As part of pandemic-mandated protocols, New Haven police have been trying to reduce their in-person contacts with the public, except in the case of violent crime.
That may have resulted in drug activity going way up along Fair Haven’s major thoroughfare, Grand Avenue.
Fair Haven District Manager Sgt. Michael Fumiatti offered that update at the Fair Haven Community Management Team’s regular monthly meeting.
Thursday night about 30 people gathered via the Zoom teleconferencing app for the meeting, which was hosted by the Fair Haven Community Management Team (FHCMT) recording secretary David Weinreb and chaired by the group’s president, Diane Ecton.
Fumiatti began his report terming the previous month an unusually “violent” one in Fair Haven. He was referring, in particular, to a triple shooting at Exchange and Lloyd streets that occurred on May 21.
Fair Haven Alder Jose Crespo, who was in attendance at the meeting, praised the way Fumiatti and his officers handled what might have become an even more tense situation. “The police department de-escalated well,” Crespo said. “They did a terrific job. Kudos to the department and Sgt. Fumiatti .”
Fumiatti chose to shift the conversation to how the department is handling the chronic issue of drug dealing amid the pandemic.
“To be honest,” Fumiatti said, “we are having a big drug problem on Grand and Blatchley and Grand and Poplar.”
The reason?
“Our pulling back from normal interventions [due to Covid-19], that’s caused the problem,” Fumiatti stated.
He has responded by adding a walking beat on Grand Avenue, he said. “As Covid-19 decreases, we’ll increase our pressure, including undercover, which is already in place.”
Fumiatti said he’s also been reaching out to drug addiction services agencies to play their part.
“In addition to those areas, there’s Ferry Street. They’re coming over to use,” reported Ecton.
“I’ve noticed Ferry and Chambers as well,” Fumiatti replied. “Despite our shortage of personnel, I’m assigning an officer to each area. Like little district managers” of each hot spot, he added.
“We have a challenging drug sales and addiction” problem, he said, but he expressed confidence that with the steps he’s undertaking, “the dynamic” can be changed.
There is also a serious uptick in the drug activity in the Hill since the pandemic began and the police contact has reduced. A street where we have worked tirelessly over the last 10 years is beginning to see more sales on Truman near the corner of West, and a lot more pedestrian customers users in the area.
We understand that the there is a reduction in police personnel available, but we must continue to stay diligent or these activities will again become a stronghold in the neighborhoods. And there is only so much a community can do without police intervention.
We have developed strong relationships with our police officers in the Hill. We understand that there are some bad cops, but the majority are here to serve … and we need them to help us stop the return of the rampant open air market drug dealing in our neighborhoods.