New Haven Independent

Posted by: Steve | October 17, 2006 4:23 PM

I practically live next to Amrhyn Field/West Rock Park and I frequently walk there.

This is a little scary considering there is a large elderly housing complex next to the park.

It would be nice to see more of a police presence in our neighborhood before things head downhill like in so many other neighborhoods.

I am getting sick of seeing cops driving past large groups of kids on bikes without stopping them to see if they are armed or up to no good.

Posted by: charlie | October 17, 2006 5:04 PM

Why can't cops just start pulling groups of kids over and checking them for weapons?

Posted by: Bruce | October 17, 2006 7:54 PM

Steve, it's unfortunate that these crimes exist, but it's also unfortunate that people would support random searches for every kid on a bicycle. ALL kids that age ride bicycles, as I did and you probably did too. Being on a bicycle is not a crime and it is a really poor indicator of any criminal intent. You might as well go rounding up every person who happens to be wearing pants as well. Weren't the suspects wearing those as well?

Posted by: STEVE | October 17, 2006 8:10 PM

I am sure the police can find probable cause. Many of these kids disregard the rules of the road and that is cause enough to stop and question them.

I am tired of hearing about how we have to protect and cottle these "little thugs". It is about time someone stood up for all the people terrorized by these twisted little monsters.

My heart goes out to all those that have lost their weeks pay, money, cars, property, and sense of security at the hands of these monsters.

VICTIMS RIGHTS FIRST!!!!!!!

Posted by: Smok'em | October 18, 2006 8:16 AM

Get a concealed weapons permit, buy a gun, and "suprise" the little predators if they try to mug you - cheaper and more effective than putting them in prison for twenty years. Also, a shotgun is very effective at removing strangers from your property. Obviously the police (especially the PC police) can't protect you, so why act like dumb sheep and hope another member of the herd gets picked off, instead of you? Do you think the government is going to protect you - Hello Katrina, Hitler, Stalin...

Posted by: Bruce | October 18, 2006 10:20 AM

I am not advocating for protecting "little thugs". Throw them in jail, spank them, lock them in the stockades and throw tomatoes at them -- I have no sympathy at all for these types of criminals. I am advocating for protecting the legal rights of the vast majority of teenagers who to not rob or steal.

You can't just assume that every kid on a bike is a criminal. Aside from wasting an enormous amount of time searching hundreds of people who have done nothing wrong, you also alienate good kids who might be willing to discuss the problems with authority figures. Good kids will never trust police if they are constantly being shaken down and harassed for no reason.

Posted by: nfjanette | October 18, 2006 8:16 PM

Also, a shotgun is very effective at removing strangers from your property.

That's poor advice; even displaying a weapon can get you in legal trouble in some cases. Gun ownership, while protected by the constitution, must be handled by mature, responsible adults that understand how such tools can and cannot be used.

On the other hand, it takes a blind liberal to not see that a gang of a dozen or more teenage urban kids riding around on bikes in New Haven is more likely to find trouble than not. How about when several kids ride one bike while "shopping" for other bikes to steal? The police should be targeting such groups - and their parents - for some of that community policing interaction that is so popular these days.

Posted by: concerned | October 19, 2006 1:34 PM

This past July, at 3:30 in the morning, we had a prowler on our back porch (in our fenced in back yard) the dog barked, we saw someone jump over the fence, and the police were called.

3 or 4 police cars arrived, they looked around the perimeter of the house and then my (17 year old) son and I went out to tell them what happened.

As we stood there in the front yard, trying to describe the situation, 2 teens (one on a bike, one not) rode by on the main road, slowly.

3 cops were standing around talking and one was asking me my height and weight (?) and my son said, "I bet that is them now". The police glanced toward the young men and did not budge.
This was during a period when there were quite a few middle of the night cat burglaries in my neighborhood.

(This is not the first time we have had this happen, one morning a young man walked right in while we were all home getting ready to leave, running away after my son pushed him out the door. He walked by the house for weeks afterwards, having never been arrested because his description was so general and fit so many possible suspects.)

My point is, at 3:30 in the morning, right after an attempted burglary, why is it not ok to question two teens out just hanging around. If they were not involved, ok then, but who is hurt by the police asking questions?

My son commented that in West Haven the police routinely stop teens after 11:00 PM to ask what they are doing. It is expected. When they do...they tell them to go home.

Posted by: Ralph | October 19, 2006 4:36 PM

Hey Smok'Em - Chief Ortiz doesnt issue concealed carry permits. That is his policy and if you do apply for one, forget it. Even though the law says you have be answered in 6-8 weeks, he won't even do that. It took me over 2 years to get my CC permit - at the State level, AFTER it took me 9 months to find out that Francisco "doesn't believe residents should have guns" and denied me for no reason. The only recourse after a NHPD denial is to appeal to the State (which I did) which takes about 18 months to have your case heard. Eventually you WILL get it, but certainly NOT within the mandated 6-8 weeks as the CT statutes state. Be advised though, Ortiz WILL ask you for 3 letters of reference and to be interviewed by detectives (BOTH of which are not required by law) THEN make you wait months and months to find out you are denied. Buy hey, don't worry, with the new "guns for gift card" programs I am sure all the gun toting thugs in the Elm City will rush right into Franscisco office, plop down their guns and skip home with a stop and shop gift card. I 100% agree with you, but Ortiz makes getting a permit for law abiding tax paying new haven residents nearly impossible.