Search This Blog

Sunday, May 24, 2015

A GREAT HARTFORD STORY

The link below is to a Courant story about "unsung heroes". This is the type of positive story about Hartford people making a difference that I wish we saw more often. The story speaks for itself so take a few minutes to read it. I have to add that I have had the opportunity to meet one of the sons mentioned in the story and it only helps reinforce the impact a strong mother's and father's presence has in the development of their children into respectful, productive adults. Thank you to Jackie and Chris Allen-Doucot for their efforts and the positive impact they have had on so many Hartford children in addition to their own sons. You can be proud of your efforts and the results

You can read the story here

ONE MORE FOR MEMORIAL DAY

This is a great rendition of our national Anthem by a blind and autistic 16 year old girl. I honestly wonder how many of our youth even know the words or even the history of the Star Spangled Banner

REMEMBER WHY WE CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY

I think far too many people look forward to Memorial Day as the kick off of the Summer season, A day off from work and school, barbeques, and cook outs.

Keep in mind the real reason we celebrate Memorial Day every year. It is about recognizing those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom and also those that have been maimed and disfigured defending our country.

I will never forget the funeral for my father who was a proud US Marine during the Korean Conflict. As the service ended, it was about 4 degrees out at the time of his burial. The Marine color guard  in their dress blues presented the folded flag to my mother and the young marine handing my mother the flag had a tear that ran down his cheek. My dad would have loved that. Once a marine, always a marine, even in death

Tomorrow, remember why we celebrate Memorial Day and thank a veteran for their service to protecting our way of life

(Sorry Mom, I know the video and music will probably give you goosebumps and cause a few tears as it reminds you of the love of your life. Thank you dad for your service and the example you set for us. We miss you)

WAS PASTOR'S SHOOTING A HATE CRIME?

 The plot thickens.

This is the official version from HPD regarding the shooting of a visiting pastor on Capitol Avenue early this morning: the First shooting happened at 932 Capitol Ave. at 0627 hours, documented under HPD Case 15-15639. The victim is identified as Augustas Sealy DOB 8/14/1959. Sealy is a church Pastor from Mass. Sealy is from Hartford and was posting Flags for Memorial Day in the area of Capitol Ave. @ Newton Street when he was shot by unknown assailant(s). Sealy was shot twice in the right leg and once in the upper left arm. He is in surgery at Saint Francis at this time listed as serious but stable. Investigation is active. MCD detectives and Crime Scene detectives are investigating.

According to at least two  independent sources from HPD , speaking on the condition of remaining anonymous, have told me the shooting may actually be a hate crime. The victim, prior to being shot, was asked by the shooter "if he was gay" according to sources.

A request for comment from HPD Deputy Chief Brian Foley has gone unanswered.

Pastor Sealy was sticking flags into the ground alongside the sidewalk at the Church in honor of memorial day, prior to his being approached and shot 4 times.

It does not appear that Pastor Sealy has any readily available criminal history  at this time.


UPDATE: Another source has told me that Pastor Sealy had actually served as pastor of the Capitol Avenue Church for five years before being transferred to another assignment in Shrewsbury MA.recently. He was back today for a celebration of his five years of service in Hartford apparently

IS THE DEATH PENALTY OK IN HARTFORD?

Comments posted on other social media sites the last few days seem to be stating  that Hartford's recent homicide victims are the result of their drug dealing ways. Now I don't doubt that many of the victims are living less than stellar, crime free lifestyles. But I have also not seen HPD state that they are all drug dealers , or even make the link for that matter between the homicides and any alleged motives. I think the posters are ready to assume that since they are murdered, they must be up to no good.

You know  what they say happens when you "assume".

This morning a visiting pastor from Shrewsbury , Massachusetts was shot 4 times in front of the Church of the Nazarene on Capitol Avenue. The pastor's crime crime? Sticking American flags into the ground lining the sidewalk of the church in honor of Memorial Day. If you fall in line with the Downtown thinking, he must be a drug dealer to  invite being shot 4 times.

Also, many of the recent shootings involve numerous shots fired, evidence shows in some cases 25 or more rounds fired. In one of the cases after 26 rounds, the victim was only grazed once. Where do you think those other rounds went? Accuracy is clearly not the priority or strong point of Hartford's shooters. Who knows where the other rounds landed

Could an innocent victim just driving by on Main Street take a bullet? Could a child sleeping in their bedroom be a victim of wayward bullets. How about a senior sitting by their front window watching television. To say that the violence only affects drug dealers is both ignorant as well as irresponsible. We should be screaming at our City leadership to end this violence, not condoning it by thinking " I am not a drug dealer so it won't happen to me"

And anyone that knows anything about economic development should understand that violent crime , especially homicides and gun violence makes it very difficult to attract new residents and businesses, no matter what the excuse. Anyone who has paid attention to Chief Rovella's public speeches knows he often partners Hartford's crime rate with the possible success or future of Hartford's Economic Development potential. To ignore the connection is shortsighted.

Until then, sentencing criminals to death at the hands of other criminals in Hartford is not acceptable. We will probably see many innocent victims of Hartford's death penalty by the end of summer of we are willing to accept it.

Luckily Pastor Seely is expected to survive his shooting, at least 10 others so far this year have not.

At least one Police Official told me this morning  Pastor Seely's shooting may have been a gang related type of initiation  to show that the shooter "was worthy", If that has any possibility of being true, that is a very scary thought.

Mayor Segarra and Council, what is the plan? Have you thought about what needs to be done. Show us some leadership please.

FROM HPD: PASTOR SHOT 4 TIMES IN FRONT OF CHURCH SUNDAY MORNING

First shooting happened at 932 Capitol Ave. at 0627 hours, documented under HPD Case 15-15639. The victim is identified as Augustas Sealy DOB 8/14/1959. Sealy is a church Pastor from Mass. Sealy is from Hartford and was posting Flags for Memorial Day in the area of Capitol Ave. @ Newton Street when he was shot by unknown assailant(s). Sealy was shot twice in the right leg and once in the upper left arm. He is in surgery at Saint Francis at this time listed as serious but stable. Investigation is active. MCD detectives and Crime Scene detectives are investigating.  

Second shooting happened at 402 garden St. at 0641 hours, documented under HPD Case 15-15640. The victim is identified as Robert Jones DOB 2/29/1987. Jones is a Hartford resident with a criminal history. Jones was walking in the area of 402 Garden St. when a unknown lone shooter approached him and started shooting. This shooting is captured on video. Jones is at Saint Francis listed in critical condition. He was hit by gunfire in the chest groin and both arms. MCD and crime scene detectives are actively investigating this shooting also.