Maya McFadden Photo
Nan Chen: I want to help others.
If a pitch made Tuesday evening pans out, Nan Chen will be patrolling his Fair Haven neighborhood. As Officer Nan Chen.
Chen was one of a dozen Fair Haveners whom Interim Police Chief Renee Dominguez, Capt. David Zannelli, and Lt. Michael Fumiatti met while out on patrol — for new cops.
Interim Chief Dominguez, Capt. Zannelli, and Lt. Fumiatti.
The NHPD’s recruitment team spread the word that police applications are currently open with its first of two community strolls this week. It was one of several planned neighborhood walks as part of a broader campaign to convince more New Haveners to help replenish the ranks in an upcoming academy class.
The team gathered at the Fair Haven police substation to begin the community stroll. The recruitment team plans to conduct its second walk in the Hill on Thursday alongside the mayor and neighborhood leaders.
Back on the Grand Avenue beat.
The team split into two groups to travel down Grand Avenue to encourage Fair Haveners to apply to the NHPD before applications close Oct. 15. (Click here to apply.)
The trio of former and current Fair Haven top cops passed out flyers to residents of Grand Avenue and business owners. They also gave young kids plastic police badges.
Dominguez said the department’s goal is to get 500 applications. It has ramped up its recruitment efforts from the past years with billboards, radio and bus ads, and police car magnets to specifically target New Haven residents to apply.
“If you’re from the city, you’ve already built trust and those relationships necessary with the public,” said Sgt. Paul Finch, the point person for the drive.
Dominguez, Zannelli, and Fumiatti first stopped at Fresh Taco restaurant on Grand Avenue, where Chen works as the manager. His parents own the restaurant. Dominguez and Fumiatti gave Chen a flyer to post in the shop’s window and suggested he “tell your friends who may want to be cops.”
“That’s me,” Chen responded.
Chen, 33, told the officers that he would like to apply soon but he must first get foot surgery this fall. He said he will not be healed by December when the physical test will happen.
“Based on how that goes, I will see if I can next year,” he said.
Chen said he has always dreamed of being a police officer or enlisting in the military. He said if the surgery disables him physically, his back-up plan is to go into emergency management.
Outside of Fair Haven Mini Market.
The officers ran into another interested resident outside of the Fair Haven Mini Market who said he applied to the NHPD twice in the past but failed the physical test both times.
The officers encouraged him to apply again and to begin preparing for the December physical test now.
“Starting now run every day for ten minutes. That’s it,” Fumiatti suggested.
The officers also encouraged the resident to find a friend to apply as well.
During a quick stop in Cricket Wireless to drop off a flyer to post in the window, Zannelli urged the worker on duty to apply. “It’s better salary and benefits than here,” Zannelli pitched.
At Hancock Pharmacy, Fumiatti gave a flyer to a worker to post at the shop and talked with the owner about recent complaints made about illegal parking happening outside the store.
Only 325 of the department’s 406 positions are filled. Dominguez said she hopes to fill all vacant positions with this round of applicants.
All of the business owners the trio encountered volunteered to post the recruitment flyer in their shop windows for their customers.
“Put your name in, and let’s see where it brings you,” Dominguez pitched to those in the community who may be unsure. “I challenge you to apply.”
It is only the US Mail that can add stuff to citizens Mailbox, it is illegal if anyone else drop things in a mail box.