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NORWALK, Conn. – A federal grant will be used to increase Norwalk Police presence in known trouble spots, Chief Thomas Kulhawik said.
The $50,262 Justice Assistance Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice is in addition to other grants and city funding, Kulhawik said in an email. "It is strictly for the summer months and is being used for both high visibility targeted enforcement as well as non-uniform (covert) enforcement," he said. "We have additional officers targeting hot spots or assigned based upon information received, etc."
The grant was announced recently by Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT 4) and Mayor Richard Moccia. "This grant will bolster the Norwalk Police in their ongoing work to escalate a visible law enforcement presence in areas of known gang hostility," Moccia said in a statement.
"We have been assigning officers since July 1 at specific days, times and locations," Kulhawik said. "A portion of the money must also be used for coordinated activities with the officers we have assigned to federal task forces – namely DEA, FBI, ATF and US Marshal Service."
Comments (12)
Don't go away, mad, Tim T, just go away.....
Oh far from mad and far from going away...AND YOU?
Nothing will come out of this as the Norwalk police are incompetent . This is just another waste of tax dollars to pay these fools time and a half. We had a chance for change but the mayor felt the police union endorsement was more important than the crime epidemic.
This is great news Jim had done well to deliver grant money to Norwalk,so much money would put a patrolman on the street for a year,but that is not the formula we can expect,It would be absurd to to think we are going to see much more than 800 hours of overtime and the rest rolled into balastic etc. in helping Norwalk,it is seeing that much gunfire.Wouldn't be a bad idea to start teaching all Norwalk officers Spanish for those who once they respond can do nothing to facilatate the call and help the tax paying victim who doesn't speak English.
Our bike units are certainly important in the scheme of things they do replace the beat cops puts them on the street to hear the gunfire first hand etc should be ehhanced,in the past those officers not fit to ride a bike have in the most part retired so no jokes about the officers what they knew and the repore they had with those residents in Norwalks inner sity was most valuable to those who need protection from the gang mentality or crime in general.Not all out of control crime in Norwalk is gang related.
I'm sure at the time the segway scooter felt like a great idea yet the plate reading cars are most valuable now to our force another would be great .We have a great force with great tools when they work hand in hand.
But when you start listing where the money is going to go and what its going to do to make any one of us feel safe 50 grand isn't going to buy us much more safety than if we had a full time Spanish speaking officer in the heart of the inner city, Norwalkers tends to call it South Norwalk.
escalate a visible law enforcement presence in areas of known gang hostility,"
Thank God it isn't election year the comment would of been sickening if it had been any longer.
Norwalk went from having no gangs to no organized gangs to groups to known gangs.Most of These shootings all Bridgeport,Stamford and Bronx ties in Norwalk tells us the known gangs please someone tell our Mayor most shootings are nights and weekends related.
Take all your grants add the up and not wonder why the Angels never worked out they were for nothing if they had driven the crime rate down then what no free money?
It would also be nice to see for once where every dime of this grant went,once it leaves Jims hands and is passed to Norwalk,obviously it not going to anything but what was mentioned but to create some visual picture it will make Norwalk safer when crime goes up and the department doesn't grow its seems like only a temporary fix to solve the big picture.
How man officers are funded how many on the street how many are to retire how many more are coming.Bridgport was forthcoming 21 new officers out of the SP class this year ,everyone was mentioned by numbers but not Norwalk,Norwalk has someone or some coming but how many?
Now that would make us feel safer knowing the dept is growing to meet the need.Fifty grand feels like it just bought us time.
But thank you Jim Himes for the work I didn't see the two who gave comments thank or praise you for your work it must be election year.Mother always taught us to be thankful.Then again it may of been easy showing the crime figures in Norwalk to get such grants numbers speak for themselves we do have others to thank for that.
Sononeknows -
"50 grand isn't going to buy us much more safety than if we had a full time Spanish speaking officer in the heart of the inner city, Norwalkers tends to call it South Norwalk."
Several of the full time officers on the force speak Spanish.
How man officers are funded how many on the street how many are to retire how many more are coming.
Norwalk just swore in about six officers in the not too distance past. Once the officers are sworn in, they are paired up with a partner for a couple of months before taking up a patrol or answering calls on their own.
Bridgeport happened to be severely understaffed, which is why they currently have 21 officers going through the academy. They also have grant funding for those officers for the first year and expect attrition will have slots for the officers after the funding runs out. Because of the types of testing and background checks that the candidates go through, it's pretty expensive to send a class through the Academy.
please someone tell our Mayor most shootings are nights and weekends related.
He already knows because he has a police scanner and a list of the codes. Plus the Police Chief calls him when something major happens.
Fifty grand feels like it just bought us time. But thank you Jim Himes for the work I didn't see the two who gave comments thank or praise you for your work.
Yes, thank you, Congressman Himes. And you are correct, Sonoknows, that the grant funding did buy the City time. The PD personnel pretty much know who will file for their DROP plans and who is thinking about retiring, so I am sure they planned this carefully. Also, Federal grant funds have to be thoroughly tracked and documented. There is no wiggle room. If the grant says 40% personnel and 60% equipment, then that's what the grantee agrees to do. The grantee can't spend 41% on personnel and 59% on equipment, or at least he/she better not, if they ever intend to receive another Federal grant in this century.
I don't know if any of that information clarified the issues for you, but at least I tried.
This was a year ago before the 21 I mentioned are coming as you can see three years of salary for those officers yet the city had to make its own obligation to hire the 21 more so in all 400 plus officers and 45 more.Norwalk has hardly ever done matching grants,those are the grants worth having.
Norwalks history is to wait for the handout that isn't what every city does.
Today the mayor had the honor of swearing in those newly-minted officers.
From here, these new officers will undergo 26 weeks of training learning about search and seizure laws, laws of evidence and defensive tactics to sharpen their skills before they hit the street.
"For right now, we'll need them for the patrol base, to eliminate crime on the street, to be pro-active in the community, that community service aspect," said Lt. Commander Lonnie Blackwell.
So how was Bridgeport able to afford to bring these new officers on board in a tough economy? A $4.8 million grant will pay the salaries of 20 of these officers for the next three years.
"They're not going to be thrust out in the street right away, they're going to be learning this gradually. People retire from time to time you always have a need for new blood to strengthen your department, thanks to the President and congress we got the stimulus funds to make that happen," Finch said.
The city of Bridgeport had roughly 400 sworn officers before the arrival of the 25 new officers today.
Bridgeport is trying to come to terms with its crime Norwalk needs to learn from others.
Today the mayor had the honor of swearing in those newly-minted officers.
From here, these new officers will undergo 26 weeks of training learning about search and seizure laws, laws of evidence and defensive tactics to sharpen their skills before they hit the street.
"For right now, we'll need them for the patrol base, to eliminate crime on the street, to be pro-active in the community, that community service aspect," said Lt. Commander Lonnie Blackwell.
So how was Bridgeport able to afford to bring these new officers on board in a tough economy? A $4.8 million grant will pay the salaries of 20 of these officers for the next three years.
"They're not going to be thrust out in the street right away, they're going to be learning this gradually. People retire from time to time you always have a need for new blood to strengthen your department, thanks to the President and congress we got the stimulus funds to make that happen," Finch said.
The city of Bridgeport had roughly 400 sworn officers before the arrival of the 25 new officers today.
Today the mayor had the honor of swearing in those newly-minted officers.
From here, these new officers will undergo 26 weeks of training learning about search and seizure laws, laws of evidence and defensive tactics to sharpen their skills before they hit the street.
"For right now, we'll need them for the patrol base, to eliminate crime on the street, to be pro-active in the community, that community service aspect," said Lt. Commander Lonnie Blackwell.
So how was Bridgeport able to afford to bring these new officers on board in a tough economy? A $4.8 million grant will pay the salaries of 20 of these officers for the next three years.
"They're not going to be thrust out in the street right away, they're going to be learning this gradually. People retire from time to time you always have a need for new blood to strengthen your department, thanks to the President and congress we got the stimulus funds to make that happen," Finch said.
The city of Bridgeport had roughly 400 sworn officers before the arrival of the 25 new officers today.
Today the mayor had the honor of swearing in those newly-minted officers.
From here, these new officers will undergo 26 weeks of training learning about search and seizure laws, laws of evidence and defensive tactics to sharpen their skills before they hit the street.
"For right now, we'll need them for the patrol base, to eliminate crime on the street, to be pro-active in the community, that community service aspect," said Lt. Commander Lonnie Blackwell.
So how was Bridgeport able to afford to bring these new officers on board in a tough economy? A $4.8 million grant will pay the salaries of 20 of these officers for the next three years.
"They're not going to be thrust out in the street right away, they're going to be learning this gradually. People retire from time to time you always have a need for new blood to strengthen your department, thanks to the President and congress we got the stimulus funds to make that happen," Finch said.
The city of Bridgeport had roughly 400 sworn officers before the arrival of the 25 new officers today.
Today the mayor had the honor of swearing in those newly-minted officers.
From here, these new officers will undergo 26 weeks of training learning about search and seizure laws, laws of evidence and defensive tactics to sharpen their skills before they hit the street.
"For right now, we'll need them for the patrol base, to eliminate crime on the street, to be pro-active in the community, that community service aspect," said Lt. Commander Lonnie Blackwell.
So how was Bridgeport able to afford to bring these new officers on board in a tough economy? A $4.8 million grant will pay the salaries of 20 of these officers for the next three years.
"They're not going to be thrust out in the street right away, they're going to be learning this gradually. People retire from time to time you always have a need for new blood to strengthen your department, thanks to the President and congress we got the stimulus funds to make that happen," Finch said.
The city of Bridgeport had roughly 400 sworn officers before the arrival of the 25 new officers today.
Thank you its great taxpayers care and are involved in fact its shows police support which I'm in favor of.I'll add some more facts to nail the situation home for those who are less informed.
Several officers speak Spanish out oe 180 is not a great percentage when data shows over half of Norwalk residents and visitors don't use English,in an ideal setting it would be about 100 officers not the several figure.
This was three years ago before the others were asked to leave and others finding better depts to ply thier experience.
The department is funded for 176 officers now, with an authorized
strength of 182. In the next 18 months, the mayor and chief hope the
funded number will be 179.
But even though 176 are funded, there are only 167 serving — and seven
of those are in the police academy, Rilling said
according to Lt. Andrew Gale,
who is in charge of recruitment,
40 officers of the 176-strong force,
are eligible for retirement within
the next three years. The department
will be hiring new recruits
to fill those positions left vacant
as new positions become available
through budget expansions.
what goes on now may not be the same
According to Sean Cassidy, coowner
of PoliceApps, each test
requires 15 to 20 employees to
administer, so the cost to departments
often adds up because
police officers have to work overtime
to run the tests.
Cassidy is charging the
department an introductory
fee of $600 to do both
the upcoming written and
physical exams. The cost to
the individual applicant is
$65.
so six new officers would seem less than most of us expect,nor have we heard in 3 years what the deal is from the police dept have we?
Bridgeport has help on the sreets with both State and Federal help that are very visible unlike Norwalk so yes it may be true lets ad some facts.The 21 adds toa list already reported within the last 6 months.
Look around back in 2010 it seems other forces made it a point to seek help not defend a point language wasn't a problem.Norwalk did not then and so far now not ask for help.Like it was said its a problem,in fact Norwalk has been sent help by Stamford at times to translate.
Stamford's list also includes some public safety requests not related to
infrastructure: $850,000 for a new DNA unit in the police department;
$200,000 to help police prevent street violence among youths; $164,000
to train seven new K-9 units; and $48,000 for foreign language classes
for police.
in 2008 Mayor Moccia knew we had a gang problem yet denied this thought when the Angels wanted to help
The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it awarded Norwalk's
Youth Services Bureau $189,421 for prevention efforts among high-risk
youth. The funds will go toward a cross-disciplinary team of youth
services providers, including law enforcement and government officials.
The goal is to divert at least 100 offenders from entering the juvenile
justice system and to provide the community with greater knowledge of
the needs of local youth, according to the DOJ.
Mayor Richard Moccia, who called attention to the nationwide problem of
gang membership in July in a press conference following a spike in
gang-related street crime, said the federal government should focus on
maintaining the "mental infrastructure" of today's youth.
Never heard a word on how this grant impacted the problem did we?
Melissa Sickmund, chief of systems research at the National Center for
Juvenile Justice, characterized the grant program as part of a
"data-driven" approach to the problem of youth and crime.
"This model is about looking at what your community's problems are and
then finding strategies to address them instead of just throwing money
at neighborhoods and seeing if things get better," Sickmund said.
Data from Sramford and Bridgeport is available Norwalks seem to be elusive and not found,and for that kind of money it was expected as one said don't use the money right or be accountable maybe the flow will stop the reports were due for the public at the latest 2010 and so far have not been found.
Grants are great accountability seems to lack sometimes only ones who suffers are the kids who need help and of course the victims.
I trust other canscorrect or update these figures we are all concerned and do support our officers.
If we need more officers lets spend the savings from the trash contracts no need to think Norwalks crime rate will reflect enforcement efforts,there was a statement made recently coming from city hall that went something like more police will simply end up with more arrests,,,isn't this what victims want?
You type and type but say ZERO..Did you know that an empty barrel makes the most noise?