Thomas MacMillan Photo
New Haven’s Chief Esserman introduced top suburban cops.
Three days before dirt bikers plan to descend en masse on New Haven, seven police departments have banded together to combat what one chief called “urban terrorism.”
East Haven Chief Brent Larrabee offered that epithet at a press conference at New Haven police headquarters Thursday afternoon featuring top brass from seven police departments.
Top cops from Branford, East Haven, Hamden, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven and West Haven announced they are teaming up to crack down on illegal ATV and dirt bike riding in the seven towns.
Police unveiled a new anonymous tip line — (203) 946‑6098 — and asked people to call with information about where people are riding and storing dirt bikes. People can email tips, including photos and videos,.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
New Haven Sgt. Karl Jacobson (pictured), of the Criminal Intelligence Unit, announced that police have learned that dirt bikers plan a Sunday ride in New Haven. He said police are prepared to enforce laws prohibiting dirt bikes on city streets.
New Haven police are at a disadvantage when they try to enforce those laws; they don’t chase after dirt bikers, for fear it might lead to injury of bystanders or cops or riders. Police instead rely on covert surveillance of dirt bikes and dirt bikers, trying to find out where bikes are stored, and putting together warrants for arrest. They had success with these techniques last year.
The state legislature has approved laws that give the police more tools to combat dirt bikers. And new local ordinance jacks up the fine for illegal dirt biking from $99 to $1,000.
Thursday’s press conference marked the beginning of an effort to step up enforcement efforts further, by joining forces across town borders.
“The borders between our communities are invisible,” New Haven police Chief Dean Esserman said. The police chiefs “speak with one voice,” he said.
Jacobson said police are ready for May 25. “We know you’re going on to our city that day,” Jacobson said. If anyone is found riding a dirt bike illegally, he said, “we’ll seize it.”
Lt. Herb Johnson and Sgt. Vincent Anastasio — top cops in Fair Haven and the East Shore, respectively — spoke about how dirt bikers have plagued their districts. They referred to it as a quality of life issue involving kids on bikes.
East Haven’s Chief Larrabee (pictured) disagreed. In East Haven, it’s not kids and it’s not just a nuisance, he said.
“It’s almost urban terrorism the way they surround cars now,” Larrabee said. He said dirt bikers swarm around cars in a manner than can be very frightening and dangerous, especially for older drivers.
“They’re not children,” Larabee said of the riders. “They’re really, in my view, terrorists.”
Police from Branford and North Haven said their problems with dirt bikes have to do with bikers tearing around in parks.
“We’ll be deploying our own ATV in open space areas,” said North Haven’s Capt. Mark Genovese.
Chief Esserman closed the press conference with a final plea for information. He called on people to take pictures and videos of dirt bikes in action or at rest. If you see a dirt bike in your neighbor’s yard, phone in the address to police. If you see a truck with a dirt bike in the back, write down the plate number, Esserman said.
With the public’s help, police can “put a stop to this dangerous behavior,” Esserman said.
“We need to do everything possible,” said Fair Haven Heights Alder Rosa Santana, “because people are afraid.”
And then there's the way they tear through our parks, endangering our children.
And so help me, don't write "there's nothing else for young people to do for fun." First, they're not all "young" -- some are adults, who really should know better. Second, there are lots of other things people can do for fun.