The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘A stubborn gun culture persists’
Despite targeted resources, rate of shootings higher than 2018
NEW HAVEN — Halfway through 2019, the pace of shootings in New Haven continues to outstrip that of last year.
Police Department officials hope recent arrests and continued attempts to reach out to those at risk of violence will stem the tide.
Lt. Renee Dominguez said at a recent Compstat (police intelligence sharing) meeting that, as of July 7, there had been 35 nonfatal shootings in New Haven this year. From Jan. 1, 2018, to July 7, 2018, there were 31, police said.
A 43yearold man was shot Friday night on Daggett Street, bringing the number of shootings in 2019 to 36.
There have been seven homicides thus far this year in New Haven, including the June 30 hitandrun death of a 46yearold New Haven woman, police said.
At this time last year, there had been eight homicides. But there have been more shots fired more often this year, with 78 known instances of gunfire versus 49 known instances at this point last year.
Lt. Karl Jacobson, now heading the department’s Investigative Services Division after the recent departure of Lt. Brett Runlett, said he believed the city was leveling off after a particularly violent stretch. A similar period of violence occurred last year, he said.
Between June 18 and July 3, six people were shot in the city, including an 8yearold boy; two people were killed. The child was the second shot in New Haven this year.
Melvin Harris was shot on Irvington Street June 20 and died from his injuries July 5; Darnell Stokes Young was shot and killed July 3.
But Jacobson noted there had been no violent crimes between July 3 and July 10.
He said, with the help of Project Longevity, a program that tries to help prevent violence, 10 people at risk of becoming involved in violence had accepted GPS monitors.
He said department officials also reached out to 12 people who could be at risk, offering help and warning them that, if they were to commit violent acts, they would face the full force of the law.
Jacobson noted officers also seized six guns between July 3 and July 10.
The number of firearms seized by the department has jumped sizeably between 2018 and 2019, as well — Dominguez said 85 guns had been taken off the streets, up from 54 at this time last year.
This comes even as the department deals with the steady departure of officers — 84 have left the department since the start of 2018.
These departures have thinned the
patrol and detective ranks, Jacobson said. He said there are not enough patrol officers now to allow some to be promoted to detective, even though there is an active Civil Service list.
Some new officers are coming in, though — four new members of the department were introduced at a recent meeting. A recruitment drive also is underway.
Mayor Toni N. Harp noted that the city has “made strides ... these past few years to reduce gun violence — and statistics underscore that progress.”
However, the mayor said, “clearly a stubborn gun culture persists.”
“I ask all residents to recommit themselves to efforts by police, other city officials, civic leaders and the faith community to curb gun violence and quash the artificial bravado guns provoke in some people,” Harp said.
The arrests of 25 people connected to the Island Brothers, a gang believed to be responsible for multiple shootings and homicides in the city, would also help address the rate of violence, Jacobson said. No one person in that group of suspects has been identified by police as responsible for a shooting; the gang members are charged now with drugrelated counts.
Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said that the joint federal, state and local investigation into the group, and resulting arrests, would go a long way toward stabilizing the rate of violence.
At a recent press conference, he said the group was responsible for “the lion’s share” of gun violence in the city.
The department will continue to work to address the issue, he said.
“We will continue to put our resources towards reducing gun violence in this city,” said Reyes.
Alder Gerald Antunes, D12, head of the Board of Alders’ Public Safety Committee, said nothing in particular stood out about the rate of gun violence in the city thus far this year.
He noted it’s a bit higher than in the past, which is obviously not a pleasing thing, and largely not random, but a result of interpersonal relationships between city residents.
“Gun violence is something that has been on the front burner in many cities and towns across the country. We are just one of them,” said Antunes.