Complete Annual Report 2020 - English - Flipbook - Page 15
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS
PROTESTS / DEMONSTRATIONS
Illegal Fireworks
Among the unique issues faced in 2020 by the Hartford Police Department was the problem of illegal fireworks
being set off in the City’s neighborhoods. What has been a nuisance leading up to Fourth of July in some years, became an every night activity that drastically affected quality of life in many of the City’s residential areas. According to dispatch records, HPD received 510 calls for service related to fireworks from Thursday, June 18 through
Sunday, June 21. The period of Thursday, June 25 through Sunday, June 28 saw 326 calls for service, with 354 calls
for service the following weekend. These call for service numbers were both unprecedented and unacceptable.
Protests and Demonstrations
Throughout the country, 2020 saw widespread unrest over police use of force and the deaths of George Floyd,
Breonna Taylor, and others. In many major cities, police clashed with protesters and numerous arrests were made.
Through constant communication with the community and an emphasis on working together to make positive
changes in policing, the Hartford Police Department was able to avoid some of these negative outcomes. Through
open and honest communication, the Department was able to strengthen existing relationships and forge new
relationships with various stakeholders. It is the goal of the Hartford Police Department to ensure that the citizens
we serve have faith in our dedication to providing fair, just, and transparent police services.
In 2020, the City of Hartford was the site of 199 protest events. During these 199 protests, only 2 arrests were made.
This is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of the women and men of the Hartford Police Department during this trying time.
- Number of Protests.
- Number of Arrests.
75
14
60
64
70
199
In response to the surge in complaints of illegal fireworks, the Police Department partnered with the City’s Emergency Services and Telecommunications Department (ES&T) to launch dedicated phone and text lines to report illegal fireworks activity. The Department also staffed specialized units in each district to specifically address
fireworks related offenses. The officers assigned to address fireworks complaints were tasked with seizing illegal
fireworks, educating the public, and making arrests when necessary. The Department’s Vice, Intelligence, and Narcotics Division was able to make some significant fireworks seizures from suspected suppliers during this effort. In
2021, the Department will continue to monitor and address these types of incidents that negatively affect quality
of life in the City.
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