INEXCUSABLE COVID 19 REPONSE BY HARTFORD POLICE ADMINISTRATION

 

According to numerous sources, Covid-19 infections and positive Covid test results are travelling through the Hartford Police Department. At least two Lieutenants , 2 Sergeants and others  have tested positive in the past week.

The troubling part though is that no one has communicated this risk to the other nearly 400 officers who have come in contact with these front line supervisors every time they report to work. No e-mail notifications and virtually no comment or communication from the Chief's office.

 This is inexcusable.

Covid prevention tactics have also been non-existent after the early days of Covid. Officers tell me that they have to provide their own sanitizer sprays, wipes and hand sanitizer. Officers have told me that initially , patrol vehicles were wiped down and sanitized after each shift by DPW employees. Apparently that ended months ago and even with the current Covid outbreak that has not resumed.

It gets interesting because several officers told me that it was explained to them that they were told DPW did not want to clean the cars. That is understandable, but it is also untrue. A source familiar with DPW operations said that they were surprised when HPD stopped bringing in cruisers to be disinfected, but the DPW source said that it was HPD's choice , not DPW.

And even if DPW did not want to handle an essentially Haz-mat function disinfecting cruisers, Chief Thody, I would think has a moral obligation to do everything in his control to provide for the health and well being of his officers during a Pandemic. And not only his officers, but their families that they go home to every night. Many of them were not even aware of the Covid Positive co-workers that they are sharing workspace with everyday. 

One supervisor was concerned that no one had told them that a Lieutenant that they share an Office with tested positive. They said that there  has been no mention of a deep cleaning of their office or even sanitizing wipes to disinfect computer keyboards, phones or even desktops.

I was also told that there was no hand sanitizer for officers, the dispensers in the hallways have been empty for months, they had bottles put in the cars at the beginning of the outbreak but no one followed up with filling them and sanitizing wipes are non-existent.

I couldn't believe that HPD was so short on critical supplies. I immediately called retired HPD Deputy Chief Brian Foley asking for advice as to where I could turn to get critical supplies for HPD Officers if their own Chief wasn't going to do it. I knew that part of Foley's responsibility with Commissioner Rovella was handling stockpiling PPE equipment for the State. Foley said that obtaining supplies should not be a problem especially financially since FEMA would reimburse HPD and the City for most of the cost.

Foley's heart, like many HPD retirees, is still strongly invested in HPD. Foley suggested that I contact Hartford's Fire Chief Reggie Freeman to make him aware of the problem since Chief Freeman is also the City's Emergency Management Director. Foley did offer that if the matter was urgent  and if that message was relayed to him, the supplies could be made available immediately (the same night). I contacted Chief Freeman and explained all of the above to him and he said he would check on it right away. Less than 3 minutes later I received a text from Chief Freeman  with two simple words " ON IT".

 Shortly after that I received communications  that  DPW had all of the supplies that HPD needed for sanitizing and  were readily available, but here is the kicker, they claim no one from HPD had asked for any supplies or requested them.

They were also very surprised when cruisers stopped coming to the City Garage to be disinfected, but the DPW source said that was a HPD decision and they would gladly disinfect the cruisers as part of their maintenance if asked.

Surprisingly a text message was sent out today by a HPD Captain claiming  that cleaning supplies were now available. Surprise, surprise how these things happen.

Even more surprising is that HPD actually seemed to put some thought into their response in their Covid 19 response  "Special Order2020-01"  issued on March 20, 2020. Although this order seems to lay out a logical blueprint for HPD's Covid 19  response.  Much of the responsibility was assigned, according to the order,  to the Assistant Chief of Police, who is currently Raphael Medina , very little of it, if any was carried out by Medina  under Thody's direct supervision.

A couple of key points from the order stand out as ignored. 

 #1, Implement additional cleaning procedures for Detention and employee workspaces to include police vehicles.  Not being done. No additional cleaning for vehicles , detention or workspaces. despite Thody's directive.

#2-Provide direction to employees on risk mitigation and other relevant updates. These updates and directives will be fluid as conditions and intelligence changes.  No communication from Medina or Thody by e-mail , group text or any other format regarding the recent Covid 19  results.

3#- Ensure necessary equipment is available and accessible to sworn and civilian staff. Now I know I shouldn't assume, but I would think that "necessary equipment" would include hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes to accomplish item #1.

Apparently none of this has been done by the Assistant Chief as ordered in Thody's directive.

Inexcusable when it can equate to Officer's safety and the well being of their families. We owe our First responders so much better if we expect them to go out during a pandemic.

Finally. I think if Mayor Bronin is going to get in front of TV cameras and hype his Covid response, he should actually be doing everything for his front line responders to protect them, not just providing political lip service.

HERE IS THE TEXT OF THE FULL ORDER

I. PURPOSE: To outline steps and procedures to be followed in the event of a pandemic COVID-19 outbreak in and around the City of Hartford. This special order shall be in effect upon its issuance. II. POLICY: In the event of a large scale COVID-19 outbreak in and around the City of Hartford which results in a staffing shortage to patrol services, the Hartford Police Department shall mobilize all, or a portion of, the Department as required to take appropriate law enforcement and humanitarian action to protect life and property and to prepare for an orderly recovery from such an outbreak. III. PROCEDURE: A. Concept of Operation: 1. The mobilization of the Hartford Police Department shall be conducted in three phases of operational readiness as follows: a. Phase I - Increased Readiness (See Appendix I, to this Special Order) b. Phase II - Emergency Operations (See Appendix II, to this Special Order) c. Phase III - Recovery (See Appendix III, to this Special Order) B. The Chief of Police shall: 1. Keep the Mayor and the Chief Operating Officer informed of the situation. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 2 of 11 2. Establish direct communication with the Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Management. 3. Establish the Compstat Room as the Hartford Police Operations Center. Work in conjunction with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Hartford Public Safety Complex. C. The Assistant Chief and/or designee shall: 1. Keep the Chief of Police informed of the situation. 2. Ensure necessary equipment is available and accessible to sworn and civilian staff. 3. Arrange for lodging and food (if necessary) for personnel, as needed. a. It is established that the Hartford Hilton and the Hartford Marriott Downtown will be the locations utilized for the lodging of personnel. 4. Establish a liaison from the Hartford Police Department to outside organizations such as State Police or National Guard/Federal troops and other assisting agencies. 5. Ensure that security measures are in place to protect any city resources. D. All Division Commanders shall: 1. Be prepared to implement operations as indicated in appendices I, II and III to this special order. 2. Maintain an accurate status of all personnel under his/her command and report a “sick list” to the Sergeant of Auxiliary Services Division on a daily basis. E. All supervisors shall: 1. Report through the chain of command any sworn employee exposure to, or symptoms of, COVID-19. F. Media Considerations: 1. All members of the Hartford Police Department are prohibited from releasing any information regarding COVID-19 to the media. 2. The HPD Public Information Officer (PIO) shall bring any media communications regarding COVID-19 to the Mayor’s Chief of Staff. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 3 of 11 APPENDIX I- INCREASED READINESS I. SITUATION: Pandemic COVID-19 cases identified regionally and/or locally. II. PROCEDURE: A. The Chief of Police shall: 1. Maintain close operational liaison with other City of Hartford department heads. 2. Limit non-essential functions of the police department (until such time as the pandemic emergency has passed) which may include, but is not limited to: a. Closing the Records Division public window and providing electronic report services for legally required requests. b. Suspend processing of raffle, liquor, pistol, loudspeaker and other permits which are not essential to public safety. c. Suspend public fingerprinting services. d. Postpone all events related to recruiting and background investigations, including but not limited to, physical agility testing, written testing, candidate interviews, and home visits. e. Suspend Police Explorers and Police Athletic League (PAL) programs. f. Direct Community Service Officers (CSOs) and other personnel to temporarily refrain from attending Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) meetings and other community meetings. g. Direct that the Property Room limits public access to retrieve seized or recovered property, except when mandated by a court order. h. Provide direction to employees on risk mitigation and other relevant updates. These updates and directives will be fluid as conditions and intelligence changes. i. Limit the hours of, and/or close, the front lobby of the Public Safety Complex. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 4 of 11 B. The Assistant Chief of Police and/or designee shall: 1. Monitor the spread and infection rate of COVID-19 in and around Hartford. 2. Cancel all out-of-town training and other trainings as deemed appropriate to mitigate risk and exposure. 3. Initiate procedures to minimize custodial arrests. 4. Implement additional cleaning procedures for Detention and employee workspaces to include police vehicles. 5. Adjust procedures to avoid group settings, including roll calls. 6. Identify essential, essential-remote, and non-essential workforce employees. 7. Advise Emergency Services and Telecommunications (ES&T) supervisors of the measures to limit officer exposure to the public, as described in section D of this appendix. C. All Commanders shall: 1. At roll calls and staff meetings, communicate to sworn staff: a. The need for family emergency preparedness in the event that sworn employees are needed for an extended period of time. b. Encourage personal hygiene and measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. c. Review Department plans (i.e. Appendix II of this special order) that may affect sworn staff if COVID-19 spreads significantly in and around Hartford and creates a staffing shortage. 2. Encourage officers to issue misdemeanor summons in every circumstance possible, as directed by Special Order 20-002. 3. Review mobilization procedures (refer to Appendix II of this special order). 4. Maintain an accurate status of all personnel under his/her command and report a “sick list” to the Sergeant of Auxiliary Services Division on a daily basis. D. Handling of calls for service 1. Aside from extraordinary circumstances, to limit responding officer’s possible exposure to COVID-19, the following calls for service should be handled by telephone: a. Non-emergency larceny complaints. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 5 of 11 b. All identity theft complaints. c. Burglary complaints with undetermined time of occurrence, and a determination that the suspect is no longer on scene. d. Motor vehicle accidents where there are no injuries. e. Lost or found property complaints. f. Auto theft complaints, so long as the theft did not involve attempted or actual violence, or the threat thereof. g. Property damage complaints. 2. After making initial contact with the complainant by phone, the responding officer (upon consultation with his/her supervisor, if necessary) will make a determination as to whether or not they need to respond to the scene. 3. Responding officers should request that complainants send them supporting documentation for their complaints (insurance cards, photos of property damage, surveillance video, etc.) via their department email, and attach such supporting documents to their Case Incident Report (CIR). 4. Whenever possible, officers should request to speak with complainants, witnesses, and suspects outdoors and/or in open areas where surface contamination is limited and social distancing can be achieved. 5. The department will not respond to: a. Noise Complaints. b. Non-criminal community service calls. c. Civil matters. E. Auxiliary Services Shall: 1. Develop a 12-hour shift plan as described in appendix II to this special order, to prepare for the possibility that the outbreak progresses into the Emergency Operation Stage. 2. Allow for additional Teleserve staffing, as needed, to handle possible increases in complaints by phone. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 6 of 11 APPENDIX II -EMERGENCY OPERATIONS STAGE I. SITUATION: Pandemic COVID-19 cases identified regionally and/or locally, with Department-wide reduction of staffing. II. PROCEDURE: A. The Chief of Police shall issue a mobilization order after he/she determines that the outbreak is of sufficient magnitude to require major deviation from normal police operating procedures. 1. The Chief of Police, upon making an operability assessment, may implement any or all of the following: a. Continue the limit on all non-essential functions of the Police Department, as described in Appendix I. b. Establish a Patrol Operations Commander and a Support Operations Commander. c. Cancel all pre-approved vacations and leave. d. Attempt to fill vacant shifts with overtime. e. Order all identified employees to remain home or in predesignated housing provided by the Department. f. Order all non-essential remote employees to work from home. g. Expand operational shifts to 12 hours. h. Adjust mandatory patrol staffing levels, as deemed necessary. i. Change days off based on operational needs, up to and including no days off. j. Augment patrol with officers assigned to specialized units and the ISB, as necessary. k. Recall to work identified employees to fill operational shifts, as needed. l. Adjust calls for service response guidelines for lower priority calls for service. m. Suspend standard private duty hiring practice and implement practice where private duty jobs are assigned by Auxiliary Services on a priority basis. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 7 of 11 2. The Assistant Chief of Police shall: a. Utilize the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and reassign command level responsibilities. b. Establish and direct Command Center operations as required. c. Implement the Incident Command System (ICS) organizational structure and activate Resource Teams dependent upon the severity of the situation. Resource Teams are elements of sworn officers (and other necessary personnel) tasked with addressing issues surrounding response and management of the pandemic situation, other than normal Patrol operations. d. Advise Emergency Services and Telecommunications (ES&T) supervisors of the measures to limit officer exposure to the public, as described in section A.3 of this appendix. e. Keep the Chief of Police informed of the situation. 3. Handling of calls for service a. Aside from extraordinary circumstances, to limit responding officer’s possible exposure to COVID-19, the following calls for service shall be handled by telephone: i. Non-emergency larceny complaints. ii. All identity theft complaints. iii. Burglary complaints with undetermined time of occurrence, so long as it is determined that the suspect is no longer on scene. iv. Motor vehicle accidents where there are no injuries. v. Lost or found property complaints. vi. Auto theft complaints, so long as the theft did not involve attempted or actual violence, or the threat thereof. vii. Property damage complaints. viii. Any other complaint which a supervisor determines can be adequately addressed by telephone. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 8 of 11 b. Responding officers should request that complainants send them supporting documentation for their complaints (insurance cards, photos of property damage, surveillance video, etc.) via their department email, and attach such supporting documents to their Case Incident Report (CIR). c. The Department will not respond to: i. Noise complaints. ii. Non-criminal community service calls. iii. Civil matters. iv. Private property motor vehicle accidents. v. Unoccupied abandoned or suspicious vehicle, so long as they do not present a risk to public safety. vi. Audible or silent alarms where no keyholder is responding and there have been three or more false alarms in the preceding thirty days. 4. The Support Operations Commander shall: a. Command the Support Operations and report to the Assistant Chief of Police, providing updates to the situation as needed. b. Utilize the Resource Teams (as outlined in Section II. A. 2 c., above) to address facility lock downs, curfew enforcement, perimeters, surveillance of entry points, traveler screening, and crowd control when needed. c. Ensure that sufficient personnel and equipment are assigned and provided to the Resource Teams. d. Maintain an accurate accounting of the status of personnel assigned to the Resource Teams. e. Prepare and submit chronological reports on Support Operations activities. f. Schedule relief and feeding of Support Operations Personnel, as necessary. 5. The Patrol Operations Commander shall: a. Report to the Deputy Chief of Patrol, providing updates to the situation as needed. b. Manage Patrol operations. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 9 of 11 c. Maintain an accurate status of personnel under Patrol command. d. Prepare and submit chronological reports on Patrol activity. e. Maintain Detention operations. g. Maintain Animal Control Operations. h. Be prepared to implement other operations and directives, as needed. i. Schedule relief and feeding of Patrol Operations personnel. 6. Auxiliary Services shall: a. Assist Patrol Operations and execute scheduling modifications as directed by the Chief of Police or designee. b. Allow for additional Teleserve staffing as needed to handle possible increases in complaints by phone. c. Maintain a daily sick list and a list of officers available to be recalled. This report shall be forwarded to the Chief of Police through the chain of command. 7. All Division Commanders shall, on a daily basis, notify auxiliary services of the division’s current sick list. 8. Fiscal Division shall: a. Track fiscal expenses associated with personnel and non-personnel expenditures associated with the incident. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 10 of 11 APPENDIX III – RECOVERY PHASE I. SITUATION: Returning to normal operating procedure after staffing shortage due to COVID-19 pandemic. II. PROCEDURE A. The Chief of Police shall: 1. Make a determination as to when the mobilization order may be rolled back. 2. Designate personnel to produce after action report(s). B. Auxiliary Services may roll back the mobilization order systematically, to address the staffing needs of the Department. C. Sworn employees should remain cognizant that there may be additional waves of COVID-19 and therefore should continue to practice personal hygiene and social distancing. Special Order 2020-01 COVID-19 Continuity of Operations Plan Effective date: 3/19/2020 Page 11 of 11 APPENDIX IV - COMMAND AND COMMUNICATIONS Command Staff Contact List 

NAME POSITION WORK CELL PHONE PERSONAL CELL