How to Give Information to the Police
(A reprint of a State's Most Wanted article) 

by Captain Jose L. Lopez Sr.
Commander, Southwest District
Hartford Police Department

Whenever Robert Blake in the TV show Beretta needed information to solve his cases he turned to the one person who knew everything that was going on, Huggy Bear.  Huggy Bear was not only his best informant, but his only informant.  Starsky and Hutch also used Huggy Bear when they needed information for the cases on their show. 

Granted, although police do use individuals like Huggy Bear to identify suspects and criminal activity, the majority of the information is obtained from citizens like yourselves who are aware of criminal activity in your neighborhood.

Although the police patrol all neighborhoods, they can not be expected to know everything that happens in each block.  It is the residents of these neighborhoods who are fully aware of what goes on. Passing this information to the police allows the police officers to use their training and experience to address the crime.

Many believe that what goes on in their neighborhood is none of their business but the reality is that if the criminal activity has gotten close enough for them to be aware of it then it is their business.  It is but a matter of time before they are victimized in some way.  The form of the victimization could be direct where they are actually the victims, or indirectly with a family member or a friend being the victim.  Either way they will be impacted by the criminal activity.

This is not to say that one should be a spy for the police in their neighborhood or take matters into their own hands, but if they have knowledge this information should be forwarded to the police for proper investigation.  Such activity would include but would not be limited to drug dealing, sale of stolen property, vandalism, firearms possession and crimes against children.

Communication between citizens and the police is essential for the reduction of crime and should not be difficult.  There are many excuses given as to why some citizens will not report criminal activity to the police.  Some are afraid to be looked upon as a squealer, cheese-eater, tattle-tell or rat, but these are stigmas created by those who do wrong thing and who do not want to be detected.

Others believe that they will be exposed if they give information to the police and then will be harmed.  This is not the case.  Information is received by the police every day and is keep confidential.  In the few occasions that I know of where a witness was harmed, their fate was a result of their failure to take the advice of the police.  They chose to renew contact with the offender.  These individuals were not citizens giving information; they were co-conspirators and were involved in the criminal activity that they reported.

In a homicide investigation that I was involved in the victim was a high ranking gang member and his assailant was from a dangerous rival gang.  There was very little to go on in this case and it would have gone unsolved if it had not been for a citizen in the neighborhood who had heard the gunshot and had witnessed the assailant fleeing.  She came forward, gave a statement as to her observation and identified the assailant.  This helped the detectives to obtain timely evidence and to apply for a warrant.

The citizen was taken out of state and placed in the witness protection program.  The citizen then appeared to do everything to insure that everyone would know that she was the witness to this gang murder.  She even returned to the same block to live, refusing any other protection.  At the time, because of her actions, it became common knowledge among the gangs that she had supplied the information.  Subsequently the assailant was captured, tried and convicted.  Even though she had not hidden herself away she did not experience any negative actions or threats due to her cooperation with the police.

There are many ways to filter information about criminal activity in your community.  The easiest way is to talk to a Police Officer.  In your daily activity stop and talk to the police officer working in your neighborhood.  This could be the area police cruiser or the Community Service Officer for your neighborhood.  It could also be the resource officer in your children’s school.  Attend a community meeting where the police will be in attendance or join a block watch program.  If there is no block watch program then start one. 

Finding a police officer who you could get to know and subsequently confide in is not a difficult task.  Presently the Hartford Police Department has an Ombudsman assigned to the department.  The Ombudsman is the point of contact within the Hartford Police Department for persons requiring information, direction or guidance relating to the police department.   Lieutenant Richard Kemmett is the current Ombudsman and he can be reached at (860)527-6300 extension 5289. 

Another reason for not conveying information to the police has been more of an urban legend where all calls are believed identifiable.  This legend was strong even before the Caller ID system was introduced.  The reality is that the only identifiable calls received are those made to the 911 emergency lines and this is for good reason.  In these cases the emergency is so important that it requires an immediate response in order to save lives and if the caller is unable to give their location a car can still be dispatched from the Caller ID.  All other calls made through the main number (860-527-6300) are not identifiable and the caller can leave a confidential message with out fear that their address will be traced.

Throughout my career I have received a lot of information through my extension without knowing the identity of the caller.  In some instances these callers would give a code name so that I would know that it was the same caller and keep track of the validity of their information.  Much of the information I received led to fruitful investigations.

In many cases citizens send their information via the U.S. Mail.  These letters can be addressed to the Hartford Police Department Investigative Services Bureau at 50 Jennings Road, Hartford, Connecticut  06120.  All information obtained is reviewed and investigated.

To further help in conveying information to the police the department has two TIP HOT-LINES:

• Hartford Police Drug Tip Hot Line – (860) 525-DRUG (3784)
• Hartford Police Gun Tip Hot Line – (860) 525-GUNS (4867)

Both of these numbers are routed to answering machines that are checked regularly.  A caller does not need to leave their names and can leave information with full descriptions of the suspects and locations of criminal activity.  Vehicle license plate numbers and names of associates are extremely valuable when incorporated with the information being given. 

Contact with the police can even be made via the internet through E-Mail.  Just go to the Hartford Police Department internet site www.hartfordpolice.com and click on e-mail at the bottom of the page.  Your message will be responded to.

The fact is that the police do not possess or utilize ESP in order to curb crime, identify suspects or solve their cases.  They depend on forensics, witnesses, confessions, and citizen information.

Under Police Chief Patrick J. Harnett, the Hartford Police Department has increased its commitment to community oriented policing and the success of this relationship is dependent on the community’s commitment to participate in full partnership with the police. 

Become a partner with your police department and make a difference in the quality of life in your community by insuring that the police become aware of what is happening in your neighborhood.  This can occur through a person to person relationship with the police or in a confidential cooperation with the police.  

If the criminals knew that the community was not going to idly stand by as they continue their activity, they would leave in search of a neighborhood that did not care.  Make sure that criminals feel uninvited in your community by keeping the police fully informed.

A door being kicked off its hinges during a burglary or our youth being shot in the street leave behind not only victims, but people who heard, people who saw and people who have information about it.  

With all the avenues of communication provided by the police, everyone can make a difference in his or her community and no one else in the neighborhood needs to know.  Be the one to make that difference.

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