Eddie A. Perez

Mayor

 

HARTFORD: SAFE SUMMER IN THE CITY

 

--NEWS RELEASE---

 

(June 6, 2007)--- Mayor Eddie A. Perez and Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts say that the City of Hartford is committed to a safe summer.  The latest statistics show that overall serious crime is down more than 18-percent compared to this time last year.  This includes shootings being down almost 25-percent.  The City wants to build on the strong community bonds that are in place to help ensure a safe summer in all of Hartford’s communities.

Mayor Perez says, “We have new crime fighting tools in place that will help improve the quality of life for our residents.  This includes a new ordinance that requires gun owners to report lost or stolen guns within 72 hours.  Corporation Counsel can also sue violators because these investigations are costly.”

So far this year, the Hartford Police Department has recovered 154 illegal firearms and made 83 arrests.  Last year, 500 of these guns were retrieved with 93-percent of them coming from out of town.

Chief Roberts outlined the HPD’s commitment to the community:

  1. More police will be walking the beat and riding the beat on bicycles
  2. Quality of life issues will be enforced through additional traffic stops to crack down on speeding and dui
  3. The truancy program that is in place will still be in effect during the mandatory summer school (July 2-20) that will take place for students grades K-3 who are not reading at grade level.  25 schools are part of the summer school plan.
  4. 100 “clubs”--- anti-theft devices--- are being given out as part of a pilot project by the Auto Theft Task Force as a way to target the theft of late model Toyotas and Hondas in the South End.

Today’s news conference was held at 830 Maple Avenue in the City’s South End.  This is the site of the new Police Sub Station and Senior Center.  Construction begins next month.

Mayor Perez says, “This is yet another way to make our officers more visible to the community.  In this case, the proximity to our seniors and our businesses is tremendous.  The goal is for all of our residents, business people, and visitors to have a safe summer and to enjoy our vibrant neighborhoods.”