Below is a list of questions submitted by the public so far. If you’d like to submit a question you may do so anonymously by completing the Google Form found here
1. Staffing and Resources
a. How many police are on the force at this time? How many compared to prior years? How many police does the City need? What is the current status of vacancies in the NHPD? Is the right command structure in place? How many police are out on the streets?
b. Can the city re-hire retired NHPD officers?
c. If it costs $100K to recruit and train a new officer, why not offer a $50K bonus (paid over 5 or 10 years) to recruit retired officers or officer from other departments.
d. Yale compliments its police force with about 100 security guards, why can’t the city do the same thing – particularly in areas with mostly non-violent crime?
e. Is it true that only 20 officers are on duty from 11PM – 7 AM?
f. Can the city hire back retired NHPD officers?
g. Can you think of calls for service that would be better handled by a different department? Noise complaints, for example. Can you provide a list?
h. What is the situation with Project Longevity under current COVID and budget circumstances? Does Project Longevity receive funding from the NHPD?
i. District 9 is a very large policing district. Why hasn’t it been divided in two? Same question from District 2 (West Hills/Westville)
j. There still is no "active" police patrol in our neighborhoods (Westville). Police sit in their cars talking to each other in the Beki parking lot.
k. What is the PROACTIVE plan regarding drugs and firearms? Wouldn't it make sense to stop cars to ensure compliance with Licenses/Regis./Too dark windows/lights out/covered plates/etc.? Wouldn't that be a PROACTIVE way to find illegal drugs and guns? Wouldn't that be a better way to use limited resources? What is the Gang Task Force doing? Does the police force really have to wait until a crime is committed before they act?
2. Quality of Life Concerns
a. Little to no traffic enforcement since spring 2020. Quality of life greatly diminished by constant motorcycle and illegal car muffler noise and speeding. Shoreline cities nearby have figured out how to address this. Those responsible for breaking the NH noise ordinance know that the NHPD will not stop them so they ride up and down the NH shoreline day and night.
b. What tangible steps are being taken to reduce drag racing? How about dirt bikes? Both are pervasive.
c. If police can't chase dirt bikers how is the new $2k penalty going to help?
d. Why no enforcement of quality of life concerns in City Parks: drinking/drugs, littering, people parking after dark in no parking area.
3. Technology and Communications
a. Does the City use license plate reader technology to identify stolen cars?
b. Most large cities use high-definition cameras. How is it possible that someone can drive into the city and commit a shooting or other violent act without the car being captured on video? Does New Haven use high-definition cameras?
c. Why aren't police dispatchers part of/staffed by the NHPD? They seem to be poorly trained, and overly scrutinize the reason for the call to determine if it's worthy of an officer response.
d. I check the Ring Neighbors App every day. I’ve seen the NHPD use the app once or twice. Why doesn’t the City use this technology?
e. Why doesn’t the city provide the ability to file a police report online - for minor incidents such as bicycle stolen, car break-in etc.
f. Waterbury has a voluntary private camera registration program to assist its police force in solving crimes. Would you support a similar program in New Haven?
g. The x6316 non-emergency phone number has too many options. Why doesn’t the City restore the x6316 non-emergency phone number so persons requesting a police response to a non-emergency situation don’t need to wait before speaking with an operator?
4. More specific questions
a. I am surprised there that there has been so much crime early in the mornings around the city, a person was shot on my block at 5:30 am in September 2020. There have been other shootings in the early morning hours over the past year in Westville & Beaver Hills, just when adults are headed to work and children & teens headed to school pre or post pandemic. This is a big safety concern since there are more people out on the street at this time of day than let's say 2a.m. How is this being addressed?
b. There was a murder in my area in Oct 2020 was never solve and the lady that was kill people are squatting in her condo. We need something done now
c. Where was patrol from 9 to 11:40 the night the boxer died. Why no covid ordinances followed? Rosette was lit by 9 pm why pd did not answer your non- emergency phone?
d. There has been an increase in home invasions while people are home, increase in shootings some which are drive-by. What is the plan to decrease these acts of crime? Children are in these homes and are in the neighborhood taking walks with parents. What can be done?
e. What is the department's doing about muggings of Yale community members downtown and on/near campus? The NHPD is given detailed information regarding criminal activity in a neighborhood, including photos and video; yet they refuse to act other than to pass the incident off to another department. Why?
