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Thursday, December 10, 2015

MADD KICKS OFF DRUNK DRIVING PREVENTION EFFORT

Mother's Against Drunk Driving kicked off their holiday drunk driving prevention efforts with a press conference at Hartford Police Headquarters this morning.

Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, HPD Chief Rovella and others spoke about the importance of the efforts to avoid unnecessary tragedy during the Christmas period.

Please think twice about having that drink and driving, find a designated driver beforehand.
Lt . Governor Wyman and others at the podium today

By car, horse or motorcycle, HPD will be out in force getting Drunk drivers off the road.

 HPD Chief Rovella and his "enforcers", Traffic Division Enforcers that is. On the lookout for impaired drivers on Hartford's streets

THIS IS CHILLING VIDEO

As Hartford tries to encourage more downtown residency, this video shows three Hartford juveniles stalking an elderly person on Farmington Avenue before knocking her to the ground and mugging her. The video is pretty chilling as they stalk her in preparation for their mugging, like hunter's stalk their prey.

This is not a police problem. Let me repeat that...this violence is not a police problem. We can not rely on the police to arrest our way out of our societal problems.

THIS IS A PARENTING PROBLEM. What does an incident like this say about the values instilled in Hartford's young people. Is there such little regard for human life that these 3 young punks think nothing of knocking an elderly woman to the ground, beating her and then robbing her.

Hartford... we have a problem.

Monday, December 7, 2015

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR A HARTFORD LEGEND, NICK CARBONE

This is the cover photo from the program for the Memorial Service held for Hartford's former Deputy Mayor , and one man political powerhouse Nicholas Carbone.
 
I had the good fortune of meeting Nick through an introduction by another Hartford political legacy, John O'Connell. They both came from a time in Hartford's history that they were known by what they did for Hartford and what they left as their imprint on Hartford.
 
It is unfortunate that we far too often wait for someone to die before we talk about their lives. Nick would have  been very proud by those that attended Saturday's service at the Bond Hotel and by what they had to say. Some of the comments were very colorful about a man that put his city first in just about everything he did. It was also fitting that the event was held in the ballroom of the Bond Hotel with its spectacular views of Hartford, overlooking Bushnell Park, the Memorial Arch and the State Capitol..
 
Much of Nick's influence came from his ability to successfully work the Halls of the Capitol as well as drawing in its occupants as he moved his ideas forward. From Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman John Larson, Judge Bob Killian and many others, they all spoke of how Nick worked to mold the future of Hartford in a personal, yet unselfish way.
 
I spent many a morning breakfast at Allegro or the First and Last Bakery listening to Nick (listening more than talking myself)  as he relayed his experiences over the years. There probably aren't too many people that were as well versed in Hartford or municipal government than Nick was. As a true mentor, Nick would impart his knowledge on anyone willing to listen.
 
There were many mornings after meeting Nick for breakfast, I would get engrossed by his knowledge and would eventually look at the time and realize it was well after noon and we had been talking for hours. We weren't always on the same side of issues, but that was one of the things about Nick, he had a way of presenting his side and many times drew people together more than apart.
 
In a time when we have a hard time remembering outgoing politicians for what they did for Hartford ( other than maybe a Grand Jury or two) you just need to take a ride around Hartford and recall what Nick did to leave his mark on the City he loved..
 
Rest in peace Nick, you will be missed but hardly forgotten

HMMM, THIS IS INTERESTING.

Last week a shooting occurred on Martin Street in Hartford. The "victim", Quentin Dickens from Windsor had reportedly been shot in the head. He also had apparently been shot on the same street about a week earlier. His total number of times being shot in Hartford has apparently reached four separate times.

Interestingly, Dickens was arrested by Hartford Police on Friday for carrying a pistol without a permit and criminal possession of a firearm, according to HPD. Dickens apparently had a handgun on him when he was shot, he just wasn't too proficient in its use . I think Dickens may want to be considering a job as a greeter at Walmart, it would definitely be time for a career change.

This guy needs to be off our streets for both his own safety and ours  .He clearly is a menace to his own health and those people in the vicinity of his gun crimes.

FROM THE HPD ARREST LOG:

Name: DICKENS,QUENTIN           DOB:06/30/79 Sex:MALE   Race:BLACK Addr: 80 PINE LANE EXT          Hgt: 6'00    Wgt:217    Hair:BLACK AFRO      WINDSOR,CT                MF#:A 77699  Arrest #:7150491  Case #:15-037301
Officers:H37 REEDER,CHRISTOPHE  I50 CORVINO,GREG Arrest Date: 12/04/15 12:50     Location:253 HIGH ST Release Date:NOT RELEASED       BOND   $500,000
Charges:     2935               CARRYING PISTOL W/O PERMIT             53A217C            CRIMINAL POSS OF PISTOL/REVOLVER

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Sunday, December 6, 2015

MANCHESTER'S "CHRISTMAS TREE COPS"

There are plenty of good things going on around us, we just don't always hear about them. On the same note, there are thousands of good Police Officers around us, but we don't always hear
about them or take note of their good acts.

The link below is to a story about Manchester Police Officers giving of their time to help a woman who suffered the  loss of her husband this year in a tragic farm accident . Please take a moment to read the article, and then think about the true meaning of the Christmas season


Read the Courant article here

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

TOO MANY GUNS ON OUR STREETS, THE COURTS NEED TO START DOING THEIR JOB

 
 
There are too many guns on our streets. The alarming part is that many of these gun arrests come along with the criminal charge "criminal possession of a firearm". That charge usually means that this person  is a convicted felon willing to carry or use a gun. This can no longer be a "slap on the wrist offense" by the courts. This is a serious charge and it needs to result in serious jail time.

Here is an incident that occurred last night and the details from HPD:

On November 24, 2015 at 7:10pm Hartford Police Department Patrol Officers and the Hartford Shooting Task Force responded to New Country Motor Cars on Weston Street on a report of an active shooter. Arriving HPD officers tactically cleared the parking lot and dealership but were unable to locate the shooter. Officers located several witnesses who reported that a male suspect, dressed in black, had been shooting at an employee in the east lot of the dealership. The intended victim and witnesses reported up to five shots from a revolver. Two vehicles were damaged by gunfire.

As officers were still investigating at New Country Motor Cars, a McDonald's employee, (98 Weston Street) called 911 and reported a male suspect in the restaurant in possession of a firearm.

HPD Officers and Hartford STF responded. Officers entered McDonald's and observed a male suspect sitting with a revolver on his lap. The suspect was held at gunpoint by officers as he put his hands in the air. HPD Patrol Officers moved in and secured the suspects firearm (#1). The suspect was placed in handcuffs without incident. The suspect was identified as Willis Wright.

As Wright was in the rear seat of a HPD cruiser, he advised the Officer that he was the one that was just shooting at the Mercedes Dealership. Wright further stated that he had two guns, and had previously discarded the gun he used to shoot at the dealership. HPD Patrol and STF Investigators went to an area directed to by Wright where he said he threw a firearm. Officers went behind 10 Weston Street (formerly Jiffy Lube), where the firearm (#2) was located and secured as evidence.

Wright is a convicted felon with several pending cases and prior firearm arrests. He was interviewed and booked.

It is not immediately clear why the suspect was shooting at the dealership. Investigators report Wright had no connection to the dealership and that Wright believed '...somebody was trying to kill him'. Investigators described Wrights behavior as a Emotionally Disturbed Person. The Investigation is ongoing. Wright is to be arraigned this morning.

EVIDENCE:

Firearm #1; Colt .38 Caliber Detective Special Revolver color black, fully loaded with (6) live .38 caliber rounds of ammunition.

Firearm #2; Sturm Ruger .357 Revolver color silver, containing (5) spent shell casings.


DAMAGED:

New 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 SUV- passenger side roof projectile damage.

New 2016 Smart Fortwo coupe- passenger side door projectile damage.


Arrest: Wright, Willis, 38 (03/23/1977), of 1574 Main Street, Hartford, CT.
Charges:

Carrying a Pistol w/o a Permit

Criminal Possession of a Firearm

Criminal Attempt at Assault 1st Degree

Criminal Mischief 1st Degree

Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree