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Friday, May 3, 2013

HPD MAKES ARREST IN MARCH 28, 2013 SHOOTING

 
George Harris
 
Kevan Simmons

Simmons has 28 previous Hartford arrests

Harris has 24 previous Hartford arrests

 
 
FROM HPD MEDIA RELEASE
 
On March 28, 2013 Hartford Police officers were dispatched to Bedford St. on a report of shots fired. Two victims, who were shot multiple times, were located and immediately transported to St. Francis. The Hartford Police Department Major Crimes Division began an immediate investigation. Based on this investigation, arrest warrants were obtained for Kevan Simmons, 21 of Hartford and George Harris, 22 of Hartford.


Kevan Simmons was charged with: Criminal Attempt Murder 53a-49/53a-54a; Assault 1st 53a-59; Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm 53-203; Criminal Possession of a Firearm 53a-217c; Reckless Endangerment 1st 53a-63.


George Harris was charged with Hindering Prosecution 53a-166. Harris was one of the victims in the shooting. Investigators believe that Harris was a co-conspirator of Simmons, and was accidently shot by Simmons in the shooting.


Of note, Kevan Simmons is a person of interest in another recent violent shooting in the City of Hartford. Anyone with information about Kevan Simmons is asked to call Lieutenant Brian Foley at 860-757-4463 or Crime Stoppers at 860-722-TIPS (8477).


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

THE UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCE OF FEEL GOOD LEGISLATION

This is a hard one to understand, but when you rush forward I guess mistakes happen. Most legislators I have spoke with regarding Connecticut's recently passed gun bill agree, it wasn't a great bill, but it had to be done for the families of Newtown. My State Rep. , Doug McCrory actually had the backbone to stand and vote "no" for something he didn't believe in. But before I start going in another direction, back to my point.

Although much of the debate was about "mental illness", there is apparently one provision in the bill that would prevent many people from seeking help voluntarily if they realized they needed help for stress, anxiety or any form of mental illness and even if they voluntarily seek help at a hospital that deals with psychiatric issues ( most hospitals fall into that category). Under the statute, that information must be reported to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

From what Law enforcement sources are explaining to me, even first responders from Newtown that may be seeking counseling and help for stress related to the Newtown response are in jeopardy of losing their firearms if the law is enforced as written.Once the information of their voluntay treatment for any mental health issue is reported, the Commissioner is supposed to revoke their gun ownership permits.

One police source stated to me that even a police officer seeking treatment for chest pains is in jeopardy if the chest pains are determined to be caused by anxiety, technically a mental health problem. In a recent training claas for police officers, it was apparently pointed out that when possible, they should seek treatment at out of state hospitals to avoid the reporting process mandated by the bill.

I'm serious, you can't make this stuff up.

The complete law can be read here:

This bill clearly needs to be reviewed and provide some support and protection for our urban areas and gun violence as well as protect police officers, state troopers and other first responders that encounter tragic situations and wish to voluntarily seek counseling without fear of losing their weapons.

I have to admit I haven't read the entire bill, but section 8 of the bill seems to apply to the mental health problem. I think you would probably be hard pressed to find many members of the State Legislature who read the entire bill also before they voted on it

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

HARTFORD.GOV STILL DOWN?

I was trying to go online tonight to pull up Hartford's Ethics Code. I was trying to  find out if using a City Credit card for personal use, specifically to buy your New Years Eve Dinner, is a violation.

Hartford.gov is apparently still down, so I can't get to the ethics code. I can wait though, City Auditor Patrick Campbell apparently told the Council tonight at his budget hearing that he would have the P-Card audit to them by the end of the day tomorrow.

I have also requested documentation of  the substantiating receipts for two of the big spenders through an FOI request. Although the City acknowledged the request last week, the documents still haven't been provided, which makes me wonder about the record keeping if they aren't readily available, or maybe the file full of the cocktail napkins can't be located.

I am not sure if the website hacking had anything to do with the Hartford Dispatch Center crashing yesterday also. Although I was told the dispatch system was redundant, the backup must have had problems also, since officers were told that they couldn't get case numbers because Team Jaffe was dispatching with pencils and paper.

Try it yourself here

MORE KENEY PARK CRAZINESS


The barricades to Vegas
 
 
For anyone that reads this blog, I typically support the actions of the Hartford Police Department, sometimes criticized to a fault for doing so. This is one time I can't support the actions or the reason behind it.

This has been a problem that has been building for some time. For anyone familiar with Keney Park, there is an area adjacent to the Keney Park Cricket fields that has earned the name "the Casino" or also called "Vegas". It has become an area that is a chronic problem for DPW with trash and litter and damage to the Park. It has become a real problem with HPD for the drinking, gambling, illegal drug use and most recently a couple of stabbings, most likely over drug turf.

No one can say it isn't a problem, that is a clear and evident fact.

The problem for me is the response to the problem.

Rather than strict enforcement to clean up the behavior, barricades have been put in place to restrict any access to a large area of Keney Park. This includes the road that winds through the area south of the Keney park Golf Course from the Windsor Avenue Gate to Tower Avenue.. This area includes a large portion of the Park including the cricket fields, the basketball courts and picnic areas.

These are now off limits to anyone wishing to drive through the Park. The recently renovated Cricket Fields are now not accessible to Seniors or any handicapped individuals that aren't able to walk through the cow pasture like area to get to the fields.It also would be very difficult for EMS to get to the Cricket Fields if anyone was injured during a match.

It just seems inappropriate to restrict access to the park to everyone because of the behavior of a few. This past Saturday afternoon I went to the park after receiving numerous phone complaints. It was clear what the so called solution is going to do. It is not going to resolve the problem, it is just pushing it to another area. The "T" intersection from the Windsor Avenue entrance to get to the Golf Course was loaded with maybe 30 or 40 cars, the same number of vehicles that would normally be parked at "the Casino". The problem didn't go away, it just moved.

 
Vehicles lined up Saturday afternoon outside the barriers to Vegas

Police sources confirmed that an arrest was apparently made Sunday morning by the Jersey barriers for an individual dealing marijuana. A jersey barrier apparently isn't the best deterrent to marijuana dealing, but just maybe a few more arrests and some Community Court Service hours will change the behavior.

Penalizing families and residents that use the park properly is not the solution. If Jersey Barriers are the solution, maybe we should try dropping off a few on Garden Street or Barbour Street to alleviate the crime there. Clearly that won't work, but enforcement does.

I spoke to several people in the park Saturday from the West Indian Community, including probably one of the biggest Cricket supporters in the United States, Michael Chambers. After getting my crash course in what Cricket actually is and having the construction of the pitch explained to me, it was clearly evident that this section of Keney Park is almost like sacred ground to the cricket players and their community.

A much better solution needs to be worked out and the members of the West Indian community and the members of the Cricket Hall of Fame seem ready to do their part. At a meeting scheduled last week, pre jersey barriers, HPD was apparently a no show, even though I am told they had committed to attending.

That is not the way bridges to the Community are built. Another meeting is scheduled for this week, hopefully HPD will attend this meeting and have an honest, respectful dialogue to come to an equitable decision that makes sense. A concrete barrier is not the solution

IT IS TIME FOR A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

 
 
There are plenty of things going on right now at City hall that could fall under that category and should be investigated  as criminal acts, but one that I have confirmed tonight infuriates me. I had received a few calls about the vendor that is supposed to be managing Hartford's two municipal golf  courses. I say supposed to be because the courses, Keney and Goodwin Park, are in terrible condition

One regular golfer at Keney Park told me that he had noticed large quantities of trees missing last fall when he had golfed there. These trees are an assest that can not have a value set on them.

One caller complained that the pro shop at Goodwin Park has been turned into a bar., the Internal Audit Condition issues a report recently that was far from favorable and detailed that MDM Golf, the vendor, was actually in default of their contract with the City. Deputy Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden advised the Commission that apparently MDM was in severe financial difficulties.

Van Norden also advised the Commission that a $300,000 dollar letter of credit that was supposed to protect the City from loss was allowed to expire and MDM didn't have the financial where with all to provide a new letter to the City. Van Norden also said that the insurance covered required of MDM had lapsed.

Now I am being told that large quantities of hardwood trees have been cut and removed from the City properties over the last year or so. Numerous stumps of  what had been large stately Oak trees lining the fairways at KeneyPark are clearly evident.

I have also confirmed with City Hall sources that there was apparently no provision in the City's contract with MDM to allow them to remove or sell any tress for lumber.

The large oaks were apparently sold to a Canadian lumber company.

This needs to be investigated and if proven, appropriate criminal charges need to be brought against those involved for the theft of Hartfords most valuable resources

You can read the Auditor's report on MDM and the courses here

Monday, April 29, 2013

PLACE YOUR BETS

Hartford's Fire Chief Edward Casares today announced his retirement effective June 15, 2013. Now is the time to place your bets on who will be the next Chief of the Hartford Fire Department. My gut feeling is that it may be Hartford's newest Deputy Chief, a Deputy Chief position that was never existed and specifically created by the Kee- Borges employment agency for her "significant other".

\It seems to be the Hartford way recently to take care of friends and family at City Hall and only time will tell if this will be another entitlement case  at the expense of Hartford's taxpayers.

Best of luck to Chief Casares, look at the bright side, you won't be cornered by the COO anymore asking "You are going to make Terry, right?"