NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:  Friday, August 26, 2005

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CRACK DOWN ON STREET LEVEL ILLEGAL DRUG SALES IN HARTFORD.

(Hartford) - In a press conference today at Hartford Police Headquarters, Police Chief Patrick J. Harnett released details of an extensive investigation into street level sales of narcotics in the city of Hartford.   Joined by Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, State of Connecticut Public Safety Commissioner Leonard Boyle, Chief State's Attorney Christopher Morano, Hartford State's Attorney James Thomas, and representatives of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Chief Harnett announced that Hartford Police had secured fifty (50) felony arrest warrants and, in conjunction with Connecticut State Police conducted an operation to locate and arrest those wanted persons named in the arrest warrants.

The sweeping initiative, begun on June 22, 2005, as part of the Northeast Violence Reduction Initiative, culminated with the arrest of twenty-eight (28) individuals on Thursday, August 25, 2005, during a citywide enforcement action.  Hartford Police are seeking the community's continued support in locating the remaining individuals wanted under these arrest warrants for their involvement in illegal drug sales in the city of Hartford.

The Hartford Northeast Violence Reduction Initiative, launched on June 22, 2005 by Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez and Police Chief Patrick J. Harnett, is aimed at reducing violent gun and narcotic activity in the Clay Arsenal, Northeast, and Upper Albany neighborhoods.  The initiative is based on a two pronged approach to bolster police presence and enforcement activity through highly visible proactive enforcement tactics and walking beats and investigations focused on identifying individuals, groups, and/or gangs responsible for gun violence and narcotic activity which fuels much of the violence in our neighborhoods.  The goal of this operation was to build cases against these individuals and to arrest and prosecute them with a result of significant prison sentences.    

"Identifying and apprehending these individuals involved in the illegal drug sales is a vital step in reducing violent crime in our city," said Chief Harnett.  "This long-term investigation, utilizing resources of the Connecticut State Police and technology from the DEA combined with the Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics, Intelligence, Major Crimes, Juvenile Investigative Division and the Community Services Bureau resulted in the identification of individuals responsible for day to day street level drug sales and gun violence in our city.  It is clear today that their hard work has paid off, and our streets are safer with the apprehension of these individuals and the subsequent disruption of their illegal, often violent activity."

"Our work doesn't stop here.  Joining us here today are representatives of the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Chief State's Attorney and Hartford State's Attorney Offices.  We will be working closely with their prosecutors to insure that these individuals are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  These investigations were extensive and designed to present solid evidence to prosecutors and the courts so that there will be little opportunity for these individuals to avoid serious prison sentences.”

"Finally, but most importantly, I wish to commend all the men and women of the Hartford Police Department, members of the Connecticut State Police, the DEA, A.T.F., F.B.I., U.S. Marshall’s Service, and the U.S. and Connecticut Parole and Probation authorities for their hard work and continued commitment to improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods and consequently making Hartford a safer place for us all.”     

Contact:   Nancy Mulroy, Public Information Officer, Hartford Police Department,  (860) 543-8746
Visit www.hartford.gov for more Hartford Police News
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