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Friday, May 13, 2011

I'M BACKKKKK

The blog has been down for the last 24 hours, but there was no conspiracy.

Blogger, which is run by Google as "blogspot.com" apparently had server issues for all of the blogs they host after a recent update. Eventually they had to rollback to Wednesday morning and are now in the process of restoring those posts.

In the meantime, everything seems to be up and running again.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

MAYOR ORDERS INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF HARTFORD POLICE IAD

Sources are telling me that a letter has been delivered to Mayor Segarra today from the attorneys for Lieutenant Neville Brooks requesting an outside investigation into actions at the Hartford Police Department, specifically the Internal Affairs Division.

According to the sources, shortly after the letter was received, Chief Daryl K. Roberts was summoned to the Mayor's Office.

Numerous issues have been raised here on the blog as well as numerous comments calling for an outside investigation.

This afternoon Mayor Segarra ordered Chief Roberts to initiate an "immediate independent review" into the IAD matter.

Here is Mayor Segarra's statement:

(May 12, 2011) --- Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra issued this statement today regarding the Hartford Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division:

“I have already met with Police Chief Daryl Roberts and have directed him to order an immediate independent review of the IAD. As matters continue to unfold, I reserve my right to take additional action to preserve the integrity, trust, and public safety of the community.”



Please keep posting details here, or contact me personally if you feel more comfortable with that. Shining light on these things does make a difference.

Below is the letter from Lieutenant Brooks' attorney to Mayor Segarra requesting the outside investigation:

N Brooks Atty Letter

I KNEW THERE HAD TO BE A CONNECTION

It seems that the Superintendent of Schools in Shelton,Connecticut Freeman Burr, who has apparently dug his heels in regarding the James Tate prom ordeal was previously at the Hartford Board of Education as their "Human Resources Executive".

I knew there had to be a tie to Hartford, it's just too crazy to make sense.

Thanks to the poster who brought it to light.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

A JUROR CALLS AND ANOTHER ONE WRITES

It seems like the hornet's nest at the Hartford Police Department continues to be poked, and plenty of people are willing to talk about it.

Last night a comment was posted by someone who claimed to be a juror in the Rashim Campbell case. I asked them to get in touch with me and tonight they did. Another juror has apparently also posted a comment here on the blog.

It continues to amaze me the following this blog has developed and who is actually reading.

The juror who called had some very interesting information to relay. The two biggest factors in Rashim Campbell's acquittal were that, according to the juror, the Prosecution didn't do their job and that the IAD investigator was not credible.

The juror was very candid and didn't avoid any of the questions I asked. Apparently the feeling was unanimous when they entered the jurors room, but Lieutenant Ford started off on the wrong foot right from the start. Now keep in mind that these jurors really didn't know the facts of the case other than what was presented in the court room. They didn't know the police officers, they didn't know the alleged victim Michael Stewart and they definitely had never heard of IAD Sergeant Rob Ford.

I guess the recently promoted Lieutenant Ford had tried to impress the jurors with his introduction, but that apparently backfired big time. In his introduction, Lt. Ford informed the jurors that he was the newly promoted Lieutenant for the Blue Hills area of the City and proudly told the jurors "If you have any problems in Blue Hills, call me ".

Apparently that was the wrong thing to say. The juror who called me said that almost all of the jurors felt as though they were being offered a bribe by Lt. Ford. They also said that he seemed to need his notes to be able to testify and that raised questions. For whatever reason, they also felt that Ford's promotion might have been a reward for the Campbell investigation.

That one took me by surprise, because keep in mind, the jury had no knowledge of the politics or the players that seem to be coming to the surface recently.

The other part that surprised me, was that the jurors thought the prosecution didn't do their job. Apparently the general consensus was that the facts hadn't been laid out and even the video didn't support the assault allegations and looked more like reasonable force to get the situation under control.

During the conversation I was asked why they would put a new prosecutor in charge of this case. The juror was very surprised to find out that the prosecutor was actually Hartford County States Attorney Gail Hardy and was not a brand new prosecutor.

In the end, it seemed like a pretty clear decision for the jurors and apparently the perceived credibility of Lt. Ford played a large role.A unanimous not guilty verdict was reached in less than an hour.

Another juror posted their thoughts on the trial under the posting "Officer Rashim Campbell...not guilty on all counts"

In the meantime, several police sources are telling me that the calls for an outside investigation into the Hartford Police Department are mounting. Requests are being prepared for investigations into the removal of Lt. Brooks as well as potentially false information fabricated for the Rashim Campbell arrest warrant application as well as potential complaints against Lieutenant Ford.

This can prove to be an interesting situation for Mayor Pedro Segarra and how he approaches these problems in an election year. This one has the potential to blow up into a major problem and seems to be getting worse by the day.

Keep those calls coming.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?



Sometimes it seems like we have become immune to things that affect young people and how decisions can change their lives.

I usually focus on Hartford issues, but luckily this is one idiotic decision that we don't have to take blame for.

It seems that a student at Shelton High School, James Tate, came up with a creative way to ask for a prom date. He had the audacity to cut out large paper letters and tape them to the front of Shelton High School asking "SONALI RODRIGUES, WILL YOU GO TO PROM WITH ME? HMU, TATE" . For those not familiar with the texting lingo, "HMU" is nothing improper, it means "hit me up".

For being creative, the headmaster of the school has suspended Tate and revoked his right to go to the Prom. It wasn't graffiti done with spray paint and there was no damage done to the building. And I would even imagine that Sonali felt pretty special when she arrived at school Friday morning and saw the invitation.

Sonali promptly said yes.

This is absurd that Tate was punished to this extreme and the Headmaster should be ashamed for her actions.The headmaster, Dr. Beth Smith, can be reached at 203-922-3004 ext. 512 or by e-mail by clicking here

Something as important as the prom could also be disastrous when yanked away like this. In a city like Hartford plagued with youth violence and under performing students, I would hope that any Hartford educator would have handled a creative move like this in a much more positive manner.

Call or e-mail Doctor Smith and let her know what you think. I guess it goes to show that some people like Dr. Smith can be educated, but common sense can't be taught.

Good job Tate, and Somali should be fortunate to have a date with a young man that can be creative and respectful.

A facebook page has also been created "Let James Tate Go to the Prom"

Monday, May 9, 2011

OFFICER RASHIM CAMPBELL...NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS

Hartford Police Officer Rashim Campbell, who was arrested and terminated last year after being accused of assaulting a prisoner, was found not guilty today by a Superior Court Jury.

Closing arguments took place this morning and the jury was given the case after lunch. It took a little over two hurs for the jury to return with their not guilty verdict.