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NHPD Continues Investigation of Lock-Up Death

New Haven| New Haven Police are continuing to investigate the untimely death of 31 year old De’Sohn Wilson in the Union Avenue Detention Center at 1 Union Avenue.  The New Haven man died Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

In response to a gathering of the man’s family on the steps of police headquarters today, New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes is offering his condolences and an update on the investigation.  Chief Reyes said, “While any untimely death is disheartening, it is especially disheartening to those of us at this police department when the person dies in our custody. Our department offers its condolences to the family and the community.”

Chief Reyes said New Haven Police followed its protocol for an in-custody death by immediately launching an investigation of the incident.  The Chief added, “NHPD detectives responded to the detention facility and held the scene for a full investigation. In addition to making notification to the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, our department has reviewed our collected investigative material with the State’s Attorney’s Office.”

Chief Reyes said per protocol, he launched an internal investigation into the incident.  According to the Chief, NHPD Internal Affairs is reviewing operating procedures and practices at the time of the incident.  

Chief Reyes is offering again to meet with the family and representatives of the deceased and review the department’s investigation.   The Chief added, “While the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has made available to our department some of its preliminary findings about the death of Mr. Wilson, the Medical Examiner’s Office has not issued a final report as they await the return of a toxicology report.  Thus far, the preliminary evidence indicates the death was a suicide. The NHPD can certainly share with the family what information we have.”  

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker expressed his sympathy to the family and said, “I am saddened by the loss of a member of our community.  I offer my condolences to De’Sohn’s family. I have been in close contact with Chief Reyes and I have confidence that he and the department will conduct an appropriate review

The City of New Haven is opening a temporary drop-in center located at Blake Field designed to address the needs of our unsheltered individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This site will function as a triage site to identify and provide resources to individuals experiencing homelessness while connecting them to medical and behavioral health services, as well as addressing their basic needs like access to food, showers, and an opportunity for shelter.

This is not an overnight facility. Its hours of operation are Monday through Friday 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. It will serve as a check-in facility where people can use bathrooms, showers, get medical assistance, and take their temperature to ensure they are not showing symptoms of COVID-19.  We understand this site is near East Rock Magnet School, and we assure you that the hours of operation at this site will not overlap with the school meals program nearby.

If you feel you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, please find testing information on the City of New Haven’s website or call the New Haven Health Department Emergency Line at (203) 946-4949.

Please stay safe and stay home. Thank you so much for your continued cooperation

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The City of New Haven is opening a temporary drop-in center located at Blake Field designed to address the needs of our unsheltered individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This site will function as a triage site to identify and provide resources to individuals experiencing homelessness while connecting them to medical and behavioral health services, as well as addressing their basic needs like access to food, showers, and an opportunity for shelter.

This is not an overnight facility. Its hours of operation are Monday through Friday 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. It will serve as a check-in facility where people can use bathrooms, showers, get medical assistance, and take their temperature to ensure they are not showing symptoms of COVID-19.  We understand this site is near East Rock Magnet School, and we assure you that the hours of operation at this site will not overlap with the school meals program nearby.

If you feel you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, please find testing information on the City of New Haven’s website or call the New Haven Health Department Emergency Line at (203) 946-4949.

Please stay safe and stay home. Thank you so much for your continued cooperation

 In response to the disproportionate rates of COVID-19 cases in our communities of color, our team has been working closely with local partners. I’d like to announce the opening of Murphy Medical Associates testing site in the Dwight and West River neighborhoods. This location is behind the Amistad School on the corner of Day Street and Chapel Street. To sign up for testing, you can visit coronatestct.com or call the Health Department at (203) 946-4949, and we can sign you up over the phone. The Murphy Medical Associates site is the fifth testing site that has been activated in New Haven, along with Fair Haven Community Health Center, Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, CVS, and Yale-New Haven Hospital. Thank you to all our partners for helping our communities that need it the most.

If you are unable to get a test at any of our community-based testing sites, the CVS rapid testing site is offering rides with taxi service M7. Just call 2-1-1, have your confirmation number ready, and schedule your ride. If you would like to sign up to get tested at any of the available facilities, please find information on the City of New Haven’s website or call the New Haven Health Department Emergency Line at (203) 946-4949.

Please stay safe and stay home.

New Haven| New Haven Police continue to investigate the death of a man found stabbed on a Congress Avenue sidewalk adjacent to a Cedar Street medical building.  His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Around midnight at 12:01 a.m., New Haven Police and Fire responded to a 911 call of a person stabbed.  Arriving officers learned there had been a dispute and physical altercation between two men prior to one man stabbing the other and fleeing on foot.

An ambulance transported the victim to the nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The victim is believed to be a New Haven man.  His identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

NHPD Major Crimes detectives and NHPD Bureau of Identification forensic detectives responded to the crime scene which included sections of Congress Avenue, Cedar Street, and Gilbert Street. Investigators held the crime scene overnight and canvassed adjacent streets.

Detectives continue to ask witnesses and anyone with information to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304.  Callers may remain anonymous or submit tips anonymously by calling 1-866-888-TIPS (1-866-888-8477).  Tips can also be texted.  Text “NHPD” plus your message to short code 274637 (CRIMES).

Today’s death is the third New Haven homicide of 2020.  The second homicide of the year was the death of 24 year old Nathaniel Henry on March 25.  18 year old Dashown Myers was the city’s first homicide victim of the year on February 23.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Today New Haven Fire Chief John Alston released the following statement regarding an internal overtime investigation in the New Haven Fire Department:

On this date, my office was made aware of a potential issue regarding overtime discrepancies. Overtime is reviewed by my office two times weekly: once from the Office of Management and Budget then once again from the Fire Department budget lines. Collaboratively, we look for trends and potential gaps which may trigger spikes. This allows the Department to determine if shifts are properly staffed and address other issues as necessary, with an eye to the safety of everyone in the city as well as maintaining a healthy respect for the contribution of taxpayers.

All overtime entries are tied to actions, events and emergencies. They are logged in the FIREHOUSE Software system and then pushed into the city’s payroll system MUNIS. There have been issues in the past of proper coding of entries, which we have diligently worked to correct.

Since the onset of this pandemic, the New Haven Fire Department members, Staff in Operations, the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Training Division have literally been working around the clock. The New Have Fire Department has responded to over 600 calls which were COVID19 related. A total of 95 members were exposed, 20 have tested positive and in the process, we place them off duty. This creates additional overtime in ‘backfilling’ those positions. Many are working in roles which require them to work odd hours that exceed their normal work schedule. Both their contract with the City and our broader social contract require that they be compensated for providing this life-saving service whenever the call for service is made by a member of our community.

We have initiated an investigation into this matter, and at the initial review, it appears all current overtime activity is justified and approved. Considering all information is logged into the system, we will be able to provide a final report, after working with the Office of Management and Budget to perform an internal audit of our practices.

I continue to be proud of the work by the members of the New Haven Fire Department, and I ask that any reports of potential discrepancies or misconduct be shared with me, Mayor Justin Elicker, the Board of Fire Commissioners, or the appropriate union. It is only together that we will emerge from this global pandemic stronger, smarter, and with greater community resolve.

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The Small Business Administration will be getting $310B in funding for the Payment Protection Program, with $125B specifically for under-banked and minority-owned businesses, and $10B in an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance. The SBA will process these applications on a first-come, first-serve basis as they receive them from SBA-approved banks or lenders.

If you run a small business or non-profit, are a sole proprietor, or a contractor you should immediately apply by going to the City of New Haven’s COVID-19 website and clicking on the “Together New Haven” link. The first round of money that was released 3 weeks ago was used up in 14 days. If you need assistance, call the City of New Haven at (203) 946-7050 and we can direct you to the right place.

Thank you for your cooperation throughout this challenging time. I encourage you to stay home and stay safe.