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Tuesday, June 14, 2016

IT IS TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT HPD BODYCAMS

There is an ominous thundercloud on the horizon forming over HPD. I am not going to get into a lot of the details as the investigation is ongoing, but suffice it to say it is probably going to be bad.

The incident involves allegations being made of a handcuffed prisoner allegedly being assaulted while in HPD custody. Some of the actions can be explained , others caught on dashcam video have no possibility of being explained.

The incident is currently in the hands apparently of the Litchfield County States Attorney and may eventually be investigated by the Connecticut State Police to get to the truth. Our trust in our Police Department demands that and I expect nothing less from Chief Rovella and the West Hartford Police Department. The incident actually happened after a chase of a stolen car that had reportedly struck a Police officer on Park Street. The stolen car was eventually stopped by the use of stop sticks when the car was involved in a crash near Flatbush Avenue in West Hartford.

Although there are numerous different angles of dash cam video available, it still shows the need for body cameras, and if there was the inclination for "bad " behavior, maybe officers wearing body cameras would think twice about any improper behavior, no matter how much adrenaline was flowing after a long chase.

This is going to be a bumpy road for HPD to navigate, but the public trust demands transparency. Not everything is at it seems or is rumored, but the video and a professional investigation will expose the truth, both good and bad. With that being said, it is fortunate that a Police Chief that has a good relationship with the residents is in a position to explain the actions of his officers .

More on this as details develop, but please keep an open mind  and wait for the facts, not the gossip

UPDATE FROM HPD AT 6:06pm

On Saturday, June 4, 2016 Officers of the Hartford and West Hartford Police Departments and Connecticut State Troopers engaged in a motor vehicle pursuit that began in Hartford and ended with the arrest of the driver and his passenger in West Hartford. The pursuit began when a Hartford Police Officer determined that the car in question was stolen. When officers attempted to stop the car the driver sped away and led police on a chase through several residential streets in Hartford. When the pursuit reached West Hartford, police deployed “stop sticks,” which brought the car to a halt.

In the course of arresting both occupants of the stolen vehicle, officers used force-including the use to TASER-to affect the arrests. Both arrestees appear to have suffered apparent facial injuries at some point. The exact circumstances of each arrest are as yet unknown, but a West Hartford Police cruiser camera appears to show a police officer kicking or stomping one of the arrestees after that person was handcuffed.

Upon preliminary review of the incident and available evidence, it appears there is a question of excessive force used by the officers. As a result, the Hartford Police Department launched and immediate internal investigation on Sunday June 5, 2016. Contact has been made between HPD, West Hartford Police, Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s office. This incident will be reviewed and investigated by the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s office to determine if criminal charges are warranted.

Friday, June 10, 2016

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

From HFD Chief Reginald Freeman:

"The Hartford Fire Department is pleased to announce the appointment of LT Raul Ortiz to the position of Executive Officer/Public Information Officer. LT Ortiz comes to Headquarters from Engine 8 located at 721 Park St. in the Frog Hollow neighborhood. "

Lt Ortiz was previously the Executive Officer for former Chief Huertas and was abruptly removed from that position last year, partially, according to sources familiar with the removal because he was communicating with me.You can rerad more on that saga here.

 Lt Ortiz was also responsible for organizing a friendly competition among Hartford's Fire Companies this past Christmas season. You can read more about that here.

Best of luck and success in your new assignment Lt. Ortiz.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

COULD THIS EXPLAIN HPD'S MISSING AMMUNITION?

 For over a year now I have been trying to get the answers to a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of missing ammunition from HPD. I have been told that it was under IAD investigation, but I would think that a resolution would have come to the investigation by now. Murder investigations are usually done muck quicker. It is also interesting the officer suspected in the thefts has retired and moved out of state, abandoning his Connecticut home.

The link below was sent to me as a possible explanation as to how guns and ammunitions are getting onto our streets. Could it apply to Hartford? And the link may not be the most credible source, but it is a theory worth looking at


A NOTE TO DPW

The lawn at 134 Affleck needs mowing again.  The Hartford Police Substation is looking a little shabby in the neighborhood since the last time you mowed it almost a month ago.

Your efforts to contribute a positive impact on the quality of life in this neighborhood would be appreciated.

Thank you

TIME FOR A THURSDAY AFTERNOON SING-A-LONG



Sing along as you call for your 2017 or maybe even 2018 season tickets. I'm not sure it will still be called Dunkin Donut's Park by then. I mean seriously, who would want their huge logo as the backdrop for countless negative stories. ( probably many more still to come).

As the jingle says, just "eat it up"

MORE SEGARRA DEFICIT'S

 
 
I think we all know by now that former Mayor Pedro Segarra was a financial disaster, both personally and for the City of Hartford. Between his personal bankruptcies and the "dire" financial situation he left our City in, nothing should surprise us.

But there is a strange surprise to another Segarra deficit. This deficit was for his recent Mayoral campaign that he left behind after the November election. What is really surprising is a donation from one person to offset that deficit. A $1500.00 "contribution toward deficit" was recorded on 11-16-15 from Mayor Luke  Bronin's Capital City PAC to "Segarra 2015", Pedro Segarra's re-election committee..

Although the initial disclosure filings showed almost $100,000 sitting in the PAC ( at least almost four years away from any upcoming election) Segarra's  $1500.00 "deficit contribution" was only one of the expenses Another large expense of $5,000.00 was made to a  Diana Tomeszko, of West Hartford. Tomeszko is now listed on Hartford.gov's website as the "Director of Strategic Partnerships". The expense was only listed as "consulting" and it is unclear of her relationship between Bronin or the actual detail of the expense.

Several donors for the Bronin campaign that I contacted were somewhat surprised that their donations were eventually funneled through Bronin's PAC to support Segarra's campaign efforts.  Those I spoke with were extrememly opposed to Segarra's re-election and were somewhat upset that in the end, their donations were used to support Segarra's campaign efforts

This PAC and other campaign filings can be found on the State of Connecticut's website for the State Elections Enforcement Commission's (SEEC) "e-cris" filing section.

This is one to keep an eye on to see how Hartford's politics really operate behind the scenes.

Bronin Segarra Deficit Payment
expense has been recorded in filings from a PAC (Political Action Committee) formed by Hartford's current Mayor Luke Bronin