Complete Annual Report 2020 - English - Flipbook - Page 17
“POP-UP” PARTIES / ILLEGAL STREET RACING
“Pop-up” Parties
As the COVID-19 pandemic altered the day-to-day lives of residents, the Hartford Police Department saw changes
in how residents socialized. Bars and traditional gathering places closed, and people began to come together in
“pop-up” parties in locations throughout the City. Some events were so large that streets were rendered impassable
and a heavy police response was required. While some gatherings occurred on the City’s street, others took place
at private residences. Some of these gatherings resulted in gun violence, including a party in August at a storage facility at 818 Windsor Street, where six people were shot, one
fatally. The “pop-up” parties were not limited to Hartford,
as Manchester experienced a double homicide shooting at
a commuter lot in early August. Manchester Police estimate
that between 100-200 people were present at the time of that
incident.
The Hartford Police Department responded to the emergence of these large scale “pop-up” parties by working in
partnership with the Health Department, Fire Department,
and other agencies to limit these events. The Hartford Police Department took enforcement action when necessary to
make hosting these types of events less appealing.
Illegal Street Racing
Many of the large scale gatherings in the City involved people engaged in illegal street racing. Particularly in the
Southeast District, large numbers of vehicles would meet up in the streets and in parking lots, where they engaged
in reckless driving activity that endangered the community.
In response to these issues, the Hartford Police Department Traffic Division and District personnel conducted
several street racer enforcement operations in the City. Some street racing operations were conducted in cooperation with officers from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). During one operation, DMV officers wrote
infraction tickets with potential fines of $7,636. Two operations in August by HPD personnel resulted in 134
motor vehicle stops, 44 infractions, 12 arrests, 10 vehicles towed, and 4 arrests for operating under the influence.
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HARTFORD POLICE FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
Hartford Police Fraternal Organizations
The Hartford Police Department celebrates its diversity
through various fraternal organizations that emphasize pride
in the many walks of life that make this department, and the
City of Hartford, great. Joining a fraternal organization provides members access to career advancement and educational
opportunities, as well as the opportunity to engage in social
activities with their co-workers and friends.
HPD’s fraternal organizations work to support employees in
times of personal need and are involved in many charitable
causes. For example, the Hartford Guardians hold an annual
Holiday Toy Drive, which raised enough resources in 2020 to
provide toys to over 100 families in the City. The Guardians
also participated in a Thanksgiving turkey drive in collaboration with community organizations and donors which distributed over 1,000 turkeys to residents of Hartford.
An annual Thanksgiving meal at the Red Rock Tavern is hosted by the Hartford Guardians with
volunteers and support from the Hartford Police Hispanic Officers Association (HOA). This great
event provided a Thanksgiving dinner to 190 people.
The HPD Fraternal Organizations play an important role in supporting the Hartford community,
including the HOA scholarship program for Hartford Students and their back-to-school backpack
and school supply fundraiser.
The following fraternal organizations are available to HPD personnel:
The Hartford Police Organization for Women’s Equality & Rights (POWER)
Hartford Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 30 (FOP)
Hartford Emerald Society
The Hartford Police Hispanic Officers Association (HOA)
Hartford Guardians
Hartford Police Department Military Veterans Association (HPDMVA)
Police Benevolent Association (PBA)
Hartford Police Italian Officers Association (IOA)
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