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Wynne & Benedetto Start Walking The Beat

by Thomas MacMillan | Dec 9, 2011 4:47 pm

(28) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Legal Writes, Downtown

Thomas MacMillan Photo When two veteran cops peered into the “Listerine Lounge”—the downtown bus stop known as a hang-out for people swigging mouthwash—Friday, it wasn’t from the front seat of a cruiser.

Matt Wynne and Thomas Benedetto were on foot during their Friday visit to the infamous Church Street bus stop. As two of the first cops to be reassigned to walking beats since new police Chief Dean Esserman took over, the pair will be on foot for all their shifts.

When Esserman was sworn into office three weeks ago, he promised to bring back walking beats as part of a return to community policing. The idea is that a dedicated neighborhood cop—out of his cruiser and on foot—will connect with the community, build trust with neighbors, and stop crime before it starts rather than chase after it later. The whole city had them in the 1990s, and crime plummeted. Then they disappeared.

The chief has promised to assign patrol cops to regular walking beats in every neighborhood. Downtown is the first area to see them so far. Esserman said he is actively discussing with all the other district managers whom to assign to foot patrols in their neighborhoods. He said all neighborhoods will have regular assigned walking cops soon.

“It’s just old school, that’s all it is,” said Wynne, during a lunch break inside Starbucks at the corner of Chapel and Church on Friday. He called walking beats are a return to the classic image of an cop strolling the neighborhood—the kind of cop who would spot a kid stealing an apple and bring him to his parents’ house because he knew all the families on the block.

Friday was the third day of walking-beat duty for Wynne and Benedetto, two veteran New Haven cops with 38 years of experience between the two of them.

The pair said they both asked to be put on walking beats. “We’ve been pushing for a while,” Wynne said.

Wynne, who’s 46, and Benedetto, who’s 50, had been assigned downtown previously, but they’d been in their cruisers.

When you’re in car, you have to respond to every call that comes in, Benedetto said. Each call, between investigating and reporting, takes at least an hour and ties up a couple of cops, he said.

Policing like that is reactive, Benedetto said.

“This is proactive,” Wynne said, referring to the new walking beat.

“It’s the only way to take care of the problem,” Benedetto said.

That problem, in the couple of blocks near Chapel and Church they’ve been assigned to, centers around “congregating” on the Green, he said. He laid out the sequence: Starting early in the morning, homeless people and people on methadone treatment begin to gather there. Where there are junkies, there are dealers. Where there are dealers, there can be turf wars and violence. Buyers need money, so there’s theft and robberies.

Cops walking the block can end that sequence before it starts, said Benedetto.

By being out of their cars, the cops can follow up on things they notice over time. On Thursday morning, that kind of follow-up led to an arrest.

At 9 a.m., Benedetto and Wynne stopped a man on the green who was acting drunk. They told him to move along. A short while later, they spotted him sitting at a table in Starbucks. It became clear he wasn’t just drunk, but high on something, maybe dangerously so.

“We’ve got to stop this guy,” Benedetto recalled saying. “I’m thinking he might need an ambulance.”

The cops called the guy over. As he approached, Benedetto noticed a bulge in the guy’s pants.

“What you got?” he asked. As the man reached for his waistband, Benedetto grabbed his arm. Together the two of them pulled an 18-inch souvenir Rock Cats baseball bat out of the guy’s pants. The cops arrested him for carrying a concealed dangerous weapon.

Out of the car, cops can contact more people, Wynne said. That leads to more warrant checks. “You’d be amazed by how many people have warrants,” Wynne said. “Just contacting these people is doing the job.”

After lunch at Starbucks, Wynne and Benedetto took a walk around the block with Dowtown District Manager Lt. Rebecca Sweeney.

They moved a guy off a park bench, someone they’d seen loitering for a while. Then they walked down Church Street. All was quiet at the “Listerine Lounge.” That’s the heated bus stop in front of 55 Church. People pick up cheap mouthwash at the drugstore across the street and then drink it inside the bus stop, Wynne said.

The cops turned right on Crown, then right again on Temple, where they found a man unloading stacks of Pabst Blue Ribbon out of the back of a sedan. Wynne asked him what he was doing and learned he was a delivery guy, and that PBR is one of the most popular beers in New Haven.

“I didn’t know anybody still drank Pabst,” he said.

At the corner of Temple and Chapel, Lt. Sweeney asked a street vendor for his permit. He said he was just filling in for his friend and didn’t have the license. The cops told him to close up shop.

They then checked out the Dunkin Donuts nearby, where they found a guy loitering and asked him to move on. Wynne said he had spotted the guy earlier in Starbucks.

Back on Chapel Street, a woman stopped Wynne to ask him why there were so many cars over on Elm Street. He said it was for State Sen. Toni Harp’s husband’s funeral.

Answering questions for passersby is all part of the new beat, Wynne said.

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Comments

posted by: Win Davis on December 9, 2011  5:10pm

Thank you, from the Town Green District. We greatly appreciate the new walking beat.

posted by: Awesome Job NHPD on December 9, 2011  5:35pm

I Love this and Praise to NHPD to at least make a new start in New Haven…I daily commute to NH working at Yale Medical School..I no longer stop at Dunkin Donuts at the Green for fear of the druggies and crime so obviously taking place each morning..It will be a great relief to be ale to walk over to Central Campus knowing there are foot patrols to protect…and these officers should be applauded for wanting to get out there.I Thank each of you for protecting all of us who work and live in New Haven…Thank you to Chief Esserman too!!!

posted by: Westville Teacher on December 9, 2011  7:19pm

It’s a very big surprise to me that we weren’t doing this already.  A police cruiser is hardly inconspicuous.  In my opinion cruisers are only good for a few things: motor vehicle crimes, response to a crime scene, pursuit, and intimidation.  I’m no expert but I would imagine that cruisers have little real effect on crime deterrence. 

To do any real policing, in the strictest sense of the word, you need beat cops with cruisers as a quick backup.  Aside for some notable exceptions, the life of New Haven is still very much about sidewalks, parks, and other pedestrian locations where beat cops can fix a lot of “broken windows” and leave cop cars to those tasks they’re best suited for.

posted by: Ellis Copeland on December 9, 2011  8:43pm

1) The store on Church St. is a Rite-Aid not a Walgreens. Maybe the “reporter” taking photos should have pain more attention.

2) “I didn’t know people still drank Pabst.”  How out of touch can one be?  I’m betting he lives in the ‘burbs.

I like the concept but in execution this is a disaster waiting to happen.

posted by: Uncle Egg on December 9, 2011  8:45pm

I have to say, the past few days I’ve seen the two beat cops and Lt. Sweeney downtown. It’s nice to see a walking police presence, and I’m glad the cops themselves seem to sincerely buy into the beat concept.

I don’t think neighborhood policing by itself will cure what’s ailing New Haven, but it shows that NHPD is serious about shaking things up to tackle our problems.

posted by: Curious on December 9, 2011  10:48pm

I am really excited about this.  Good on these officers for asking for the beat, and being so into their job.  Thank you so much.

posted by: BearverHillTom on December 9, 2011  11:01pm

Right on!

posted by: Ben B on December 10, 2011  12:30am

It has been great to have officers dowtown that are accessible. We had kids loitering in our lobby, blocking the entrance and harassing employees the yesterday at 746 Chapel. I had not yet gotten off the phone with NHPD when Officer Kenny parked across the street.

He asked me if I wanted them arrested but I declined for a simple talking to. It seems like small stuff but if employees can’t walk into their office building without feeling safe then the office will move and all that will be left will be the kids loitering in the lobby.

posted by: question though on December 10, 2011  1:18am

This seems awesome. So glad to have a return to Community Policing. However, where should the homeless folks go? Everywhere they are, they seem to be told to “move along”. Where can they go and not be told to move along? Not a knock on what these guys are doing,I’m totall in favor of it, just I’m kinda wondering what the options are for those guys lol

posted by: the1king on December 10, 2011  9:52am

This is a good start for New Haven Police.  Maybe people can start talking to police in the neighborhoods and tell who are the trouble makers.  I have had dealings with these two officers a number of time over the years.  On the good end where they took care of people breaking the law.  Really good men.  New Haven citizens lets wake up and start supporting the police.  There jobs are hard enough.  Its not snitching when you tell them that guy over there is dealing drugs.  If you have kids or family making sure they are safe is top priority.  I don’t break the law most of the citizens of New Haven don’t break the law.  So excuse the language But screw the criminals lock them up help the police.  Support the police.  Because when you need them you call them.  I tell people you see something report it.  They say I don’t want to get involved.  I say Carma’s a B——

posted by: Gener on December 10, 2011  9:55am

Can you please elaborate on the mouthwash?

posted by: the1king on December 10, 2011  1:51pm

gener.

It is a way to get drunk.  The listerene has alcohol in it.  Alot of times they will buy the Walgreens brand because it is cheaper.  Sometimes they will even grind up glass and put it in it also.  There is a whole little gang of them that walk around downtown.  hope that helps answer your question.

posted by: New Havener on December 10, 2011  1:55pm

@ Ellis Copeland: Really!?!? New Haven is finally trying to make positive changes and all you can do is criticize their efforts and the reporters trying to keep you informed. I for one say Kudos to those policemen walking beats and for those who volunteered for foot patrol. I know it can’t be easy and I hope this is the first of many positive changes for this city. And I pray that you sir aren’t caught at the wrong time of night without one of these foot patrols around.

posted by: anon on December 10, 2011  3:19pm

We need independent metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of programs like this. 

Otherwise, we’re just left with press releases, the officers’ monthly reports, news stories, and random anecdotes.

Metrics should be based within the Management Teams or other groups and should be publicly accessible.  These could include how many people report knowing their officers, number of contacts made, how many have their beat cops’ cell phone numbers, satisfaction levels, and levels of disorder observed. 

If Town Green can do this for its Ambassadors, we can do it for our police force which is far more expensive and arguably less effective.

posted by: HhE on December 10, 2011  6:54pm

Ellis Copeland, I didn’t know people still drank Pabst Blue Ribbon and I live in Newhallville.  Good God man, get some pride.

I look forward to seeing these three good Officers at the toy drive next week.

posted by: NHFD friend of NHPD on December 10, 2011  7:45pm

these 2 cops have been doing “community policing” their whole careers. Tom was on his bike or walking around talking with folks all the time. officer Wynne was a fixture on Dixwell ave. walking anywhere and being in touch with the district he protected(even if they had a police car they got out of the car). This is a well deserved article, but not a surprise. Great job officers.

posted by: Ellis Copeland on December 10, 2011  8:48pm

@New Havener—I have dealt with and diffused, on many occasions, situations far more difficult than the average NHPD member has faced. And I will gladly walk anywhere in New Haven (or even Bridgeport for that matter) any time of day or night. ... The biggest threat to your status as free citizen is a very corrupt police department.

posted by: Downtown Resident on December 10, 2011  10:38pm

This is definitely a step in the right direction.  We really need to protect the downtown area.  The downtown area is the commercial heart of the city which pays for much of the services for New Haven including the police.  The more crime we have downtown, the more people don’t want to live or open a business here.  The crime is the only reason why we have so many empty stores in this area.  If you go farther down Chapel, there are no empty stores.  Once we turn this area around, stores will open up and the city will get more tax revenue.

posted by: Pro Cop to Ellis Copeland on December 10, 2011  11:41pm

... You might be the legal owner of a firearm, but without ten men surrounding you with automatic weapons (front, back and side), I don’t think there is anything you can do except hope that you make it out of the situation alive. Let’s be smart man. Not even the biggest baddest officer would put themselves in a situation like that. That’s like an officer saying he or she will work undercover with no mic and not have any officers standing by without knowing the location of the undercover job. If you think you are fit for the job, walk the streets by yourself and police the streets without any equipment and stop a fight of about 30 people and tell me how that went!
....

posted by: East Rocker on December 11, 2011  2:15am

@the1king - I understand drinking the mouthwash for the alcohol.  But what does the ground up glass do?  That’s new to me.

posted by: Ellis Copeland on December 11, 2011  10:01am

@Pro Cop: I do not own a firearm.  Don’t feel the need.

posted by: anon on December 11, 2011  11:32am

Crime is always cited as by far the top reason for entrepreneurs and corporate chains not opening stores in urban areas. If crime were no issue, every store would be here because the size of our urban market is so much larger than the suburban market.

posted by: concerned citizen on December 12, 2011  2:02pm

While it is true that having these officers on the green have changed the element, I would like to ask what of the ‘truly’ homeless people who use the Columbus house as a place to sleep at night but are put back on the streets, with all of their belongings at 7 am? There are very few programs out here that gives them somewhere to go. Not all the people that are on the green are bad elements. I work in the downtown area and have seen these officers as well as a couple others in action. One suggestion: Remind these officers that respect should be GIVEN as well as received.

posted by: Robbin on December 14, 2011  10:06am

I am thrilled about this!!!  Living and working downtown, I have noticed that the loitering and soliciting has increased…particularly in and around the Starbucks on the corner of Church and Chapel. Great to have the police back walking the neighborhood!  Thank you NHPD!!!

posted by: Joe Redente on December 15, 2011  4:15am

Tommy and Matt have been great at being cops probably from their first year on the job. Since that time both have just increased their skills, knowledge, and level of service to the public. In a world, or police department operated in a manner that promotes their best, both would easily made the rank of Sargeant, if not higher. There professionalism, tolerance, patience, and now their exposure to the streets for over forty years combined make them a commodity of far greater value than the public can ever pay them.

To those in the downtown district, you finally will be receiving the type of policing that you knew was needed. Give them your support, and downtown will begin to revert to the comfortable place it was over 40 years ago.

Now all that is needed is at least another six teams of walking cops to address the problems of a population that exceeds sixty thousand people every work day. Shortage of man power has been chronic, and don’t be fooled by passing Yale Police Cars or Officers. They will not get involved, unless they feel like getting in trouble with their supervision.

Good Luck to Tommy and Matt, be safe.

posted by: streever on December 15, 2011  9:27am

This is a great development. I’m grateful to see the Mayor’s election day promise hasn’t evaporated yet. I really hope that this work continues.

I know a lot of officers prefer working this way, but haven’t been allowed to. I’m glad that things are changing.

Great job officers!

posted by: HhE on December 15, 2011  9:47am

Give it time streever.  I was at last nights tax meeting, and the only idea the Mayor could think of in terms of budget reduction was to hire less cops.

posted by: streever on December 15, 2011  10:03am

Hhe
UGH. I thought that would happen.

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