Description
Residents of the City Point neighborhood have noticed an increase in drug dealing and other illegal activity in our neighborhood. At least 3 calls have been made to police regarding this activity which has always involved one specific car. An alert resident finally was able to get the license plate of this particular car and called it into police. The person who answered at dispatch asked what the block watch number for our neighborhood is. The caller did not know. The dispatcher said that without that number, she could not send an officer out. She did NOT send an officer out.
This is concerning to me--and should be concerning to every New Haven resident. Can someone from the police department please clarify for me that officers will not be sent out--even if the activity is IN PROGRESS-- unless the caller has a block watch number? ( I'd also like clarification as to whether block watch numbers are even used to track calls and allocate officers anymore. I had been told that they were not. In fact, when I have called the police before to report a car break in, the dispatcher would NOT take the block watch number.) I think its important that residents AND dispatchers are made clear on these guidelines.
19 Comments
B.S. Central (Guest)
how can this be? (Guest)
guest (Guest)
Christopher Schaefer 4 Congress.Com (Registered User)
joseph (Guest)
John (Guest)
Lt. Witkowski (Guest)
Christopher Schaefer 4 Congress.Com (Registered User)
L (Guest)
juli (Registered User)
thank you for posting this issue, as i have experienced similar apathy when trying to be a vigilant and helpful resident looking out for the common good, which is completely unacceptable.
in the recent independent article, City CAO Rob Smuts said he is “very interested in looking into” how the dispatcher handled the call
please contact Rob Smuts personally to let him know that something must be done. a quick email or a call from some concerned residents would really help.
Chief Administrative Officer:
Robert Smuts
946-7900
E-mail: rsmuts@newhavenct.net
joey (Guest)
Fairhaven Dave (Registered User)
Christopher Schaefer 4 Congress.Com (Registered User)
Robert Forbes (Registered User)
Robert Forbes (Registered User)
Christopher Schaefer 4 Congress.Com (Registered User)
Closed Karen N (Registered User)
NewHavenerToo (Registered User)
I remember calling police when I lived in Westville because the "artists" were throwing parties in the middle of the week when I had to work the next day and they woke me up at 2am. When I called the police, they showed up and things died down. Now that I live in the Hill, when I have called the police dispatch to complain about drugs, loud music, they not only decide to take their sweet time to get someone here, but have asked me detailed information about myself. Not comfortable doing that as drug dealers live 2 doors down and I'd like to continue to live. Now because I don't live in a certain neighborhood it's not an issue?
Please explain this to me?
Lt Joseph Witkowski (Guest)
New Havener Too: please contact me at (203) 946-7504 or by email at jwitkows@newhavenct.net for any policing issues in Hill South.
Lt Joseph Witkowski
District Manager - Hill South
New Haven Police Department