nothin Rookie Cops Already Know The Turf | New Haven Independent

Rookie Cops Already Know The Turf

Markeshia Ricks Photo

Rookie cops Monique Moore and David Santiago walk a Newhallville beat that takes them past Willie C’s Unisex Barbershop on Dixwell Avenue, where Santiago used to get his hair cut as a kid.

Hey Mr. C,” Santiago said to the shop’s namesake Saturday evening as he stood on the front step emptying a water bottle. How’s it going?”

Mr. C assured Santiago that things were well. He and Moore waved and kept walking.

Their route also takes them past the church of Moore’s aunt, Shekinah Glory Apostolic Church, also on Dixwell.

Moore’s family is from Newhallville; she lived in the neighborhood until she was 12. After that she and her family moved to Beaver Hills. Her grandparents still live in the neighborhood.

Throughout their shift she bumped into people who know her. They appeared happily surprised to see her in uniform. Look at you!” said one man who gave her a hug. Real proud of you.”

Santiago, who was born in New York City, also lived in New Haven until he was about 5. His family then moved him to nearby Hamden, where he still lives.

Their ties to the city both played a role in their decisions to become New Haven police officers, two of some 32 rookies who have begun walking beats in neighborhoods across town.

We need more people from the city” on the force, Moore said. Before she joined the police department, Moore worked at Hillhouse High School as a paraprofessional in special education. She said she wanted to be a part of community policing because she experienced it growing up.

When I lived on Winchester Avenue, I remember officers walking their beat,” Moore recalled. They would sit and talk to us. I thought it was a good thing. It really helped you build relationships with the officers in the community. You see them as real people, not just the uniform.”

No Tricks, Just Treats

The two officers had a little extra help building relationships Saturday night. They deployed a weapon that many people weren’t really expecting.

It wasn’t a Taser. It was candy.

The duo each had black backpacks filled with Halloween candy for all the Elsas (from the Disney movie Frozen), Spidermen and at least two mini-police officers trick or treating.

Who are you,” Moore asked one little girl.

Elsa,” she said.

I saw a lot of Elsas today,” Moore said as she puts candy in the girl’s bag.

But you’re the best one,” Santiago told her.

Y’all said thank you,” the man escorting them asked Elsa and her fellow trick-or-treater, Ironman.

Thank you,” they said enthusiastically.

Ironman slapped Santiago five.

The scene would repeat numerous times throughout the night.

Moore said even without the candy, the community has welcomed the new officers.

A lot of people come up to us and say that they’re glad to see us walking around,” she said.

Almost on cue, a woman stepped out of her house and called them over.

I got something for you,” she said.

We’ve got something too,” Santiago said. You’ve got kids in there?”

No, but I got something for you,” she said as she handed them both bags of candy. I know it’s not your costume, but you are out here representing and making sure that the kids stay safe.”

Though police officers are under a lot of national scrutiny, neither Moore or Santiago said it makes their jobs harder.

It doesn’t make me feel like my job is more difficult,” Santiago said. It’s just about how I approach every call or every incident, even something just as simple as just now asking someone to leave in front of a bus stop. Being polite and courteous and sympathizing with them at first. From that point on you’re going to get a good response from that person and word of mouth travels.”

I just have to continue to be who I am and remember why I wanted to become and officer and hopefully that will show with my interactions with people,” added Moore. I know it’s not going to change overnight, but hopefully, eventually, we can change just one mind.”

Wary Teens

Santiago, who did a four-year tour in the U.S. Marine Corps, comes from a family of NYPD cops. He knew even when he joined the military that he wanted to be a police officer. Like Moore he’s keen on the community policing concept even though some might argue it’s tougher than ever to be a police officer.

Though most of the people to whom the officers spoke Saturday night spoke back, not everyone did. Teens seemed especially wary of the officers.

How you doin’?” Santiago asked a couple of teens sitting on a stoop. You guys want candy?”

Oh, y’all got candy,” one of them said, perking up.

The other teen hangs back.

Yeah, I got candy,” Santiago said as he handed over the sweets. You’re never too old to have candy, right man?”

Moore spoke to the teen hanging back on the porch while his friend took the candy from Santiago.

You want some too? You over there acting like you don’t want any candy.”

The teen cracked a small smile and swaggered off the porch to accept some candy from her.

Another group of teens were boisterously talking as the two officers approached them. They then noticeably quieted down. Santiago tried to strike up a conversation; they weren’t having it. All right guys,” Santiago said by way of a goodbye.

Moore said sometimes people are wary of the officers, or don’t speak, but they don’t take it personally. You can never stop saying hi,” because one day they might say hi’ back,” Santiago said.

The two officers moved on across the street to a house where younger children gathered in preparation for a night of trick or treating. Two of the children, a boy and a girl, dressed like police officers. They joyously accepted candy from the officers.

Moore said their supervisor, top Newhallville cop Lt. Herb Sharp, laid out his expectations for them when they first came on the job. They’ve knocked on doors and passed out their business cards. Santiago said they also have used what they learned in the police academy and during their field officer training.

A lot of people are welcoming to us,” he said. We’ve had people offer to cook us dinner, bring us into their homes, which is a very personal thing to have somebody else in your home who you really don’t know.”

Part of their walking beat routine is to check in with storeowners along Dixwell Avenue and make sure that there is no loitering or other nuisances.

They stopped by Wing Madness to chat with owner Desmond Mills (pictured).

You giving away wings for Halloween,” Santiago joked.

We were but we stopped at four o’clock,” Mills joked back.

Mills asked the officers if things had started to get crazy. The night had been quiet. Mills warned that bad boys” like to ride around wearing masks on such a night.

We’re going to try and stop that,” Santiago said. When he noticed that both Moore and Santiago were loaded down with backpacks filled with candy, he was impressed.

That’s a good initiative,” Mills said. Officers are giving away candy. That’s sweet.”

After they said goodbye to Mills, the officers walked farther up Dixwell. They encountered an older man selling a menagerie of items near a convenience store next to Wing Madness. He greeted both officers with familiarity.

Another day another dollar, right?” Santiago asked.

Another day, another fifty cent,” the man responded with a cackle.

I’m going to a Halloween party tonight,” he volunteered to the officers.

Are you going to dress up?” Moore asked.

Nah,” the man said. I’m just going to pretend like I got good credit.”

Read other installments in the Independent’s Cop of the Week” series: 

Shafiq Abdussabur
Craig Alston & Billy White Jr.
• Joseph Aurora
James Baker
Lloyd Barrett
Elsa Berrios
Manmeet Bhagtana (Colon)
Paul Bicki
Paul Bicki (2)
Sheree Biros
Bitang
Scott Branfuhr
Bridget Brosnahan
Keron Bryce and Osvaldo Garcia
Keron Bryce and Osvaldo Garcia (2)
Dennis Burgh
Anthony Campbell
Darryl Cargill & Matt Wynne
Elizabeth Chomka & Becky Fowler
Rob Clark & Joe Roberts
Sydney Collier
Carlos Conceicao
Carlos Conceicao (2)
Carlos Conceicao and Josh Kyle
David Coppola
Mike Criscuolo
Steve Cunningham and Timothy Janus
Roy Davis
Joe Dease
Milton DeJesus
Milton DeJesus (2)
Brian Donnelly
Anthony Duff
Robert DuPont
Jeremie Elliott and Scott Shumway
Jeremie Elliott (2)
Jose Escobar Sr.
Bertram Ettienne
Bertram Ettienne (2)
Martin Feliciano & Lou DeCrescenzo
Paul Finch
Jeffrey Fletcher
Renee Forte
Marco Francia
Michael Fumiatti
William Gargone
William Gargone & Mike Torre
Derek Gartner
Derek Gartner & Ryan Macuirzynski
Tom Glynn & Matt Williams
Jon Haddad & Daniela Rodriguez
Michael Haines & Brendan Borer
Michael Haines & Brendan Borer (2)
Dan Hartnett
Ray Hassett
Robert Hayden
Robin Higgins
Ronnell Higgins
William Hurley & Eddie Morrone
Derek Huelsman
Racheal Inconiglios
Juan Ingles
Paul Kenney
Hilda Kilpatrick
Herb Johnson
John Kaczor & Alex Morgillo
Jillian Knox
Peter Krause
Peter Krause (2)
Amanda Leyda
Rob Levy
Anthony Maio
Dana Martin
Reggie McGlotten
Steve McMorris
Juan Monzon
Matt Myers
Carlos and Tiffany Ortiz
Chris Perrone
Ron Perry
Joe Pettola
Diego Quintero and Elvin Rivera
Ryan Przybylski
Stephanie Redding
Tony Reyes
David Rivera
Luis & David Rivera
Luis Rivera (2)
Salvador Rodriguez
Salvador Rodriguez (2)
Brett Runlett
David Runlett
Betsy Segui & Manmeet Colon
Allen Smith
Marcus Tavares
Martin Tchakirides
David Totino
Stephan Torquati
Gene Trotman Jr.
* Elisa Tuozzoli
Kelly Turner
Lars Vallin (& Xander)
Dave Vega & Rafael Ramirez
Earl Reed
Daophet Sangxayarath & Jessee Buccaro
Jess Stone
Arpad Tolnay
John Velleca
Manuella Vensel
Holly Wasilewski
Holly Wasilewski (2)
Alan Wenk
Stephanija VanWilgen
Elizabeth White & Allyn Wright
Matt Williams
Michael Wuchek
Michael Wuchek (2)
David Zannelli
Cailtin Zerella
Caitlin Zerella (2)
Caitlin Zerella, Derek Huelsman, David Diaz, Derek Werner, Nicholas Katz, and Paul Mandel
David Zaweski

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