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Wednesday, December 6, 2017

AN ANSWER TO THE CRYPTIC RESOLUTION

On November 24th I posted about a cryptic Resolution that was on the Hartford City Council Agenda. You c an read that posting herehttps://wethepeoplehartford.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-cryptic-hartford-city-council.html

It now appears that resolution was directed towards  Hartford's Building official Michael Fuschi. Fuschi is apparently also listed , or is being employed by the Town of Manchester as their Assistant Building Inspector according to the Town of Manchester website.

Why it took a resolution by Council President Clarke to deal with the question is unknown.


ZERO TOLERANCE?

Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose have all learned the message of "Zero Tolerance" the hard way. (No pun intended)

But at Hartford City Hall, "Zero Tolerance" seems to send a much different message. The message appears to be "carry on, business as usual".

Several recent incidents seem to highlight Hartford's double standards.

Let me start with the Hartford Police Lieutenant who at the time was the commander of the Hartford Police Academy. Apparently , sexual harassment of employees was her strong suit. Allegations were made by employees of HPD of her inappropriate behavior. The allegations ranged from  unwanted sexual advances toward police officers to extremely inappropriate behavior such as instructing an Academy recruit to go home and masturbate with his right hand to improve his accuracy shooting. The recruit was left handed and the Lieutenant apparently felt that if he became more proficient with his right hand it would improve his shooting score.

The bizarre behavior didn't end there though. Her comments to the class of recruits while they were exercising in Bushnell Park were very inappropriate. This behavior was witnessed by at least two HPD Sergeants as well as civilians in the park. When the Lieutenant wasn't happy with the level of  effort being shown by the recruits, she apparently yelled at them "I have been c *ck slapped harder than that" according to sources .Residents using the park apparently also over heard the comments.

HPD claims that they were going to launch an Internal Investigation to look into the matter, but according to sources, no investigation ever took place.

It goes on and on and the behavior of a sexual nature was a regular event. The Lieutenant was even reportedly walking around the Police academy  out of uniform just wearing her panties and under garments.

The penalty for this behavior, a transfer back to patrol.

Or the issue of the Deputy Chief who was apparently caught in a parking lot in West Hartford Center having "adult relations" with one of his subordinates. The issue arose because it was the subordinates husband, now ex husband I am told, who caught them. The husband smashed out the drivers front window of the Deputy Chief's City issued car during his rage. The damage to the car was falsified and repaired by the City without any repercussions to the Deputy Chief.

The fraternization by the Deputy Chief and his subordinate is widely known through HPD as well as by members of the Community he is supposed to serve, yet nothing has been done. Most likely nothing will be done until the relationship goes bad and the inevitable lawsuits are filed seeking a large payout from the City's checkbook.

And what about the incident from earlier this year involving an aide to a City Councilperson and her inappropriate and violent behavior toward another City employee. Even though the signs are all over City Hall for "Zero Tolerance" for drug use and work place violence, in this case Zero Tolerance apparently means' "job well done, we will protect you."

 A Police report  documents the entire incident, including the Council Aide yelling the "N " word at the other employee and pushing the Police Officer away when he intervened. The incident apparently was so serious the Office of the Corporation Counsel hired an outside investigator to look into the incident and came back with the recommendation that the Council Aide should be terminated.

In a letter to Council President TJ Clarke, the Corporation Counsel's Office recommended that due to the "egregious nature of this misconduct, this office must recommend immediate termination of the Council Aide from City employment"

To date that has not happened and "zero Tolerance" means business as usual, carry on..

Why are certain people protected by this Administration? Sexual harassment  is sexual harassment no matter who the perpetrator is. Whether it is a Deputy Police Chief, a Lieutenant or Matt Lauer, the repercussions and discipline should be the same. If a Police Officer gets fired for using the "N" word at the Casino or a Police Officer facing termination for using the "N" word while getting arrested for a DUI, why would a Councilperson protect her Aide for using the "N" word openly during an argument at City Hall?

I also have to wonder why the City of Hartford would spend the money to hire an outside investigator to look into the matter and then ignore the results of that report? Or is to make it look like they are doing something, kind of like establishing a "Zero Tolerance Policy". it may sound good , but it means nothing in the end.

I have requested all of the documents including any Investigatory reports as well as any disciplinary reports through a Freedom of Information request to the City of Hartford. I will post those as soon as they are provided.

Saturday, December 2, 2017

FROM HPD, 12/1 HOMICIDE DETAILS

On December 1, 2017, patrol units responded to the area of 104-116 Bond Street for a shot spotter system activation with 6 rounds recorded. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim down on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Medical aid was provided until the arrival of EMS and Fire. The victim was subsequently pronounced deceased on scene at 2027 hours by Aetna Ambulance paramedics. Detectives from the Major Crimes Division, Crime Scene Division and an Inspector from the Hartford Chief State's Attorney's Office responded and assumed the investigation. Detective Pethigal was assigned as the lead investigator. The investigation is on-going.

The victim has been identified as Edgardo Galindez a 45 year old Hartford resident.

Anyone with information can contact HPD at 860-757-4000


Friday, November 24, 2017

A CRYPTIC HARTFORD CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION

Much of what the Hartford City Council does is beyond explanation, and here is one more example that needs explanation.

Does anyone know what this resolution is about?

REPLACEMENT FOR AGENDA ITEM #24

INTRODUCED BY: COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL

Council President Thomas J. Clarke II City of Hartford, November 27, 2017

WHEREAS, The Court of Common Council hereby takes issue to any ‘City Employee’ who retains employment with any other town or municipality while still employed by The City of Hartford; and


WHEREAS, The perception of such actions at this time is viewed as showing favoritism and a decrease in employee moral; therefore, now, be it


RESOLVED, That the Court of Common Council request that The Administration implement a policy that will prohibit the retention of any city worker currently employed by another town or municipality; and be it further


RESOLVED, That The Administration provide the Court of Common Council with a copy of this policy within 30 days of the passage of this resolution.


Please email or call me if you have any additional information

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

FINALLY

The broken links to the Hartford Police Daily Arrest log are once again working, It appears to have only taken 3 months or so to get it fixed. This is apparently a function of the Emergency Services and Telecommunications Department  to post the Police Department arrest Logs.

September 27, 2017 was the last time the reports were updated until today,

The logs can be viewed daily here http://www.hartford.gov/images/police/ArrestLogs/blotter.pdf

ARREST IN FATAL HIT AND RUN MAY HAVE FAMILY TIES TO HPD OFFICER


These details just came out tonight, although they were first reported a month ago by NBC Connecticut Troubleshooter Jill Konopka along with video she had obtained

HPD is just confirming those details now in this release tonight from HPD Deputy Chief Brian Foley.

On Saturday, September 16, 2017, at approximately 2:03am, Hartford Police Department Patrol officers responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Hudson Street and Park Street. Officers arrived on scene and began rendering aide to a female victim, later identified as Cynthia James, 58 of Hartford. Preliminary investigation revealed that a dark colored vehicle struck Ms. James and evaded the scene, traveling northbound on Hudson Street.

At approximately 2:54am, Ms. James succumbed to injuries suffered in the crash and was pronounced deceased at Hartford Hospital.

Video footage of the fatal accident was obtained from the city’s camera system as well as private systems by personnel from the Capitol City Command Center (C4). The video footage showed Ms. James walking eastbound on Park Street on the south sidewalk. Ms. James then walks eastbound across Hudson Street, in the marked crosswalk, under an illuminated “Do Not Walk” signal. Ms. James can be seen almost being struck by an SUV traveling southbound on Hudson Street as she crossed. Ms. James continues eastbound across Hudson Street when she is struck by a dark colored vehicle traveling northbound on Hudson Street. At the time of the crash, vehicles traveling on Hudson Street had a green traffic control signal. Additional video footage shows the suspect vehicle’s brake lights illuminate before the vehicle continues northbound on Hudson Street, evading the scene of the crash.

At 5am, the Office of the Hartford State’s Attorney was notified via phone of the fatal crash investigation. A crime scene was established in the area of Park Street and Hudson Street which was processed by Detectives from the Hartford Police Department Crime Scene Division. As the investigation progressed, additional video footage was recovered by C4 personnel showing the suspect vehicle. HPD had not yet been able to positively ID the car or develop a suspect.

At approximately 9:30am, an HPD Major Crimes Division supervisor was contacted by an off-duty Hartford Police Officer regarding the crash. The Officer notified the Sergeant that his half-brother, Nathen Negron, was the operator of the vehicle involved in the Park Street and Hudson Street fatal crash. The Sergeant worked to ascertain additional information pertinent to the investigation, including the whereabouts of Negron and the location of the involved vehicle.

Notifications were then made to HPD command personnel regarding the potential involvement of a family member of an HPD Officer. At 10:45am, the Sergeant advised investigators that Negron was at his parent’s home, located at 82 Harwich Street, Hartford, Connecticut. This information was relayed to Crime Scene Division Detectives who responded to 82 Harwich Street. At approximately 10:49 hours, HPD contacted the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office and advised them of the newly obtained information, including the fact that the suspect is a family member of a HPD Officer. HPD was advised to continue with the investigation.

HPD Detectives from the Crime Scene Division responded to 82 Harwich Street, the home of Negron’s parents. Negron met with Detectives there and agreed to be interviewed about the incident. The vehicle involved in the incident, a black 2015 Honda Civic (CT 316-ZER), then arrived at 82 Harwich Street driven by the registered owner, Shayla Bonner. Bonner was determined to have been the front seat passenger in the Honda Civic at the time of the crash. Bonner also agree to be interviewed by Detectives. The Honda Civic had visible damage consistent with having been involved in a crash involving a pedestrian. The vehicle was immediately seized as evidence and brought to the Hartford Police Department and held for further examination.

Both Negron and Bonner voluntarily came to the Hartford Police Department to be interviewed. Prior to the interview of Negron and Bonner, at 11:33am, the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office was advised that Negron, Bonner and the vehicle had been located. They were advised that Negron and Bonner were traveling to the Hartford Police Department to be interviewed by HPD Detectives.

Both Negron and Bonner were interviewed by detectives and provided details of their involvement in the accident.

Investigation into the incident continued, including obtaining additional video evidence from within Matty D’s bar.

The HPD Officer, who contacted HPD about his half-brother’s involvement, was interviewed by Detectives from the Crime Scene Division regarding the incident.

Based on evidence and the Officer’s details about his involvement in the fatal motor vehicle accident aftermath, HPD initiated an internal administrative investigation. That Internal Affairs Division investigation is ongoing.

Based on the information obtained by Detectives, an arrest warrant application was submitted to Superior Court in Hartford and obtained on November 21, 2017, charging Negron with 53a-157b, False Statement, 14-222a, Negligent Homicide with a motor vehicle and 14-224(a), Evading Responsibility with Death with a $100,000 bond. On November 21, 2017 at 8:00pm Negron turned himself in to HPD detectives.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing and additional criminal charges may apply pending further inform