HARTFORD – The Hartford Police Department is opening its doors to share information with the community, and encourage residents to do the same.
Through monthly Comstat meetings (Computer Statistic) officers are laying out current crime trends in the city, answering questions residents may have and giving them an inside look at preventative efforts. The latest meeting was held Thursday night.
Through transparency, the police department hopes it will encourage people to trust the police department, and come forward with any tips, information or ideas to make Hartford a safer place.
Violent crime in Hartford is not unusual--just this Tuesday a double homicide on Enfield Street took two young lives, the ninth and 10th homicide, this year.
“One homicide's a lot, let alone we're at 10,” Hartford Police Deputy Chief Brian Foley said. “It's down almost 25 percent from last year, to where we are this year, but still not something we're satisfied with and we push to improve on.”
At Thursday’s meeting police showed concrete statistics of how technology is helping their efforts.
For example, Foley said only 20 percent of shots fired get reported through 911 calls; however, the gunshot detection system “Shot spotter” notifies police when shots are fired in the city, also providing them with shooting locations.
Recently, police have expanded the reach of the technology throughout the city, getting more guns and criminals off the street.
“One gun that would be used in a homicide, taken off of one violent felon, taken off the street from the shot spotter, pays for it right there,” Foley said, referring to the cost of expanding the program. “We’ve done that tenfold.”
According to police data, there have been 163 Shot Spotter activations in Hartford over eight weeks.
Police hope showing people the advanced technology will deter them from committing crimes.
The Hartford Police Department says it is always seeking public input and encourages people to attend the Comstat meetings, to help assist in their efforts to serve and protect the city.
“The major takeaway is it's us opening our doors and our communication with our city,” he said.
If you have information about a crime, and want to report it anonymously, you can do so here.
