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An update on violent crime in New Haven, CT 10\13\2021

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on October 14, 2021 at 15:30
Dear residents,

New Haven, like cities around the country, has been experiencing elevated levels of violent crime. In fact, last month the FBI reported that nationwide homicides rose 30% from 2019 to 2020. Violence in our community has led to tragic consequences, increased the level of trauma experienced by so many members of our community and led to irreparable loss of life. I’m sure that you, like me, agree that public safety is our top priority and feel that we must do everything possible to keep all members of our community safe.  

There has been a lot of discussion nationwide as to what is leading to the rise in violent crime. Most analysis points to a mixture of things – the temporary halt at the height of the pandemic of many violence interruption programs that have historically been effective, the economic and mental health impacts of the pandemic leading to extreme stress, some deterioration of trust between community and police, and the dramatic increase of gun purchases.

Here in New Haven, we are seeing a combination of sources of violence - some group and gang-related violence, some fights between individuals, some domestic violence incidents. It’s important for members of the public to understand that the overwhelming majority of the violent crime that we see is between people who know each other—these incidents are not random.

Our team has been working since last summer to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to confront gun violence – through a combination of community policing, violence interruption programs, expansion of the use of technology, restructuring and better integrating our programs, and increasing resources to communities targeted at the roots of the problem.

Three weeks ago, my administration and the Board of Alders created a new department—the Department of Community Resilience. This new department will oversee six interconnected areas (1) violence prevention (2) mental health (3) homelessness (4) community crisis response (5) re-entry support (6) harm reduction. And, two weeks ago we announced a new partnership with CT Against Gun Violence to help design our new Office of Violence Prevention. These challenges are interrelated, and our new office will help us approach them more holistically.

The Office of Violence Prevention is one of several initiatives we’re taking to combat violent crime. The following are other steps we’re are taking to confront this challenge.

Re-entry Welcome Center: In February of this year New Haven, through a partnership with project M.O.R.E. opened a re-entry welcome center. This one stop shop offers wrap around services, such as job training, counseling, housing, and substance abuse services for individuals re-entering the community. These services aim to reduce recidivism and keep individuals from re-entering a cycle of violence. Re-entry was a key component of President Joe Biden’s anti-gun violence proposal. 

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Shooting Task Force: In June of this year the city of New Haven announced that the New Haven Police Department has reformed the shooting task force. By partnering with West Haven, East Haven, Hamden, Meriden, and Yale Police Departments as well as federal and state law enforcement partners the New Haven Police Department is able to more quickly identify linkages between shootings. This increased collaboration is already paying dividends and has led to arrests of shooters. 

Engaging Individuals at High Risk: The New Haven Police Department in collaboration with the Department of Justice has re-started Project Longevity and Project Safe Neighborhood call-ins. And the city’s Youth and Recreation Department expanded its’ Youth Connect Program. These programs are designed to bring in individuals known to be associated with violence. These evidence-based interventions were severely impacted by the pandemic but since early 2021 the city has significantly increased the frequency of these call ins when compared to normal times.  

Increased Youth Programing: As part of our “summer rest” the city of New Haven’s Youth and Recreation Department invested more than $1.5 million into summer youth programing. That programing included extended summer camps, more youth employment opportunities, a summer concert, and neighborhood pop-up events. President Joe Biden named youth engagement as a key area of focus in his plan to address violent crime. 

Increased Police Walking and Bicycle Beats: Through additional overtime, the New Haven Police Department increased the presence of officers in communities. There are more bicycle and walking beats in city neighborhoods than there were in 2020. 

More Street Outreach Workers: The city of New Haven has increased its’ investment into the Connecticut Violence Intervention Program. This program is led by a former Chief Probation Officer and employs returning citizens to engage directly with individuals at risk of violence. This year the city doubled the number of street outreach workers. 

Expansion of Cameras and Shot Spotter: The New Haven Police Department is actively pursuing expansion of the shot spotter system as well as expanding the number of cameras in the city. These will assist in faster response times and increased solve-rates. 

Rebuilding the Police Department: For several years the New Haven Police Department lost officers to surrounding communities faster than we could replace them. The city is working to rebuild the depart and fill the 70+ vacant positions. The city announced a new recruitment period beginning September 13th – which will allow for a new academy class. But, new police classes take a long time – so the city is also hiring trained officers already serving in other communities. 
 
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Taking Guns Off the Street: The New Haven Police Department has increased its efforts to take guns off the street. Since January 1, 2021 the NHPD has made 153-gun arrests and confiscated 157 guns. A significant increase from years’ past. In addition to increasing gun arrests and seizures, the New Haven Police Department hosted a gun buy-back earlier this year and plans to host more in the future. 
 
 
It’s important to note that this list isn’t comprehensive. Our team is doing even more, and we can’t do this alone. We need members of the community to help as well by holding each other accountable and reporting information to help us solve crimes. If you have information on a crime, you can call our anonymous tip line: 1-866-888-TIPS (8477)

My team and I are committed to addressing this challenge and we will continue to find new and innovative ways to do so. Protecting the health and safety of our residents is and will always be my number one priority.

Always serving you,
Mayor Justin Elicker
New Haven, CT
 
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Mayor Elicker, Chief Reyes Release Statements on Violence Over the Weekend

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on February 7, 2021 at 19:39

11020666861?profile=original

Mayor Elicker, Chief Reyes Release Statements on Violence Over the Weekend

Press Conference Tomorrow at 11AM on the Steps of NHPDMayor Elicker, Chief Reyes Release Statements on Violence Over the WPress Conference Tomorrow at 11AM on the Steps of NHPD NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Following the sixth homicide of 2021 and multiple violent acts of the weekend, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes released statements ahead of a press conference to be held Monday morning. Mayor Elicker released the following statement: Over the weekend we experienced multiple violent #

 

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Following the sixth homicide of 2021 and multiple violent acts of the weekend, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes released statements ahead of a press conference to be held Monday morning.

 

Mayor Elicker released the following statement:

 

Over the weekend we experienced multiple violent acts in our community, including those involving a New Haven Public Schools teacher, a New Haven Public Schools administrator, and a graduate student at Yale. I am deeply saddened that we lost Yale School of Environment student Kevin Jiang last night to gun violence. Kevin would have celebrated his 27th birthday next week.

 

To those who continue to perpetrate these crimes: you undermine the safety of our residents and yourselves. You continue to promote fear for our safety in our everyday lives. We, as a community, will not stand for this and we will be relentless in efforts to provide justice for all of the victims, their families and loved ones. Addressing and eradicating gun violence takes serious action both in the short-term and the long-term—and the City of New Haven is committed to that. If you have any information pertaining to any ongoing investigations call the NHPD at (203) 946-6304.

 

Chief Reyes is asking for the public’s help in providing information in these cases. Chief Reyes added, “Our department is working around the clock to solve these most recent acts of violence. We will bring all of our resources to bear to ensure the safety of our city.”

 

The Mayor, New Haven Police Department and members of the Yale Police Department will be hosting a press conference on violent crime tomorrow on the steps of the New Haven Police Department, 1 Union Avenue at 11:00 AM.

 

#

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Mayor Elicker, Chief Reyes Release Statements on Violence Over the Weekend

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on February 7, 2021 at 19:39

11020666861?profile=original

Mayor Elicker, Chief Reyes Release Statements on Violence Over the Weekend

Press Conference Tomorrow at 11AM on the Steps of NHPDMayor Elicker, Chief Reyes Release Statements on Violence Over the WPress Conference Tomorrow at 11AM on the Steps of NHPD NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Following the sixth homicide of 2021 and multiple violent acts of the weekend, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes released statements ahead of a press conference to be held Monday morning. Mayor Elicker released the following statement: Over the weekend we experienced multiple violent #

 

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Following the sixth homicide of 2021 and multiple violent acts of the weekend, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes released statements ahead of a press conference to be held Monday morning.

 

Mayor Elicker released the following statement:

 

Over the weekend we experienced multiple violent acts in our community, including those involving a New Haven Public Schools teacher, a New Haven Public Schools administrator, and a graduate student at Yale. I am deeply saddened that we lost Yale School of Environment student Kevin Jiang last night to gun violence. Kevin would have celebrated his 27th birthday next week.

 

To those who continue to perpetrate these crimes: you undermine the safety of our residents and yourselves. You continue to promote fear for our safety in our everyday lives. We, as a community, will not stand for this and we will be relentless in efforts to provide justice for all of the victims, their families and loved ones. Addressing and eradicating gun violence takes serious action both in the short-term and the long-term—and the City of New Haven is committed to that. If you have any information pertaining to any ongoing investigations call the NHPD at (203) 946-6304.

 

Chief Reyes is asking for the public’s help in providing information in these cases. Chief Reyes added, “Our department is working around the clock to solve these most recent acts of violence. We will bring all of our resources to bear to ensure the safety of our city.”

 

The Mayor, New Haven Police Department and members of the Yale Police Department will be hosting a press conference on violent crime tomorrow on the steps of the New Haven Police Department, 1 Union Avenue at 11:00 AM.

 

#

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Bmmg weeks crime reports

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on December 18, 2015 at 17:51
17 December, 2015 – CAR-JACKING FAIL At 4:30 PM, Officers headed to Chapel and Park Streets to investigate an attempted car-jacking. The victim, a restaurant deliveryman, told the Officers he was dropping off a delivery order when someone got in his car and tried to flee. He said he jumped in through the hatch-back and fought to get control of the car from the thief. The car – now heading down Crown Street, crashed into a parked car on Crown Street causing only minor damage. The crook took off, sans car. He is a black man in his thirties. He has some facial hair, stands about 5’10” and has an average build. He was wearing a light brown leather coat, jeans and a knit cap. 17 December, 2015 – SHOOTING INVESTIGATION At 7:13 PM, Officers were sent to the 400 block of Columbus Avenue after a 911 caller reported someone had been shot. They arrived to find the victim, forty-two year old, Reginald Bell, sitting on the steps of a nearby house. Bell had taken several shots to one of his legs. Bell’s car – parked close by, had a few holes in it as well. The victim told the Officers he’d been enjoying a beer with friends at the Leon & Oz auto repair shop. When he stepped outside, he heard gunfire. He realized he’d been struck and hopped behind the nearby house. When the shooting stopped, his friends went to retrieve him and phone for help. Detectives spoke with folks in the area. Many heard the shots. As evidence was recovered, Bell was sent to the hospital for treatment. His wounds are not considered life-threatening. Bell’s assailant wasn’t described. The case remains under investigation. 17 December, 2015 – CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION At 9:58 PM, Officers were dispatched to a reported shooting in the area of Forbes Avenue and Fulton Terrace. Keishan Sullivan (11-7-1995), who lives in the neighborhood, had an injured hand and elbow. He told the Officers he was with friends, sitting in a car parked behind 206 Fulton Terrace. His buddy said they were “smoking”. Sullivan said two black men came up to the car and tapped at the window with a gun. Sullivan said he opened the door and fought with the two men. He said he ran to the nearby gas station & convenience store. His confronters disappeared. Sullivan’s friend offered up the same story. He said when he saw Sullivan fighting with the men, he too ran off to the gas station. He said he heard a gunshot. While the Officers recovered Sullivan’s crack cocaine from his car, Detectives spoke with him and his doctor at the hospital. Sullivan wasn’t shot. He said he never heard a shot. The doctor treating him confirmed the injury to his hand was caused by some other means. He was treated, released and promptly arrested for possessing narcotics. Sullivan said he didn’t know who he’d fought with. Detectives are on the case
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