Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Police Chief Daryl Roberts announced "significant progress with the Shooting Team Task Force efforts to increase public safety and the perception of public safety, reduce homicides and other gun-related violent crimes, and arrest those who violate the law and endanger others."
Since the Shooting Team Task Force was re-instated by Mayor Segarra on July 5, the overall reduction in shootings over the past four months is 35.1 percent. This means that compared to last year, shootings have gone from 13.9 percent above last year to 21.2 percent below this time last year.
“When the shooting team was reconvened, there were 19 homicides in the first six months of 2011. Since July, that number has been reduced to 3. While one homicide is one too many, our team is making people safer and helping them to feel safer. These numbers aren’t just a positive reflection on the city, they have a positive impact on the region as well as this truly is an inclusive effort,” said Mayor Segarra.
“Murder arrests are up almost 110% percent, 80 arrests (mostly firearm related) have been made and over 30 guns have been seized; there is no doubt that this is a reflection of the maximum effort this team gives each and every day,” the Chief added.
The Hartford Shooting Team is a partnership between the HPD, Offices of the Chief State’s Attorney and Hartford State’s Attorney, the Connecticut State Police and State Department of Correction, Board of Pardons and Paroles and Office of Adult Probation, Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, and the East Hartford, West Hartford and Manchester Police Departments.
The Task Force investigates gun violence and brings those responsible for such violence to prosecution. It also collaborates with the Violent Crimes Bureau and the Witness Protection Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and works in conjunction with the Central Connecticut Cold Case Task Force.
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