Hartford mayor, interim chief announce changes to policing practices

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The City of Hartford’s mayor and interim police chief scheduled a press conference for Friday to announce changes to the police department’s practices.

The changes are “aimed at increasing the visibility, effectiveness, and transparency of Hartford’s police,” according to Mayor Arunan Arulampalam.

The reforms include:

• Assigning five walk-beat officers on a regular basis to cover North Hartford, South Hartford and downtown to increase officer visibility and help build stronger relationships between police, community members and neighborhoods.
• Fifteen additional officer patrols to decrease response times to 911 calls.
• The City of Hartford has asked the Shipman & Goodwin LLP law firm to review current reporting practices and tools and make recommendations.

“Hartford residents deserve a responsive and visible police force that is ready to respond quickly to their needs, and our officers need to be supported with clear policies, tools, and resources that allow them to do their work each day,” Arulampalam said. “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.”

Interim Police Chief Kenny Howell joined Arulamapalm at Friday’s press conference.

“Our goal is to foster a sense of community and ensure residents feel connected to each other and to their City,” Howell said. “Every employee plays a crucial role in community policing, and the Hartford Police Department reflects our commitment to serve and protect with a deeper connection to our community. I look forward to continuing these efforts with Mayor Arulampalam in service to Hartford residents.”

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