked in the gravel lot for the dead flesh of the command staff. Rendock and chilly need a ride to camp courant for the swim meet.
Stf sank the ship. Good job guys, your actions cost the city millions and rovella his job.
Foley can stay if he behaves himself.
Clean the whole chief complex out
He's gonna clean house finally a savior in our midst
You forgot dustin rendock with his vast experience on oxygen tanks. He has been in first class of the gravey train long enough. What does rendock even do around here ?
Do we really want this guy!
http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20160615/police-union-to-discuss-no-confidence-vote-for-new-haven-chief
WHy was the 729 post deleted a well written post and it gets erased?????
Seems like HPD is getting their version of Reggie Freeman. Well at least this guy is a policeman.
10:56
Brookman will fail to post a comment if:
Comment goes against his narrative
Comment is not politically correct
Comment engages in race realism
Thanks---I am somewhat dissapointed in Brookman who otherwise does a good job reporting information even though I often question his opinoions he shouldn't censor writers legitimate viewpoints when they are backed up with articles from newspapers . it is unfortunate but HPD does have some people who are incompetent and have participated in off duty behavior that is not representative of the rest of the many good HPD members. two of these people happen to be thody and foley
10:38am
And how are Thody and Foley relevant to a posting about the Chief other than to further your personal agenda. Start your own blog and you can post whatever you like. I have the discretion to post whatever I see as relevant . It might mean more if you actually put your name to your attacks instead of "anonymous"
the relevance is that is was a post about the possible dismissal of Chief Rovella and I posted as to why in my opinion---->because of some of the people he has surrounded himself with are incompetent and have participated in off duty activity that is not indicative of upper level management. this leads to a toxic environment for the rank and file like myself. you may disagree with my opinion but it is very relevant to your post. i may not be a 10 or 20 year member of hpd but i have been around long enough to know good and bad management and the negative effect negative leaders can have on a department. rovella in my opinion has done a good job other than allowing leaders like thody and foley to take important positions because newer officers have no respect for those who are involved in off duty type of incidents like they were. it is sad actually. you never hear rovella or long or cacolli in off duty incidents that embarass the department just thody and foley. no agenda just calling it like i see it.
Mayor Bronin makes one mistake after another. Chief James Rovella is an outstanding person and Police Chief. The residents are very comfortable with Chief Rovella. He attends many community meeting and talks to taxpayers directly. Bronin has no clue about governing the city of Hartford. For a rich kid who wanted this job so bad he really know nothing about leadership. I am sorry I ever supported him. Former Mayor Pedro Segarra could not be trusted. He said one thing and did another. I feel the people of Hartford had no good Democratic candidate. I wish the state would take over Hartford and its schools.
Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either the incompetent pervert or the rich kid rookie who is underperforming.
Rivella needs to go! You like him because he gives you information. He took his pension from Hartford, went to Wethersfield, took another pension, back to Hartford for another pension... ENOUGH!! You talk about salaries and management, Rovella has taken advantage of BOAT!!
No loss here, he's a leech, just like the rest. I might give Luke credit for this, if true.
Exactly
Get him off of there and bring in Lance Sigersmith or Lester McCoy anyone of those picks would bring accountability and structure. Foley needs to go too and take a job at a small dept . Sucks for u Kevin cause ur sources will go with any changes
Captain jack, don't count on that, I am building relationships everyday from the top on down. I think you are mistaken thinking I get any special treatment from chief Rovella or chief Foley
Kevin,
Its sad that you have to defend brian foley as you do. If he was a true person of integrity and leadership, he would have the men and woman at the dept to praise him. But since he treats everyone like dirt, i guess you can keep on covering for him. A little tip is that brian is only out for brian. He would sell you down the river to plump up his shattered image.
And for the record, there are true leaders here that the men and woman would run through fire for like buyak, cachioli, rob allen ( most days ) obrien, and sometimes long.
Sooner or later he will leave this dept and be forgotten about. .... I cant wait for that day!
Foley is lucky you delete all the negative comments about him on this blog mr brookman. I wish the blog was around ten years ago.... Name 3 officers in this dept that actually look up to chief foley ? I bet you cant !
When will someone answer my question?
What does captain reathis do around here for 200 k a year ? Take home car and an office. Must be nice for chilly these days.
I bet bronin offered casanova a crap contract instead of the usual 3-5 year that most chiefs ask for. How dare bronin try to strongarm uncle jimmy and bump him out.
The city is under siege. No money, no behaving gangs, and no basis standard of living.
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