Alders Appeal For Community’s Help To Deter Gun VIolence

"Everyone's saying you need less police. Really? Really?!" Furlow exclaimed.

Who is Everyone?

he issue of gun violence in New Haven is quite personal for Furlow (at right in photo), who has lost two relatives to bullets. "We say publicly to those that are shooting and we say it boldly without fear: We're coming at you. And we're coming for you. Lay down your guns and stop the nonsense."

To increase community outreach, the alders said, they plan to work with organizations such as Connecticut Violence Intervention Program (CVIP), a street outreach-worker crew CVIP chief Leonard Jahad encouraged members of the community, especially youth, to speak up and take action against violence: "If you like to shoot, become a cop. If you like to shoot, the police will give you a gun. If you like to steal cars, they will give you a car — you can drive as fast as you want around this community. If you want respect, they will give you a badge. If you want a nice income, I will affirm they will give you a nice income and a pension after 20 years."

H. Rap Brown. "Violence is as American as cherry pie."

Gun violence will never cease in america because america has a gun problem.Not just a shooting problem.The problem is america is the most easiest place to buy firearms on the planet.Look at each states laws on how to get a firearm.In fact There are more guns than people in the United States.If they find the person who did this.Not only should they should be charge.But if this firearm was not stolen,The person sold them the gun should also be charge.Here is what I think happen.You have people shooting off these damn fireworks and you also have people who are also shooting firearms off.I bet,This is what this Idiot did and it hit this young lady.

"CVIP chief Leonard Jahad encouraged members of the community, especially youth, to speak up and take action against violence: "If you like to shoot, become a cop. If you like to shoot, the police will give you a gun. If you like to steal cars, they will give you a car — you can drive as fast as you want around this community. If you want respect, they will give you a badge. If you want a nice income, I will affirm they will give you a nice income and a pension after 20 years."

This image he is portraying of a police officer directly conflicts with the competencies needed for a police officer!!!

@Perspective
There was a time when I was at a crossroads in life (college) and needed guidance. A police officer stopped to talk to me on a street corner and not only told me my identity but that NHPD was watching me. He gave a constructive lecture to me about career planning and decisionmaking. His words to me were the ones that I stated at the press conference yesterday. The streets weren't for me, and everything that I was searching for in the streets could be accomplished by working in law enforcement. Badge = respect, fast cars =excitement, money and pension, and a legal gun. The next day I signed up for Army reserve and returned to begin working in Connecticut DOC and finish college 3 semesters later. I encountered that police officer later and we became and remain great friends.
I didn't have a lot of time to put the complete story in perspective...I hope to do so in the future. The engagement changed my life and I am indebted to this officer as I collect my pension from DOC/Adult Probation and continue the work in my official capacity as Executive Director of CTVIP.
Come through and check us out at 230 Ashmun St, New Haven. I look forward to continuing this conversation.

According to Reyes, so far this year there have been 42 shootings and eight homicides whereas. By June 30 last year, the city was at 36 shootings and six homicides.

"It's very difficult to pinpoint why exactly this is happening", Reyes said.

Reyes is not being truthful with this statement. It is clear and he 100% knows why this is happening. Proactive policing is almost extinct. With the police no longer getting support from the public or their own admin they are only doing 911 calls for service. This allows the criminals with the guns, drugs, and warrants to roam the city freely without any worries of being pulled over or stopped. Listen to a New Haven police scanner, and I bet you won't here a motor vehicle stop. Violent crime will continue to rise as we are seeing a trend upwards nationally in many cities because of this. We need to allow the police to do their job according to the law, and their general orders. If an officer makes a mistake he/she needs to be held accountable for that mistake. Everyone isn't a victim, and there needs to be more personal accountability by citizens and those breaking the law.

The last 3 weeks throughout the country and OUR city we have had a SURGE of gun violence, but no one cares about that. The protesters and rioters don't want cops in the tough neighborhoods doin a thankless job. Well you get what you wished for; the mass uncontrolled killings and the anarchy is what you get. Paul, please give us the number of shooting victims and murders is the last 3 weeks in New Haven, which I believe is around 16 people shot with 3 murders.

I'm not sure Mr. Furlow understands the call for less police. I'd suggest reading any material by Angela Davis, Alex Vitale, or New Haven native Ruth Wilson Gilmore. I'm a young black man from New Haven and have lost family and friends to gun violence. The question people calling for less police are asking is, "Are they doing anything to actually prevent violence? And are there other more effective ways to do so?" Sure, you can stick a cop on every block 24/7, but is that really helping our community and is it a proper use of finite resources? We need to recognize that there are community issues that police aren't equipped to handle. Murder clearance rates suggest that police aren't even doing well solving these violent crimes. We're seeking alternative pathways to justice, as the current system has failed us for decades.

PS. To ignore the fact that a national uptick in violence coincides with a pandemic that has forced millions of people out of work would be naive

@jahad

Look at what you said.

If you like to shoot, become a cop. If you like to shoot, the police will give you a gun. If you like to steal cars, they will give you a car — you can drive as fast as you want around this community. If you want respect, they will give you a badge. If you want a nice income, I will affirm they will give you a nice income and a pension after 20 years."

What does liking to shoot have to do with becoming a police officer? Same thing when you said If you like to steal cars, they will give you a car — you can drive as fast as you want around this community.If this person was to go to the psychological exam and tell them what you said.They would not make the cut.I wonder why Chief Otoniel Reyes and Lt. Elliott Rosa did not correct your statement?

I was searching for in the streets could be accomplished by working in law enforcement. Badge = respect, fast cars =excitement, money and pension, and a legal gun.

You do not need a badge to get respect and a legal gun.As I said.America is the most easiest place to buy firearms on the planet.Look at each states laws on how to get a firearm.I tell young people to get into medical schools and look at dentistry careers.I got a friends who are doctors Lawyers sanitation workers.I have a friend who is a Maxillofacial Surgeon.Here just retired. His wife is also a Maxillofacial Surgeon.His son and daughter who graduated about ten years ago are also Maxillofacial Surgeons.They are going to take over the practice.You should see my Maxillofacial Surgeon friends houses and his jet plane and helicopter he and his wife owns.And him and his wife came out of the hood.

@Trustme

This was not a mass uncontrolled killing.Like I said.You have people shooting off these damn fireworks and you also have people who are also shooting firearms off.I bet this is what this Idiot did and it hit this young lady.And this could have happen anywhere.Again.Gun violence will never cease inAmerica because America has a gun problem.Not just a shooting problem.

@3/5's whatever you say. You are always right and everyone else is always wrong. On my original comment I called you out but unfortunately NHI thought there was too much fire on my comment so they edited the hell out of it. We do have a gun problem but if you haven't noticed the spikes of the killings and shootings due to these protests not wanting the cops on their streets, than I don't know what to tell you.

While I appreciate the work the alders and community outreach groups are doing to try to stop the gun violence in the city, I'm really upset at the misguided comments of Leonard Jahad. You're basically saying these criminals can become cops to legally continue shooting people, racing cars through the streets regardless of public safety, and get respect by intimidating people as a police officer. This is exactly the type of policing we DON'T need. This type of antisocial behavior that threatens people's lives is unacceptable in citizens and in policing. We should be asking everyone in our society to frown on this sort of behavior, and to instead support deescalation, intervention, preventative measures, mediation, discussion and all other non-violent solutions to resolve disputes, regardless of whether or not you are legally sanctioned to use force. The only time you should be allowed to race through the streets is to get to an emergency where someone's life is at risk. The only time you should be able to use a gun is when someone else is shooting at somebody. The only way you should intimidate someone is when trying to impress on them the consequences of their behavior. The only respect you should get from someone, is when they know that you are trustworthy, you care about them and have their best interests at heart, and that you have integrity.

posted by: Trustme on June 30, 2020 1:18pm
@3/5's whatever you say. You are always right and everyone else is always wrong.

You said it.I did not

On my original comment I called you out but unfortunately NHI thought there was too much fire on my comment so they edited the hell out of it.

Feel free to go to my face Book page and write it in.I to at times have been edited the hell out of it.


We do have a gun problem but if you haven't noticed the spikes of the killings and shootings due to these protests not wanting the cops on their streets, than I don't know what to tell you.

I see poilce officers on the street.You have not?Glad you said haven't noticed the spikes of the killings and shootings due to these protests.Have you notice the shootings are not being done by the protester.Did you hear about this one.

Man charged with murder over death at Breonna Taylor protest in Louisville

Interim Louisville police chief Robert Schroeder said the suspect had been participating in the protests since they began and had been arrested a few times. "He had been repeatedly asked by other members at the park to leave due to his destructive behavior," Schroeder said.

Reports of shots fired at Jefferson Square park were made around 9pm on Saturday, Louisville metro police said, and Jefferson county sheriff's department officers performed emergency life-saving measures on Gerth, but he died at the scene. Another shooting victim across the street at the hall of justice was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/28/man-dies-shooting-louisville-kentucky-protest-breonna-taylor-killing


I don't know what to tell you.

I know what to tell you.


Just an Illusion

https://youtu.be/Vz5PDUVqY9M

@Heather
Please read my prior post regarding the conversation that I had with an NHPD officer who made the exact same statement to me when I attempted to participate in street crime. The officer asked me if I liked guns, I replied 'YES'. He went on to ask me about respect, money and fast cars to which I also responded in the affirmative. I believe the point you're missing is that young men in urban communities are looking for respect, excitement, money and power, all of the things that the officer talked to me about that day. Of course, no one should be racing their cars on community streets, this was said to catch their attention- there are laws against police chases (which I support). I have worked with this population of young men since 1990, in prison, community supervision and now non-profit sector. While things may not be as politically correct to you, I get positive results in changing the thinking of these youth engaged in risky activity and moving them from law breaking to law abiding. Please listen to the entire interview when I speak of the engagement and relationship-building capacities that we utilize. Also, feel free to stop by Connecticut Violence Intervention Program at 230 Ashmun St to further discuss our programs- perhaps, we can learn from one another. Anytime you want to get your hands dirty in the community (literally at our greenspace on the property) and volunteer, I extend the offer. Blessings to you

I don't suppose the uptick in shootings has anything to do with the release of all those prisoners from jails. Surely, they would never come out and attempt to recover their turf, settle some scores, or get back in business. Nah...

jahad: I agree with perspective. Your attitudes exemplify everything I do not want in a police officer: the arrogant, above the law bully. Drag racing Milford officers killed two Orange teenagers. Its why trigger-happy SWAT members killed innocents like Andrew Finch and Gonzalo Guizan. (Not to mention the NHPD officer who drove into a Yale grad student crossing Chapel Street, luckily not causing life-threatening injuries. Of course, the "protect our own, screw anyone else" police said he had done no wrong. Adrenaline junkies should go to BUD/S or Ranger school, not the police academy.

This is what happens when a small segment of the population with a platform calls for de-funding police. Crime goes up. Criminals are emboldened because they know that police will hold back even just a little giving them opportunity to do what they do best and that is to cause trouble.

In any city there are possible 5% of the population that cause 90% of the crime. Police know who they are. Target them with investigation and when successful lock them up.

Get a street crime unit to target trouble areas.
Increase uniformed presence from 8 pm to 4 pm
Don't give the 5% a chance to operate.

If not get ready cause summer is here. There are few programs for high school kids and the pandemic has made it almost impossible for any activities to take place. Boredom causes trouble to foment and many times trouble leads to violence.

Support the New Haven Police Department in its entirety.

Jahad- I appreciate your work to engage young people in choosing a better future. I just object to your language choice because it sends the wrong message about policing. These young people, young men especially need to learn fear doesn't equal respect. That there are better ways to earn respect. If they want excitement from fast vehicles, they should become firefighters or EMT's or paramedics. If they want respect they should become doctors, nurses, teachers, religious or community leaders. If they want power they should become politicians/elected officials, lawyers, judges. The profession of policing needs to change, and I believe it can change with the support of good officers who care about their profession and weed out the bullies and the people who joined the force for the wrong reasons. There are very good officers out there who care very much about the communities they serve, but the policies and procedures and the tasks we ask them to perform need to change, and the methods and approach and the support systems for the police and the public they serve need to change. So please don't appeal to these young people with the very aspects of policing that are troublesome.
Thank you for your invitation to join in and help. As I am immunocompromised at a high risk for the virus I am unable to volunteer in person at this time, but I do support New Haven Reads and other programs in the city when I am financially able to do so. When we have a vaccine or cure I will be happy to help volunteer, as I have volunteered in the NH public schools in the past. I believe in NH young people's ability to improve themselves with all our help.

Listen some of you keyboard warriors may not feel @jahad made the correct statement, maybe he didn't but I understand his thought and sentiment. Also to note, Mr. Jahad is ACTUALLY IN THE COMMUNITY effecting many young people and has done so for years. While many of you commenting online, you advocacy or activism remains inconspicuous. Mr. Jahad thank you for all that you have done and continue to do, I have younger friends and associates that have been directly effected by your mentorship. Much respect to you always.