Local Cops In-Vest In Ukrainians’ Safety

Public safety officers gathered outside the Hamden Police Department Friday afternoon to join joggers and street strollers enjoying the sunny spring weather — and to announce efforts to help protect Ukrainian civilians for whom such mundane pleasures have been disrupted by the war.

Hamden’s department has launched an initiative to send bullet-proof vests to residents in the war-torn country, with 130 already in transit and 18 more awaiting another shipment.

“This is a small gesture on behalf of the Hamden PD to our fellow Ukrainian community members here in Hamden and around the country that we support them,” said Hamden Police Chief John Sullivan. The vests will go towards directly protecting those who are on the ground in the ​“courageous war” taking place in Ukraine to fight back against the Russian invasion, said Sullivan.

Hamden Detective and Public Information Officer Sean Dolan referred to recent news that ten civilians had been gunned down this week while waiting in line for bread. 

“These are people going about their everyday lives,” Dolan reflected. ​“People in the hospital, people seeking shelter … Hopefully these will help keep people safe,” he said of the vests.

New Haven’s Acting Police Chief Renee Dominguez also attended Friday’s press conference, representing one of three cities — including Hartford and West Haven — that have decided to join Hamden in their mission.

“The little that we’re able to do — we’re glad to be able to do it,” Dominguez said.

The officers present Friday said they hoped holding a press conference would inspire more towns and cities to join forces in order to maximize the number of vests donated to those directly dodging bullets. 

The police departments are currently contributing their expired gear to the cause. Those include vests that have passed their five-year shelf life, at which point departments adhering to bureaucratic standards are required to replace their equipment. But the older vests still offer a ​“significant amount of protection,” in the words of Dolan.

Retired Officers Gabriel Lupo, Boguslaw Kicak, and Stephen Coppola were the ones to first propose the plan to Sullivan. Sullivan said that Kicak has contact with a friend in Ukraine to whom the departments are mailing the vests. The crew said that they would rather not name that individual for the sake of his safety — but that they have full trust in that individual to successfully distribute the gear to those in need.

Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett commended the Hamden Police Department on its display of ​“leadership” and consideration for the ​“global community.”

“We’re able to be out here this afternoon enjoying a really beautiful day,” she said, ​“but it doesn’t feel beautiful … when you’re afraid of being shot.”