On the heels of the year’s 20th homicide, mayoral candidate Jeffrey Kerekes issued a press release criticizing incumbent Mayor John DeStefano for his “endless meddling and micro-managing of the police department.”
“We do not have safe streets and we will not get them if DeStefano remains in office, the longer he is in office the bloodier it gets for our youth,” Kerekes said.
His press release came out Monday, one day after a 20-year-old man was shot and killed by Ella Grasso Boulevard.
“Personal attacks by angry candidates do nothing to improve public safety in the city,” said Adam Joseph, mayoral spokesman, in response to Kerekes’ statement.
Kerekes released a list of actions he would take to address crime, were he mayor. Topping the list: “To start by having a Police Chief that knows New Haven and spends more time in the city then in Chicago.”
Kerekes also said the city’s Youth at Work program, which is designed to give local teens a positive way to spend their summers, should employ only New Haven youth. He said a FOIA request he submitted found that 13 percent of the teens in the program are from outside of New Haven.
“Keeping the streets safe in Branford should not be DeStefano’s priority and won’t be mine,” Kerekes said.
He also called for a return to community policing, “smarter deployment of our police force,” more traffic stops, and giving the Civilian Review Board subpoena power.
Joseph responded by touting partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, mentioning the ongoing challenge of prisoner re-entry, and expressing confidence in police department leadership:
“The New Haven Police Department is engaged in a number of effective partnerships including those with the FBI, the DEA, the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force, the AFT Urban Violence Task Force and the U.S. Marshall Fugitive Task force.
“The city and the NHPD have not lost sight of the impact that of the 25 or so individuals returning from incarceration each week have on the community. The city and the NHPD are working with our state partners in corrections and parole to identify soon to be released individuals and begins positive interactions prior to their release.
“The mayor has complete confidence in Chief Limon, Assistant Chiefs Adger, Hensgen, Redding and Vellecas’ ability to effectively manage the New Haven Police Department.”