I'm not sure when Hartford City Hall is going to start paying attention to the disaster that the Hartford Police Department Administration has become.
At the risk of beating a dead horse, the number of officers jumping ship to get away from the floundering department should be alarming. All recruitment efforts have pretty much been in vain as the numbers of good officers, including minority and female officers have become the feeder system for just about every other Department in the state. And to be quite honest, what Police Chief would not gladly hire a Hartford Police officer (in good standing)in a heartbeat. With all due respect to Police Officers statewide ,Hartford Police Officers experience more in their first year on the job than most others in smaller departments may see in their entire careers.
But sadly, most officers are not bailing from HPD because of lower pay or benefits. The reason I keep being told is the lack of leadership and feeling unappreciated ,has forced officers to start looking elsewhere.
I would almost say, it is not a lack of leadership...there is no leadership'
For the Memorial Day Weekend, staffing levels were so bad, officers were ordered in and days off were canceled. For the good of the Department and the safety of the City, I could understand that move. Even though I think it is the height of incompetence to let staffing levels get that low and no one is concerned.
But then, after ordering officer's in and telling them that days off are cancelled., their Chief takes off and heads to Florida. Now there's a morale builder move
And the "not-in-command" staff were so concerned about the City, they weren't paying attention to the violence or distributing data to their officers or sharing data with Community partners to stem the violence. No the HPD brain trust was more concerned firing off e-mails trying to figure out who would be manning the grill for hot dogs and hamburgers on Memorial Day. That sounds like a Lieutenants position that is wasted money.
Jason Thody is and has been the furthest thing from being the poster child for "leadership by example". Instead he should be writing the book "how not to act as a Police Chief" or maybe "Being a Police Chief for Dummies"
For Thody to leave the City as Homicides are spiking and typically one of the busiest events, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, is taking place is unbelievable. And then for his not in "Command Staff" to have to issue a Mayday call begging for help is amazing and shows the condition HPD is in.
We can only hope that Thody's trip to Florida was a one-way ticket.
Its time to shine the "Batman beacon" over the City of Hartford and get a real Chief that can lead.
