Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam on Friday announced plans to return officers to walking beats and other steps to forge closer community ties.
Five officers have been reassigned to regular walking beats in the city’s north and south ends, as well as in downtown.
Two officers will walk a beat “up-and-down” Albany Avenue full-time, Arulampalam said during a press conference. Two more will walk Park Street and one will be assigned to downtown.
“We think this is such an important step,” Arulampalam said. “We hope to expand upon these efforts.”
The 370-officer department has also created 15 additional officer patrols to cut response times, Arulampalam announced. Officers will also be getting out of their cars more often and “walking around,” he said. The new patrols will also use reassigned staff.
“Already, there’s been such excitement among Hartford residents to see officers out on the beat, walking and talking to residents, building relationships organically,” Arulampalam said.
The city has also asked law firm Shipman & Goodwin LLP to review current police reporting tools and practices, and to recommend improvements. Arulampalam said there is concern the department might be underreporting numbers of cases, although there is no indication that has impacted public safety.
“Hartford residents deserve a responsive and visible police force that is ready to respond quickly to their needs,” Arulampalam said. “And our officers need to be supported with clear policies, tools, and resources that allow them to do their work each day. These reforms will help our community feel more connected to their police department and will ensure that department processes and standards are reflective of modern best practices.”
