New Haven Independent

Crime, especially that related to substance abuse, is a chronic problem that bedevils the Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH)’s nine high-rise buildings for the elderly and disabled. And monitoring who enters and exits — potentially a way to curb the problem — is, at this point in HANH’s emerging security plan, still spotty at best. In addition, a percentage of the non-elderly but disabled residents are so designated specifically because of a history of drug problems.

At a recent meeting of the Board of Aldermen’s Ad Hoc Committee on Housing Authority Review, Wooster Square Alderman Michael Smart (on the right in photo) peppered HANH’s Executive Director Jimmy Miller and Chief of Security John Prokop (on the left) with a series of questions relating to how the current New Haven Police Department’s narcotics unit crisis is affecting the situation in public housing, from which there are regular calls complaining about drug dealing in front of or within complexes. A typical call might be from a tenant wanting to enter a building but cannot due to apparent dealing in front. Or a tenant will complain of certain apartments where known dealers are doing business.

Here’s an excerpt from the exchanges that occurred between Smart, Miller, and Prokop:

Smart: With what is happening in the police department today, do you feel the narcotics unit is able to respond to our needs in HANH?

Prokop (a former city cop and SCSU security chief): Look, I did a quick review of the number of calls from our buildings to the police emergency number, 911. Between early October and today, there were approximately 1,000 calls made. While I don’t know how many dealt with drugs specifically, what concerns me as a cop, one third of these calls, that is, more than 300, were, when I dug up the records, listed as “unfounded.” That means there was no one at the other end to report to the police when they arrived. I’m convinced that half of these “unfounded” calls were because of police response time. That’s disturbing. The calls could be because a gun has gone off, or quality of life issues, or somebody sees drug dealers in front of the building, but by the time the cops arrive, the caller has been able to get inside and go up to their apartment. Still the problem persists.

Smart (pictured with Hill Alderwoman Jackie James): What steps are you taking in this regard?

Prokop: We follow up as quickly as we can, but HANH is not the police department. It takes me far too long to get a police report of an incident. The mayor calls Jimmy [Miller], and he calls me, and I say, I don’t have any report yet. Sometimes I feel foolish.

Smart: Say you do get a drug report from a HANH tenant or about one, how do you handle it?

Prokop: When I get the police report, and I want to emphasize, this takes too long under the current set-up, I go out to the building, and I talk to the property manager, and I get filled in. I knock on doors, if I have to, to let the allegedly offending party know we’re here, and we’re aware. I let the residents know we’re on the case, but we’re not the police and we can’t throw people out or make arrests. Even our new security officers have no arresting powers and can only work with NHPD. The residents get legitimately frustrated and call you alderpeople.

Smart: How can that be fixed?

Prokop: Well, it’s in part an information problem, but, yes, also staffing. In years gone by NHPD used to designate an officer who worked specifically and full time with HANH. This officer used to meet regularly with our property managers. Now there’s only an officer part time and there’s piecemeal contact with the property managers. That’s part of the problem.

Smart: And what if you have a specific issue with narcotics?

Prokop: I’ll immediately send an email to Sgt Casanova or J.P. Kelley [east side district managers], and if I can arrange it, we’ll go out to the building in question, myself and an officer. Whatever it is, drugs, prostitution, drinking beer, and we tell the people we have to clear the issue up. I’m visiting buildings in this manner and knocking on doors every week. The police and judicial process is slow. But at least residents know that senior management is on the case.