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Yale Police Chief Ronnell Higgins at Tuesday night's city Police Commission meeting.
City police commissioners signed off on the Yale Police Department’s request to poach three police officers from Hamden and Woodbridge.
That happened at Tuesday night’s latest regular monthly meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners.
The virtual meeting took place online via Zoom.
Commissioners voted unanimously in support on a recommendation by Yale Police Chief Ronnell Higgins for the Yale Police Department to hire Greg Curran, Karl Rodriguez-Perez, and Angelo DeLieto.
They took that vote because all Yale police officers are certified, sworn law enforcement personnel who — by state law — are hired by the city’s police commission and have the same powers and authorities as city police officers, even though they are legally employed by Yale.
Tuesday's police commission meeting.
Yale Assistant Chief Steve Woznyk said that Curran is currently a sergeant with the Hamden Police Department. He spent five years working for Yale’s PD before moving to Hamden, he said.
Woznyk said that DiLieto is currently a detective with the Hamden Police Department. He has a bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University and a master’s degree from the University of New Haven.
And Woznyk said that Rodriguez-Perez is currently an officer with the Woodbridge Police Department. He is also a graduate of the University of New Haven, and is bilingual in both English and Spanish.
“They certainly bring a very diverse portfolio [and] really, truly represent the best in policing,” Woznyk said.
Commissioner Mike Lawlor agreed.
“I think people overlook that there’s almost 100 sworn officers on the Yale Police Department,” he said. In general, the Yale PD is “very helpful as we’re trying to deal with community policing issues” in New Haven.
“NHPD and Yale PD has a strong partnership,” Police Commission Chair Evelise Ribeiro said. “I’m always impressed with the officers that they hire.”
Ribeiro Reelected Chair
Also on Tuesday night, commissioners voted unanimously in support of reelecting Ribeiro to serve another year as commission chair, and Donald Walker to serve another year as vice-chair.
Ribeiro rose to the rank of chair in March 2021 after long-time former Chair Anthony Dawson stepped down.
Walker lauded Ribeiro as “very energetic, very thorough. You’ve helped move the commission along in a very fine way.
“Thank you once again for the confidence,” Ribeiro told her colleagues on the board. “I think this is a great board. I enjoy leading. … And I look forward to another year of doing great things with this commission.”
So why do they feel the need to maintain an arsenal, including SWAT equipment, under the building?
Is that in case those who subsidized Yale Corp thru their high rents and taxes revolt?
The oppressed never have weapons to match the oppressor.