Search This Blog

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A PROBLEM AT HPD?

A large number of the calls that Hartford Police Officers respond to day in and day out are domestic violence related. These calls definitely have to place pressure on the officers that respond to the calls and diffuse the situations.

Since police officers are human also and they don't have a switch to turn off their feelings once they leave work, it seems to be taking its toll on Hartford's officers.

In the past month at least three Hartford Police officers have been arrested on domestic violence charges resulting from incidents in their private lives while off duty. Officer Chris White was arrested last month after an altercation with his ex-wife and another male that White found in their home.

This past week Officer Austin and Officer Elbe were both arrested for domestic violence related incidents. According to police sources, Austin was arrested immediately after a domestic incident and Elbe was arrested by warrant after his incident.

I would think this would indicate the need for a better way to identify officer's who may be under pressure and address these issues before they become problematic.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

AND ANOTHER THING THAT BUGS ME....

I guess today is a good day to vent about our trendsetting Councilman. One of my pet peeves was expressed very well by Dennis House at WFSB on his blog "The Hartfordite". To read Dennis's blog, click here

It speaks for itself, but I totally agree with his comments about the professionalism expressed by the way someone is dressed before the public. I have thought since the beginning of his term that Councilman Cotto has lowered the bar as far as professionalism and the image of the Council with the lack of proper attire.

Read what Dennis has to say and feel free to post your comments here.

ENOUGH OF THE GRANDSTANDING

We have a City Council full of opportunists, and unfortunately for Hartford, a vacuum when it comes to leaders on the Council.

Recently Councilman Cotto referred to Caucasians as "lily white", I guess in his liberal mindset that racism only applies to non-white people. As the "self appointed" equalizer for Islamic people, I find it hypocritical that he is championing an Imam's right to lead the Council in prayer while also using racially decisive rhetoric against others.

After his recent introduction of an ordinance to tie the hands of the Police when it comes to intelligence gathering, his apparent explanation was that he wanted to start a discussion on racism. I might suggest that if he wants to start a discussion, then act like a leader and actually organize a time and place for an honest discussion. Cotto's actions only add to the divide and conquer mentality that has been pervasive in Hartford for years, if not decades.

Hartford is perceived as a racist City by actions like Councilman Cotto's. Has anyone ever seen a press release for previous Council meetings announcing who would be giving the prayer at any specific meeting? Why did Cotto see the need to announce the occasion of an Imam giving a prayer before the September meetings? The explanation is simple, GRANDSTANDING, pure and simple.

Wouldn't it have meant more that in the normal course of business an Imam was placed in the mix to give the invocation? But no, just days after the September 11th memorials, Cotto saw fit to interject an Imam. And I don't believe Imam's have been excluded in the past. I don't recall ever seeing a Rabbi in prayer before a Council meeting or a Mormon but I don't proclaim to have attended every Council meeting.

The way that this has been handled is classic of this Council ,unfortunately. No class, no regard to how it affects the City overall and totally lacking in sincerity.

The one shining star that has come out of this issue is one of the people who you would expect to be the most upset. Imam Muhammad Ansari has shown to be a total class act in this matter by saying he doesn't need to pray before a September meeting and is willing to wait for the proper time. This will do more to further any image of Islam than any "in your face" actions Councilman Cotto could dream up.

For anyone that doesn't know Muhammad Ansari, he is probably one of the most genuine, softspoken persons you'd ever meet. He is currently also the acting Executive Director of the Open Hearth Shelter/Mission. I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know Mr. Ansari through the African-American Alliance.

Like it or not, the incidents of 9/11 and the terrorist attacks on our country were spearheaded by Muslim extremists. To brand a whole faith or group of people by these actions is wrong, the same as branding every Catholic priest a pedophile because of the actions of some.

If Councilman Cotto really wants to stem the tide of "Islamaphobia", maybe a frank and honest discussion with the likes of Imam Muhummad Ansari will put a much different face on an image that is being driven by hysteria due to actions like Cotto's. I would argue that Cotto's actions have done more to set back relations with the Islamic community than to move any image or understanding forward.

And Councilman Cotto needs to understand that racism is not a "one-way" street, it cuts in all directions and affects all people, even the "lily" white ones.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

MORE MUGSHOT UPDATES





Councilwoman Veronica Airey-Wilson, Republican, will be making her next appearance at Hartford Superior Court to answer her corruption arrest on September 24, 2010 at 10:00am. It is expected that she will accept or reject a plea deal offered by the State at that time.



Abe Giles, also arrested as a result of the Perez Corruption Investigation is scheduled to appear next in court on October 20, 2010 at 10:00am

PEREZ SENTENCING DATE MOVED

The September 10, 2010 date that had been set for the sentencing of former Mayor Eddie A. Perez after his felony convictions, has apparently been moved back a few days to September 14, 2010 at 10:00am.The updated information appears on the State of Connecticut's Judicial branch website.

Please adjust your calendars accordingly.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

HPD WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE


A couple weeks ago I posted about the Hartford Police Departments outdated information on its website. Last Friday I received a call from Nancy Mulroy the "webmaster" for the site. She had explained that they were transitioning from older design software to newer software and the process had lagged.

After the posting and dealing with MHIS, Mulroy told me that she insisted that the new website go "live" immediately to correct the problem and start providing current information.

After checking today, the Crime statistics are current and up to date. The stats also paint an interesting picture overall that in almost every category, except for aggravated assault, crime is down in the City compared to last year.

It is also important to note that according to the stats the Northeast section of the City is showing some good reductions in what traditionally is Hartford's "high-crime" areas. Almost every category of serious crime is showing large decreases in the Northeast section.

Southeast is also showing some large decreases in overall crime with sizable reductions over last years numbers. One area that Southeast isn't showing decreases is in the number of Motor Vehicle stops taking place. I am a strong believer that active motor vehicle enforcement reduces overall crime. First off is the visible police presence as they conduct traffic stops. Second is the number of contacts that result in the discovery of guns and weapons in the vehicles, persons wanted for more serious crimes and even drugs.

As most criminal activity doesn't like to be detected by the persons committing them, knowing that there chances of being stopped and detected makes a difference.

To view the HPD website and the current crime stats, click here

On the last page of the report is "police activity by area". The last column, "10-34's" is the column for traffic stop activity and is shown by neighborhood. As you can see, Barry Square leads the city for the current weeks report. More traffic stops were made in the Barry Square neighborhood than were made in other total districts.

It seems like a relatively small matter, but the Southeast's traffic enforcement could be one reason for it's impressive crime reduction numbers.