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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

SOME POOR JUDGEMENT AT HPD


SIMILAR TO THE AR-15 PURCHASED UNDER THE TABLE BY A HPD SERGEANT AT A RECENT GUN BUY BACK


Several sources are confirming that a Hartford Police Sergeant assigned to the gun squad, known as VRT , the Violence Reduction Team ( formerly STF, the Shooting Task Force) is under Internal Affairs investigation  after his actions to purchase an assault rifle from a recent gun buy back.

According to at least four sources familiar with the incident who have verified that Sergeant Andrew Rodney is under investigation for his actions at a recent gun buy back.  Rodney was apparently outside the building when a woman approached to turn in an AR-15 assault rifle . Rodney stopped the woman and allegedly offered her the same amount in cash as she would have received from inside for turning in the gun. Rodney paid her $250./00 in cash and took possession of the assault rifle.

The woman then reportedly returned home. Her husband, I am told, asked for the $250.00 gift card and she told him that she had received cash for the AR15 assault rifle. The husband apparently became upset and said the reason he wanted to turn it in was to make sure the gun was destroyed and "off the streets".

The husband then promptly called HPD to file a complaint with IAD. It is unclear if any criminal charges are pending or will eventually be filed, but one source told me that the Attorney General's Office gave a tentative ruling to prosecutors that a loophole in the law may have made Rodney's actions legal. If so, that loophole needs to be tightened up by the Legislature ASAP

At the very least it would seem  that even if there is no criminality, the charge could be made that Sergeant Rodney used his position for personal gain to acquire the Assault Rifle at a drastically reduced price, not much different than a police officer putting the squeeze on a business owner to get services for free or at a reduced rate, I think that is called "conduct unbecoming"

HPD Internal Affairs Investigators were able to recover the Assault Rifle, so essentially it is "off the streets" and Sergeant Rodney is reportedly out his $250.00 cash for his improper deed.

Hopefully Rodney's actions will not undermine the confidence and trust of Hartford residents cooperating with the gun buy back program or the Community partners who fund and work to make the program successful

WHEN AND WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE?

Whether it is Senator Al Franken being pressured to resign from the Senate or Matt Lauer being terminated from the TODAY show, it seems pretty clear that the times are changing in relation to Sexual harassment  and the way it is dealt with.

Even on a local level, Hartford City Council President TJ Clarke is facing fallout for words, some would call banter, between him and a female Council Assistant.

But what is the standard we are supposed to follow? When is improper language and behavior offensive? Is it all the time, every time? Does it depend on the person making the statements and who they are? Is it only offensive when it is a male directing the act at a female? Or can females be also accused of offensive behavior and sexual harassment? Is it only offensive if your comments are directed at someone who is actually likeable and OK if the person them self might be offensive to your beliefs?

 I would have to say wrong is wrong in all of the above circumstances.

Today, Suzanne Hopgood posted the following "Tweet" from her Twitter account.. What if a male asked her to expose female body parts to gauge her influence as a female and assigned her more power or credibility depending on certain measurements?

I venture to say the male would be severely criticized and if we apply the same standard to those comments that Mayor Bronin subjected TJ Clarke's behavior to, I guess we would have to say that "male" was incapable of being in a leadership role. Will that same standard be applied to Ms. Hopgood? Trump is wrong in his behavior but that doesn't make Hopgood's any more acceptable, no matter what her justification may be.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

SOME COLD WEATHER TIPS

This cold weather seems to be here for a while. Until the weather breaks, try to remember a few things.

Number one is protect your pets, try to avoid prolonged exposure to these extreme cold temperatures as well as avoid extended exposure of their paws to the subfreezing ground and chemicals and salt put down for the ice.

Try to keep areas around pipes open allowing the heat to circulate. In many cases it helps to open the doors under kitchen cabinets around sinks and under bathroom vanities to allow heat to reach pipes and keep them from freezing.Pipes on outside walls are especially vulnerable to freezing,

Make sure your outside water faucets are turned off in your basement. Once they are turned off, open the faucet outside to let any standing water drain out to avoid freezing and splitting of the pipes

In case of a "worst case scenario" , familiarize yourself with the location of your water shutoff. In case a pipe should burst, shut off the valve from the street, normally in your basement near the water meter, to stop the water flow and avoid additional damage.

DO NOT ever use your oven or a grill to add additional heat to your home. It is dangerous and electric appliances can over heat and gas appliances and grills produce carbon monoxide. If you feel nauseous or have a headache move outside to an area with fresh air and notify the fire department. They can check for the presence of Carbon Monoxide and check the CO levels inside your home. Consider purchasing a battery operated CO Detector for everyday protection in your home. They are relatively inexpensive and a variety of models are available in Home Improvement stores.

Avoid the use of electric space heaters. Of you do use a heater, make sure it has the automatic shut off if the hater is knocked over, Don't ever leave a space heater unattended and don't use an extension cord to plug it in, The extension cord can over heat and cause a fire. Keep areas around your furnace or boiler clear to avoid fires from unsafely stored items, your furnace is working overtime and generating more heat than usual.

Check on your elderly neighbors. Make sure they are staying warm and have items they need such as medications and food. They may not want to venture outside in the cold and a little neighborly kindness can be very helpful.

And don't forget your car. If you haven't checked the protection level of your antifreeze, have your mechanic test it and make sure your radiator is protected in these low temperatures to avoid freezing and damage to your engine.

An finally, keeps those sidewalks and fire hydrants clear when we do get snow

Monday, January 1, 2018

A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL

There has to be a special place reserved in Hell for anyone that would leave a dog tied outside in this weather to eventually freeze to death. What kind of person would do that? Even to leave the dog in a basement would be more protection than leaving the dog outside with just an old sweatshirt to lay on as  protection from the cold.

No excuse for this treatment.










Saturday, December 23, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHIEF



One of the few shining lights in Hartford Government is celebrating a birthday today, in between supervising operations on our City's streets during an ice event.

Happy Birthday Reggie Freeman. Enjoy your day with your beautiful family, you deserve it.

And from what I am told , next year will be a milestone birthday for the Chief ( and no it is not 50)

Happy Birthday Reggie, and best wishes and good health for many more

Friday, December 22, 2017

YOUR MOVE, MR. MAYOR



Well, Mayor Bronin, the next move is yours. I have been critical of your leadership, or more appropriately , lack of leadership. Now here is an opportunity to show that you do actually know how to lead.

Accountability is something that has clearly been lacking in your Administration, so here is an opportunity to show that you can do what is right and even hold your lawyer buddy Sean Fitzpatrick accountable to the people of Hartford..

From my posting yesterday, I don't think there is much doubt that Hartford's Economic Development Director is violating the City's residency policy  by claiming to live at a woman's social club on Woodland Street.

Fitzpatrick even swore to it in the Residency form below, that I obtained last night .Clearly  the form states that any false information WILL result in immediate disqualification or dismissal. Not "may"  but WILL result.

Let's see, Mayor Bronin, if you are actually capable of providing the leadership your position requires. The voters are waiting to see what you are made of.

Here is a link to Fitzpatrick's actual $644,000 Simsbury  residence, yet he claims to live in a social club without even a full bathroom listed.
http://www.propertyrecordcards.com/PropertyResults.aspx?towncode=128&uniqueid=32142951