Melissa Bailey Photo
Witkowski.
Half the Hill neighborhood will soon have a new district manager.
Lt. Joe Witkowski is to start work as Hill South’s new top cop on July 16.
He steps in for Lt. Holly Wasilewski, a popular neighborhood fixture who has been doing double duty since last year. At that time she was running the Hill North district and agreed to run Hill South as well. She’ll go back to covering Hill North only.
The change comes as the police department undergoes a strategic planning process that includes reexamining neighborhood district boundaries. Future changes may include dividing the Newhallville-East Rock district into two; and separating Bishop Woods from Morris Cove on the East Shore.
Under Wasilewski’s watch, violent crime has dropped in both parts of the Hill since last year.
Paul Bass Photo
Wasilewski.
Hill South includes Kimberly Square, City Point, Long Wharf, and the Ella Grasso Boulevard/Truman Street area. It also has included Church Street South, Trowbridge Square and the train station; those portions may become part of Hill North now.
“It’s like having twins,” Wasilewski said of Tuesday morning’s weekly CompStat meeting at police headquarters, referring to running two districts at once. “Sometimes they’re good. Sometimes they’re not.”
“Lt. Wasilewski’s done an excellent job wearing two hats for all this time,” said her supervisor, Lt. Jeff Hoffman. “Lt. Witkowski’s reputation for excellence and fairness precedes him to the district.”
