Allan Appel Photo
Police Commissioners Greg Smith, Kevin Diaz, and Donald Walker.
New Haven’s Police Commission meeting room no longer has enough seats to hold people eager to participate in a new public comment section of its monthly sessions, especially after the April 16 officer-involved shooting in Dixwell involving Yale and Hamden officers.
That was apparent Tuesday night as activists crowded the chief’s conference room on the third floor of police headquarters to speak up during the public session..
Activists Pat Kane and Barbara Fair.
The regular monthly meeting of the commissioners — who have the last word of approval in firing as well as hiring NHPD officers — has long been open to the public. Until recently, few attended.
Six months ago, in a state quest for transparency, commissioners added a regular item to the agenda: public comment.
The approach has been informal, with the commissioners being fairly relaxed about time limits for each speaker. Led by Chairman Anthony Dawson, commissioners have made clear they want to listen, but not to debate.
The size of the room, its location within police headquarters, and what is being asked of the commissioners in comments from the public might face a challenge by the evidence of the gathering Tuesday night.
Community policing documentarian Steve Hamm with Justin Farmer after the meeting.
The dozen activists present far outnumbered the available chairs. The activists came to the gathering with lots to say about the April 16 shooting at Dixwell and Argyle, which has resulted in demonstrations and calls for changes and more accountability and coordination among the New Haven, Hamden, and Yale police departments.
At 4:30 a.m. on April 16, a Hamden police officer and a Yale police officer shot at two unarmed people in a red Honda suspected to be connected to a report of an armed robbery attempt. One occupant, Stephanie Washington, who was hit and went to the hospital. State police are investigating the incident, which could result in criminal charges against at least one of the officers.
Tuesday night, activists like Barbara Fair politely but passionately gave the commissioners an earful.
In a letter to the commissioners, which was read by her friend Ann Massaro, Fair called for a different and larger venue for the commission meetings: “Many in our community have no idea about the meetings and even more do not feel comfortable having to meet within the New Haven Police Department.”
Acting Chief Otoniel Reyes.
She also asked in her letter for the commission to fully investigate the shooting as well, even though it did not involve New Haven police officers. She called on the commission to make sure that the officers involved are disciplined ando to “rescind the policy of Yale being allowed to police the New Haven community. Although NHPD complains of shortage of officers, many in New Haven feel their city is over policed.”
Fair herself read a letter which she had just received at the beginning of the meeting from Yale student Ashtan Towles, one of the leaders of a group called Black Students for Disarmament. The letter called for for Yale PD to be disarmed of all their weapons. Fair said she supports that idea.
“I was shocked to learn,” Fair said, “that [YPD] gets to arrest outside of the campus and yet they are not responsible to NHPD.”
Ann Massaro enters Fair’s letter into the record.
Commission Chair Dawson let the letters be read in their entirety and then said, of the Yale student’s: “Ask her to send a copy, and we’ll respond.”
Before the gathering ended, Hamden Councilman Justin Farmer — in whose south Hamden district one of the shooting victims’ family lives — had another suggestion for the commissioners: “The New Haven Police Commission and the Hamden Police Commission should meet on a regular basis. There are obviously many issues in common. After this incident, I’d love to extend this invitation.”
“It’s of the utmost importance to do this thoughtfully and not in a rushed manner,” Farmer added.
Some of the activists asked if there would be a record of their remarks and letters. Dawson replied the discussion as well as any submitted copies of the letters will appear in the minutes of the commission’s meeting. Asst. Chief Racheal Cain said that material is available online at the commissioners’ website.
Commissioners Evelise Ribeiro and Anthony Dawson.
Fair’s letter expressed gratitude for the commissioners’ having opened up a public comment portion to the monthly gatherings, and called for a next step to “improve community engagement.”
She said several ministers she has recently met had never heard about the meetings and would like to attend if they were better known, and if enough chairs were available.
At the end of the gathering Commissioner Donald Walker, on behalf of the board, thanked the speakers for coming and for commenting.