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Sunday, February 7, 2016

MAYOR BRONIN TO WELCOME NEW POLICE RECRUITS TO HARTFORD ACADEMY

MONDAY: MAYOR BRONIN TO WELCOME NEW POLICE ACADEMY CLASS; ENCOURAGES MILLENIALS TO JOIN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITH HYPE

— MEDIA ADVISORY— 

(Feb 7, 2016) Monday, February 8, 2016, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin will welcome the newest recruits of the Hartford Police Academy. The class is commencing two months earlier than scheduled in an effort to improve the inherited police staffing shortage.  

In the evening, Mayor Bronin will offer remarks at “Boards and Commissions on Tap,” a panel event hosted by Young Energetic Solutions (YES) and Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE). The Mayor will discuss efforts to encourage Hartford’s millennials to help better shape their communities by becoming members of various boards or commissions.  ---

WHO: Mayor Luke Bronin

WHAT: Welcome to new recruits of the Hartford Police Academy

WHEN: Monday, Feb 8, 2016, 8:00 a.m.

WHERE: Hartford Police Academy, 50 Williams Street, Hartford

 

---

WHO: Mayor Luke Bronin, Middletown Mayor Dan Drew

WHAT: Boards and Commissions on Tap

WHEN: Monday, Feb 8, 2016, 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: City Steam Brewery Café, 942 Main Street, Hartford

A RESPONSE TO A COMMENT

 
The following comment was posted this morning, Sunday, by , of course "Anonymous":

" I agree. This chief has destroyed the morale. They will find a way to justify eliminating conditions. You think crime is bad now? Wait till there is no more conditions. The no vote of confidence will never happen. The department's mentality for the most part has become all about individuals instead of unity. That's why the veterans are leaving. They've had enough of the bull. "

Lets look at some facts here here. This  is a disgruntled group of police officers that have been part of what are called "Condition Units". For those not familiar with the term, as a community, probably 15 years or so ago, maybe less, we were sold a Community policing program by former Chief Patrick Harnett.

That plan was to divide the City into four areas with each area being its own district. Eventually due to staffing and budget issues, those four areas were reduced to three; north, south and central. There apparently talk now , again due to budget and staffing issues , to reduce that districting to two areas, North and South. Central would be eliminated and the City would be divided back into two areas as it was before Harnett's plan was implemented ( Actually it wasn't Harnett's plan. It was devised by former Assistant Chief's Michael Fallon and Daryl Roberts, Harnett just took the credit)

The Condition Units were a big part of that plan , at least in the sales pitch to get the Community to buy into the plan. They were sold to us to be focused units dealing with "quality of life" issues. The loitering , noise complaints, all of the little things that drag neighborhoods down. They were supposed to address many of the things that are known as "C" calls. The calls that were infuriating residents because they would call the Police and no one would show up for hours.

It started out that way but didn't last. The Conditions Units quickly were allowed to morph  into  little strike forces around the City. They seem to have lost their focus on the quality of life issues, started wearing swat style vests identifying them as "HPD Conditions"  and became mini STF or Vice and Narcotics Units. Many times they were duplicating efforts, the right hand not knowing what the left hand was working on.

Those crimes do affect the over all quality of life, but they also were not intended to  be the focus of the Conditions Units

In recent years the Conditions Units could very well be renamed as the "Bar Detail".  Many neighborhoods lost their conditions units regularly on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights to handle their unruly bar customers downtown or in the North Main area. This was largely allowed by a previous Mayor and Council who wouldn't hire police officers . Segarra was  more concerned about his image in the media with bar shootings and violence than he was about the quality of life in neighborhoods.

A big question  should be asked is why would neighborhoods be stripped of resources on the nights they are being needed most, rather than make the bar owners and clubs hire officers  to control their clients?

Now with the Police Department over 100 officers short of where they should be, and more leaving in the near future , we are paying the price. There are only so many bodies to go around to fill a schedule that his minimum, staffing requirements. Those bodies have to come from somewhere, and we know we can't hire them quick enough and wave the magic wand to make them police officers overnight. Although a new class of 15 Police Officers is supposed to start this month, it will be almost a year before they are trained and certified to be on their own

In addition, the overtime requirements are out of control. I am sure most Hartford resident's would not be thrilled with the overtime costs associated with Mayor Segarra  and the previous Council's lack
of hiring. The numbers are outrageous for what was paid last year in overtime alone,  not to mention the lack of productivity by burned out officers working excessive hours .

The  numbers in dollars are pretty small, but returning conditions to patrol will fill required and necessary holes in the basic Patrol schedule and  budget. It will be approximately $45,000 to $50,000 dollars before the new budget year begins July 1, 2015.

And more importantly, how did staffing get so bad that we now have to dismantle what should be vital components of the Community Policing Program. We just came through a campaign season. Where were the Union  or Fraternal Organization advertisements about Police staffing in Hartford? Where is the outcry about playing games with Police staffing? Do none of you officers willing to whine here about the impact of a handful  of officer's being reassigned out of necessity realize the danger that failing to hire new officer's puts all of you in?

Your vote of no confidence should be in the previous Administration, not in the Chief who was instrumental in getting you one of the better contracts in years. Not in the Chief who even had to fight with the previous Administration just to get you new, safe vehicles to drive.

And the veterans are leaving , many not from dissatisfaction but because they are maxing out their earnings. $243,975 a year  for a Police Officer, and that is minus November and December earnings, as he was already retired, really? I doubt he left because he is disgusted with the Department, if so  maybe he needs to get into counseling. I think most people would be amazed at the earnings list for HPD for the past year, especially page 1 through 4. I can see why you would be upset about Chief Rovella actually trying to manage his budget.

Maybe what you should consider is uniting behind Chief Rovella to get the proper support to hire and rebuild the Department. Rally  behind the Chief to establish a program to allow bar owners and businesses  to hire Police Officers in four hour blocks to maintain order in the entertainment areas ( remember the Downtown Special before it was taken over by Conditions and CSO's and you were all cut out of that work?) Establishing 4 hour billing would not only benefit bar owners who do want to hire but don't want to have to pay for a full eight hours, but it would be a regular  addition to the PJ schedule.

If staffing allows in the future and the conditions units are reconstituted, they need to be focused on the quality of life issues as we were promised initially. Quality of life issues may not be as exciting  as chasing guns and drugs, but quality of life issues are what drives people out of our City

Although many of our political leaders do read the blog, the Chief is not the bad guy here. You need to focus your efforts where it belongs and where you will actually get a benefit and see the results.

Be careful what you wish for, things could be much worse.

Friday, February 5, 2016

"WE THE PEOPLE" PROGRAM ON DEMAND LINK

This link will take you to our "We the People" program on Hartford Public Access. Their new "video on demand" feature is up and running and our February 1, 2016 program is available there.

The first thirty seconds or so of audio is before we actually went on the air, and didn't realize our microphones were live, luckily we were being nice and nothing bad was said.

HARTFORD PARKING BAN AT 6:00PM

TODAY AT 6:00 P.M.: MAYOR BRONIN DECLARES SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING BAN

— NEWS AND COMMUNITY STATEMENT—

(February 5, 2016) Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin has declared a snow emergency parking ban for the City of Hartford, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5, 2016 and ending at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2016. All Hartford District Public School will parking lots will be available for parking.  However, cars must be moved by noon on Saturday.

“With heavy snow falling throughout the day and temperatures plummeting tonight, it’s critical that we allow our DPW team to clear the streets before we accumulate frozen material that’s difficult to plow," said Bronin. "This ban will allow us to plow curb to curb and get the streets cleared quickly.  I urge residents without off-street parking to move their vehicles to one of our district school lots once the parking ban goes into effect.”

During a snow emergency parking ban, all on-street parking is prohibited throughout the City of Hartford. Any vehicles not removed from City streets by the start of the parking ban will be ticketed and towed. Residents without access to off-street parking should move their vehicles to one of the following authorized parking areas before the start of the parking ban:

·         Colt Park – Warwarme Street Lot                 
·         Dillon Stadium – Curcombe Street Lot     
·         Elizabeth Park – Asylum Street                  
·         Elizabeth Park – Prospect Avenue            
·         Goodwin Park – Hubbard Avenue            
·         Goodwin Park – Maple Ave. Golf Course                     
·         Keney Park – Woodland Street            
·         Keney Park – Ridgefield Street             
·         Pope Park –Park Terrace Lot   
·         2 Holcomb Street Lot
·         80 Coventry Lot
·         KDA Center Lot – Naugatuck Street            
·         All Hartford District School Parking Lots. For a complete list, visit www.hartfordschools.org/schools and select “District.”

Residents should remove their vehicles from the lots promptly following the end of the parking ban. Residents whose vehicles are towed during the parking ban should contact the Hartford Police Department at (860) 757-4000. The cost for retrieving a towed vehicle is $93.59. An additional $99.00 ticket will be issued, which owners are responsible for paying before the answer date. Please visit http://www.hartford.gov/snow-parking for a list of snow emergency parking locations, and for information regarding towed vehicles. 

Thursday, February 4, 2016

FROM HPD; HEROIN, GUNS AND AN ASSAULT RIFLE, NOT A GOOD COMBO

 
WEAPONS FOR HUNTING PURPOSES ONLY, I AM SURE

On February 3rd 2016 Hartford Police Department Vice and Narcotics Detectives were attempting to execute a search warrant at the second floor residence of 112 Ward Street.

Prior to executing the search warrant, HPD Vice and Narcotics Detectives developed information that the target of the search warrant (Abdul Callwood) was in the area 277 Buckingham Street with a large amount of heroin. Investigators located Callwood at the mentioned location and seized (1497) bags of heroin (Packaged for street level sales).

At the Buckingham Street location Callwood and a Hispanic female (identified as Kristine Thompson 4-21-92) were arrested for several narcotics related charges. Information was further developed during the course of the investigation that Thompson was "stashing" and packaging heroin at the Flamingo Inn hotel, located in Windsor, Connecticut. Detectives were able to identify a room at the Flamingo Inn and with the invaluable assistance from the Windsor Police Department, as well as Hartford STF members, Vice and Narcotics Detectives were able to search the motel room.

Inside the room, investigators located (18) grams of "raw" heroin and numerous amounts of packaging materials. (Officers from the Windsor Police Department took custody of the drugs at the Inn and will be applying for an arrest warrant/further charges for Thompson at a later time).

Investigators then executed the search warrant at 112 Ward Street (Callwood’s residence). During the execution of the search warrant, a loaded .40 caliber firearm, a loaded .25 caliber firearm, a loaded SKS assault rifle (stolen out of Oregon), numerous rounds of ammunition, (64) grams of "raw" heroin and numerous amounts of packaging material were located. The target (Callwood), who is a convicted felon, was placed under arrest for numerous narcotics and firearms related charges. Callwood also had an outstanding warrant for narcotic related offense.

During the course of the investigation Detectives were able to obtain a total of 1800 bags of heroin from the target at the 3 locations.

Hartford Police Vice and Narcotics Detectives were assisted by the HPD Special Operations Group, Hartford Shooting Task Force, South Conditions Unit.

Hartford STF members from the CT State Police and Windsor Police Department also provided direct and valued assistance to this operation.

8 previous
Arrest: Abdul Callwood 41 of 112 Ward Street (Convicted Felon)
CHARGES:
1.       Possession of an Assault Weapon
2.       Criminal Possession of a Firearm (3 counts)
3.       Possession of High Capacity Magazine
4.       Possession of Stolen Firearm
5.       Possession of Narcotics (3 Counts)
6.       Possession of Narcotics With Intent to Sell (4 Counts)
Bond $350k (Windsor Arrest Warrant Pending)

Arrest: Kristine Thompson 23 of Windsor CT
CHARGES:
1.       Possession of Narcotics
2.       Conspiracy Sale of Narcotics
3.       Possession of Narcotics With Intent to Sell

Evidence:
One brown and black SKS 7.62 assault rifle and UTG rifle scope & High capacity mag
One black CZ 75, model P07 .40 caliber semiauto handgun
One black Beretta, model 21A .25 caliber semiauto handgun
64 grams raw Heroin
1800 bags packaged
Heroin packaging material
numerous live rounds

I REALLY AM GETTING TIRED OF THIS





I really am not sure why some people feel that they can disrespect anyone with a disability by parking in a posted Disabled Parking space.

I have posted before about Hartford Police cruisers parked in a posted Disabled Parking Space.http://wethepeoplehartford.blogspot.com/2011/07/wrong-wrong-wrong-and-finallywrong.html


I have posted about the State Representative in the Dunkin Donuts disabled spot for convenience , who was in a hurry to get his afternoon coffeehttp://wethepeoplehartford.blogspot.com/2015/01/dont-dent-my-shiny-bmw.html

People parking in disabled spots without a permit has been one of my pet peeves for a while. (To be politically correct, they aren't referred to as "Handicap spots" any more, they are disabled persons parking spots)

Even more recently, it was reported that the Commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Public Protection (used to known as the State Police Commissioner) Doris Schriro was photographed parking in a disabled parking space at a State Police barracks, reportedly because she was in a hurry to catch a flight  from Bradley. Reportedly she made a donation to a non-profit that deals with the disabled, I guess that makes her indiscretion all right, too bad for the person that might actually need a disabled spot

But lets forget about political correctness, lets focus on human decency. I was extremely disgusted today when I went for a medical appointment at  the Armory Medical Building on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. The posted disabled parking spaces at the front of the building were all occupied by vehicles properly displaying the disabled hang tag permits, as required by law.

That is all except the UPS truck taking a disabled space for his deliveries, as shown in the pictures above. There is no excuse for such ignorance. Since having my stroke last July, I would gladly give up my disabled parking space and permit to be able to walk the length of a parking lot to get inside.

Those spaces are designated for a reason and I don't think the reasons include making it more convenient to get your afternoon  coffee or being able to make our UPS deliveries quicker.

I just hope none of you, or anyone you care about, needs a disabled parking space for legitimate reasons, then you might just appreciate why they are there.