PLUCKING THE LOW HANGING FRUIT

They say change is never easy, but in the case of the Hartford City Council they have chosen to take the easy way out. In a sharply worded statement Saturday, the Democratic Majority of the Hartford City Council have unanimously voted a former Hartford Police Major Crimes Detective as their scapegoat for the "Dead Pool" mess.

I think that just about everyone with a functioning set of eyes and ears  is capable of realizing that the Hartford Police Department under Chief Jason Thody is a mess and is getting worse daily.

Now the "Dead Pool" matter is bad and the Detective, who I doubt acted on his own, was wrong. I intentionally did not name the detective because I think he is just a minor player and the problem with the culture at HPD is much deeper than just one detective. I think the greater problem is the tone and culture that has been set by Thody, not just during his tenure as Chief, but well before that with his demotion for a drunken bar fight and even most recently with his evading  accident and the lies and coverup that ensued. over what many believe was a DUI incident.

Much of the responsibility, actually all of the responsibility lies with Hartford's Mayor and Washington bound hopeful Luke Bronin. He was warned by many that Thody was a bad fit to run and set the example for HPD, but for some unknown reason, Bronin went ahead and appointed Thody the permanent  Chief. Actually, in all honesty I think many of us know the reason for Thody's survival, and the answer sits across the hall from Bronin's Office.

Like I said at the beginning, the current problems at HPD run very deep.

Mayor Bronin and the Hartford City Council need to open their eyes and go after the real problems and their causes if HPD is going to be salvaged.

Here a couple issues I consider serious. 

Much has been said, and done related to  Minority recruitment to build the numbers at HPD to more reflect the make-up of the community. Under former Chief  James Rovella and also David Rosado, some of the most diverse classes of HPD recruits were hired and put on Hartford's streets. Recruitment without retention is senseless.. Under Thody's tenure those recruits as well as veteran officers are leaving HPD in droves. Many of the estimated 60 plus officers that have left the ranks this year are minorities and females. For veteran officers leaving to start at other Departments, especially . And at least another 50 are contemplating leaving and have requested their training records from the Academy.

It is highly unusual for Officer's to give up prime assignments, like the coveted Traffic Division slots, to leave for suburban towns and start over as the low person on the seniority list But then again we will probably never know the reason for the loss. None of the 60 plus Officer's have received an "Exit Interview", a basic management protocol that would give Thody and HPD and the City of Hartford a much better idea why officers were leaving. But not in Hartford.

There is also a large number of lawsuits coming down the pike, both State and Federal court suits.There seems to be a common thread in the suits, Defendants named AKA  Chief Jason Thody, Assistant Chief Rafael Medina and Lieutenant Paul Cicero. Coincidence or indicators of a greater problem? Since the Mayor and the City Council only want the easy route out, I doubt they really want to look at the problem and identify the reason because it will most likely also blow back on them

The Council was quick to put out their statement on a Saturday night claiming their disgust with a single detective. (the full text of that statement is below) Unless I missed it, I don't recall anything similar after Thody's alleged DUI evading accident. Again its easy to go after the low hanging fruit. Which incident do you think has done more damage to the public trust in HPD?

I doubt very much that there will be much of an investigation into the HPD problems because again, change is difficult  and no one in the Administration is willing to do the heavy lifting and the hard work to actually bring about real reform and accountability at HPD. It is much easier to organize the theatrics and pretend something is being done. 

And as far as the scapegoat, what he did was wrong and should be dealt with to set a tone of accountability, but I doubt he is the only one. Betting on human deaths is disgusting and I can't condone the "Dead Pool" but it is easy for me to post about things I think are improper. Luckily I have never had to deal with the stresses of a Major Crimes Detective. I have never had to stand in a front yard with wailing, sobbing relatives with their loved one laying on the front lawn with a bullet is his skull and his brain matter seeping out onto the sidewalk. And then that same detective has to attend the autopsy as part of their investigation. Watching what is left of the brain, cut out and removed  and weighed along with each internal organ.

This may have been a way for officers to "blow off steam" with some gallows humor, but in absence of a real EAP (employee assistance program) and an officer, or better yet a real counselor, assigned to deal with officer issues, they have to deal how they deal to keep their sanity. Maybe a real Chief who actually comes from the streets would understand that. And not just time out on the street after being hit with a demotion. All of us have had a stressful year dealing with our families and life under Covid. Add on the stresses of death and destruction Police Officers deal with everyday and it gets much worse

And Maybe a Major Crimes Lieutenant who according to sources, ran similar betting pools as far back as his time on the streets as a Conditions Officer might have been sending the wrong message. And unless the Hartford City Council wants to do some real heavy lifting and get to the bottom of the HPD problems ,we may never see change.

Low hanging fruit is easy to pick the real work is much more difficult.

 

Hartford City Council Democrats Find HPD Detectives “Dead Pool” Repugnant and Call for a Division Wide Investigation

Hartford Council Dems Extremely Disappointed by Callous Culture in HPD Major Crimes

Hartford, Connecticut— December 5, 2020 —   The recent discovery of an HPD Detective’s circulation a sporting pool dubbed a “Dead Pool” which solicited bets on the location of the first Hartford homicide of 2021 is the most recent validation of the Council Democrats long commitment to changing HPD culture.  Recently, the Democrats fashioned a budget which redirected police funding to community sensitivity training; significantly increased the independence and disciplinary powers of the Civilian Police Review Board and is in the process of authorizing the Police Accountability Review Board.  Each of these policies are designed to end the ingrained culture in some officers of superiority to the communities they serve.    

 

“As a longtime supporter of our police, I have to say that gambling on the life and death of Harford residents is not just a breach of this officers oath but a heinous breach of any possible trust and faith our community can and should have in HPD” said said Council President Maly Rosado.  She added “I am speaking to the Chair of the Civilian Police Review Board to ensure that a public and transparent investigation occurs totally independent of HPD.”

 

Council Majority Leader TJ Clarke stated “As we lose more and more young men of color to senseless violence, I cannot fathom the absolute moral void of this man.  He should be forced to go speak to the 22 mothers and fathers who have already lost loved ones to our City’s violence this year.  It’s time to get the Police Accountability Review Board up and running!” 

 

“I am appalled and in disbelief that some members of the HPD could have such cruel disregard of life.  While I support those in HPD that work hard to respectfully serve our city, this behavior undermines any attempts of community and police engagement and I will not support or tolerate anyone who is desensitized to senseless deaths in our community.” commented Councilmen James Sanchez adding that “I am also calling for a parallel investigation by the State’s Attorney’s Office since this despicable conduct has tarnished their office as well.”

 

“It’s sad but too believable that a man whose job it is to solve murders thought the first tragedy of 2021 should be something officers would bet on.  He has no understanding of the deep wounds caused to the families and community every time violent crime visits our streets.” said Councilperson Nick Lebron.

 

Marilyn Rossetti said “I am disturbed, disgusted and downright horrified by the Hartford Police text.  It should not be allowed, tolerated or condoned in any way.  I am prepared, along with my colleagues, to take action in response to this outrageous behavior.  Enough is enough.”

 

Longtime leader in the West Indian community Councilwomen Shirley Surgeon demanded “More accountability, more action, more discipline; that is what the HPD needs.  Enough is enough.  When a cop in charge of murders wants to bet on murders, I, for the first time, feel that this police department can’t be counted on to truly serve and protect the people who look like me.”