NEW HAVEN POLICE TO INCREASE NEIGHBORHOOD PATROLS BY 16 OFFICERS

(10/11/2007) Strengthening Neighborhood Patrols is First Step in Violence Reduction Initiative

NEW HAVEN- The New Haven Police Department announced today that 16 officers will be reassigned to patrol duty to increase the number of officers in the City’s neighborhoods. The 16 officers will begin their new assignments on October 21st to support the work of district managers and strengthen community policing.

“These are great officers who we need in the community,” said Police Chief Francisco Ortiz. “We recognize the level of violence we’ve experienced in the City this year and we’re responding by enhancing resources and putting these officers back into our neighborhoods where they can have the most profound impact on cutting crime.”

Today’s announcement of new assignments for 16 officers is part of a comprehensive violence reduction strategy that also includes community involvement and collaborations with youth-targeted programming. “Enhanced community policing starts with these 16 officers,” said Ortiz. “We hope the community will embrace them and work with them to rid our neighborhoods of violence.”

“This is a step in the right direction,” said Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. “We’ll put 16 more officers on patrol on the 21st then in December we’ll see 26 new officers complete field training and hit the streets as well. We can’t put an end to violence overnight but by enhancing our neighborhood patrols and working together as a united community we can expect to achieve very positive results.”

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Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga

Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net

Contact Phone: 203-946-7660