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On January 4, 1994 Captain Joseph F. Croughwell was appointed acting Chief of Police while the City searched for a replacement. It didn't take the City long to realize that Croughwell was the man for the job and he was appointed Chief on February 17, 1994. At the time of his appointment, there was much unfinished business to attend to. The department's Drug Testing Policy had yet to be implemented because of various bureaucratic issues. Community- Oriented Policing was progressing slowly because of budget problems, and the City was negotiating a new contract with the Hartford Police Union. There was also a Grand Jury probe into police corruption within the Hartford Police Department being conducted by the State's Attorney's Office and Judge Arthur Spada.
Croughwell set several goals in regards to these issues. His first priority was to enhance public confidence in the department and clear the shadow that the grand jury investigation had left over the department. He immediately ordered the implementation of the drug testing policy. He was successful in working out many of the cumbersome bureaucratic details needed to implement the policy. His goal was to have all sworn personnel tested within a six-month period.
His other priority was to re-energize the department's efforts towards implementing Community Oriented Policing (COP). The labor agreement between the City of Hartford and the Hartford Police Union that was negotiated under his leadership had the principles of Community Oriented Policing at the heart of negotiations. This agreement allows the Chief to appoint Deputy Chiefs of Police which would serve to decentralize the department. Three Police Service Areas have been designated North, South and Central, each headed by a Deputy Chief. In order to further the goals of COP, manpower was also an issue. He was able to work closely with City leaders in getting his 1994-1995 budget adopted by the Court of Common Council which allows for expansion of the department to 515 police officers. Because of normal attrition, exacerbated by lean budget years previously, the current manning level fell to 420 officers. Croughwell, along with the Mayor, orchestrated a team of administrators and consultants to find the money necessary to implement other reorganization efforts. It was as a result of this "Technical Assistance Team" that the Comprehensive Communities Partnership was developed. As a result, three major partnerships were created. The first is a partnership among the community, the police Department and the City; the second, a partnership between government agencies and institutions involved in crime prevention and suppression and intervention. The third partnership involves the service providers, the City and the community. State and Federal grants were secured as a result of this work. Since these partnerships are at the heart of Community Oriented Policing, Chief Croughwell is well on his way to achieving his goal.
On May 4, 1994 the first of three Police Sub-Stations was opened in Downtown Hartford. A City owned building at 101 Pearl St. was refurbished to house the PSA Central staff. The traffic division and Police Academy have been housed here along with the Employee Assistance Program. A second Police Sub-station was dedicated in October of 1994 at the corner of Ward and Affleck Streets. This station houses the "Frog Hollow Unit." The unit works solely in the Park Street area and has been successful in reducing the fear of crime and gang activity in the area. The third subs-station is scheduled to open sometime in 1995 and the corner of Albany Avenue and Magnolia Street in North Hartford. This is the first time since the early 1900's that the department has been successfully decentralized and the efforts are on going.
One historical note concerning the Central PSA. For the first time in the history of the Hartford Police Department, a Hartford Police Museum was opened to the public in conjunction with the Central PSA sub-station. Not only is this museum the first of its kind in Connecticut, but the first for New England as well. When the idea for the museum was proposed by Sgt. Robert Rudewicz, Deputy Chief Thomas O'Connor, the Central PSA Commander, was able to solicit the aid of the community in making it a reality.
Croughwell's efforts did not stop at improving community relations, however. His ongoing efforts to improve training for police personnel has enhanced skill levels for the Community Service Officers. He, through the efforts of Officer Robert Russell, formed a Bicycle Patrol Unit, the first for the department since 1901. Croughwell saw this 11-officer unit as a way to increase police visibility and mobility in the neighborhoods and, because of the effectiveness of this newly formed unit, there are current plans to increase it.
Up to this point, a significant portion of the Police Department's resources have been expended to implement Community-Oriented Policing and to provide a basic sense of security to the community. As one neighborhood organizer expressed it, "Thanks to the efforts of the Hartford Police Department working in our neighborhood, things have changed. A year ago we couldn't get people to attend a community meeting to discuss area concerns. They feared the violence on the streets and were continually threatened by gangs. Today, people are not only attending the meetings, they are enthusiastic about working to improve the quality of life in our area."
As each day passes, more history is being made. The Hartford Police Department continues to grow and improve and confront new issues. It is unlikely that the department will ever reach a point of perfection. As each administration continues to build upon the previous ones, the department will continue to lead the law enforcement community. It appears that Chief Croughwell's history has just begun.
[Editor's note - More information about Chief Croughwell will be made available here in the future.]