Chief’s May Report:
My staff and I submitted prospective cuts in the budget to meet the Mayor’s demand that we cut our budget by 5% or $ 716,000. To meet that number I have submitted a plan not to promote a Deputy Chief and reduced our manpower by twelve police officers. I have been called to a Common Council Subcommittee Budget meeting to discuss my budget in May.
The City-wide cleanup held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 was a huge success with nearly 100 volunteers cleaning up areas of the City they chose as a project. The majority of the organizers want to do this annually and the North/Oak Street NRZ is planning to paint over building graffiti in the next few weeks to follow up on the work done to date.
I and the Division Commanders have reviewed our Strategic National Supply of pandemic flu medications distribution plan and I will hold a staff meeting to go over it with our Shift Commanders. Masks for each officer will be distributed to support each of them. Every cruiser does have a mask for airborne pathogens as well as a protective suit but we believe issuing a mask to each officer provides them with a personal protection item. Each cruiser also has sanitizing hand wash.
The Department made 838 arrests for the month with 485 being criminal in nature and 353 were infractions. The department has received a total of 4,196 cases this month. We are continuing the trend of reduced calls for service as we have recorded 527 less calls for service this year than the same time last year.
DEA TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN ARREST OF MORE THAN TWO DOZEN HARTFORD-AREA RESIDENTS
Several local police departments involved; drugs, guns, cash seized
Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian Crowell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, today announced that on Wednesday, more than 100 DEA Task Force members and law enforcement officers from several Hartford County police departments arrested 25 individuals on federal charges related to distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in the Hartford area. During the coordinated sweep, agents and officers executed 14 search warrants and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine, one-half a kilogram of crack cocaine, 12 firearms, and approximately $400,000 in cash. The defendants were charged in an Indictment returned by a federal grand jury on May 20. The Indictment remains sealed pending the apprehension of additional defendants.
This matter stems from a year-long investigation dubbed “Operation All In,” a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Resident Office, and which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps.
Charged in various counts of the Indictment and taken into custody on May 27 are:
ALFRED BELL, a.k.a. “Boo Boo,” of Cadwell Road, Bloomfield,
TERRANCE BROWN, 30, of Ensign Street, East Hartford,
JACQUELINE GRAVES, a.k.a. “Fat Jack,” 44, of West Preston Street, Hartford,
JACHIN FELTON, 40, of North Mountain Road, New Britain,
PETER MAYLOR, 37, of Waverly Road, Newington,
JOHN MINTER, a.k.a. “Joker,” 40, of Cannon Road, East Hartford,
MANUEL MANSON, a.k.a. “Big Dre,” 37, of Holland View Drive, Bloomfield,
WILLIE HUNTER, 35, of Coughlin Road, Manchester,
EUGENE ARGRAVES, 41, of Ridge Road, Wethersfield,
ERIC VINSON, 42, of Lincoln Way, Windsor,
WILLIAM JUSINO, 36, of Van Block Avenue, Hartford,
CORRIE BETTS, 37, of Capen Street, Hartford
KELVIN POWELL, 41, of Forest Street, Hartford,
WILFRED SHIRLEY, 29, of Burnham Street, Hartford,
MARTIN McKREITH, 56, of Love Lane, Hartford,
SAMUEL GONZALEZ, 28, of Vine Street, Hartford,
LENARD IRVING, a.k.a. “Andre Irving” and “Little Dre,” 38, of Tiffany Road, East Hartford,
ALECK GLADNEY, 39, of Ashley Road, Windsor,
COREY PACE, 38, of Ely Road, Simsbury,
AMYIE HOPE-WRIGHT, 30, of Wall Street, Middletown,
CARL PATTERSON, a.k.a. “Coolman,” 38, of School Street, East Hartford,
MELVIN SPEIGHT, 45, of Mountain View Drive, East Hartford,
STEVEN KEATON, 35, New Britain Avenue, Hartford,
ALVIN MANN, 32, Channing St., Manchester, and
EDWARD WILSON, 37, of Hurlburt Street, New Britain
If convicted, a number of the defendants face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of life, and fines of up to $4,000,000. Due to prior narcotics trafficking convictions, a number of defendants face increased penalties.
In addition to the criminal charges, the Government intends to seek the forfeiture of several properties and vehicles that were used during the course of the alleged narcotics trafficking offenses.
“I want to acknowledge the effort of all of the agents and officers who participate on the DEA Task Force, and several other local police departments who have devoted personnel and significant other resources during the course of this extensive investigation,” stated acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy. “Drug trafficking organizations that are based in our cities should not be considered to be only our cities’ problem. These police departments from communities that surround Hartford understand that, and this investigation could not have been done without them.”
In addition to the significant resources provided by the Hartford Police Department, Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy specifically noted the critical assistance that the New Britain, Manchester, East Hartford and Bloomfield Police Departments contributed to the investigation. In addition, the Bristol, Wethersfield, Windsor and Windsor Locks Police Department have assigned personnel to the Task Force during the course of the investigation.
Additional assistance has been provided by the East Central Narcotics Task Force, which includes members from the Manchester, South Windsor, Glastonbury, and Vernon Police Departments; the Capital Region Emergency Services Team (CREST), and the Hartford Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).
Acting United States Attorney Dannehy stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney S. Dave Vatti.
