7/10/2020 - 7/10/20-Hamden Police Department - Community Policing Initiative
NEWS RELEASE
Date: July 8, 2020
Contact: Captain Ronald Smith
Phone: (203) 230-4029
PIO#: 20-82
The Hamden Police Department has recently met with community leaders and local clergy in an attempt to enhance our goal at strengthening our relationship with the community that we serve. These leaders in our community raised concerns about several topics, including racial profiling, police interactions involving minorities and community policing initiatives.
The Hamden Police Department will be adopting a new department-wide community oriented policing model, based on the Camden, New Jersey Police Community Oriented Policing Model. A main emphasis of this model is placed on reform and changes in the department’s culture and practices. The model emphasizes community partnerships and organizational transformation that fits the needs of the community. The Hamden Police Department’s success will be measured on the reduction of crime, reduction in the use of force, decrease in civilian complaints, positive community relations and the ability to build trust with the residents that we serve. Focus will be placed on addressing quality of life issues, suppressing crime and crime prevention.
Our residents can expect to interact with our officers more readily. Officers will be on foot patrol in their designated areas. This will facilitate conversation and solutions. The department’s Neighborhood Initiative Unit will continue to form partnerships with community leaders, emphasizing community relations. Members of this unit will be utilizing both foot and bicycle patrols, while engaging with our residents.
The Hamden Police Department’s motto is “Make every personal contact count. Seize the opportunity to improve our relationship with the community, one person (contact) at a time.”