Thursday, March 26, 2009

A Quieter City

Noise complaints are the number one call for service received by the police department during the evening hours. Consequently, as Chief, I have made enforcement of the City of Hartford's noise ordinance the number one quality of life priority for the Hartford Police Department.

Inasmuch as many residents may not realize the laws governing noise in our city, this week the City of Hartford, including the Mayor's Office, City Council Members, Hartford Police Department, and community advocates launched a "Quiet Please" community education campaign about the do's and don'ts of making noise in the city.

First of all, did you know that it is against the law to make noise in the City of Hartford that can be heard 100 feet from its source at any time of day or night? Also, violation of the city noise ordinance can result in a $90.00 fine, judge-ordered community service, or, if violations persist, a jail sentence of up to 25 days.

In April of 2008, following enactment of changes to the city's noise ordinance, the HPD began conducting training for all officers on noise enforcement. As a result of the new provisions in the noise ordinance, increased training of police personnel with respect to noise violations, and an increased emphasis on noise enforcement, we have significantly increased enforcement.

However, just as important to me as enforcement, is the sharing of information with the public so that there is a clear understanding of what constitutes noise violations and that the public is aware that their police department is doing their part to make our neighborhoods not only safer but quieter.

For your information and convenience I have included this link to the procedures for making noise complaints to the police: How to report a noise problem.

I have no doubt with the public's assistance and knowledge of the laws governing noise in the city that we can all enjoy quieter neighborhoods and an improved quality of life.

As always your comments and suggestions are most welcome. I do want and need to hear from you so that I can learn what is important to our customers - the residents, businesses, workers and visitors to our city - whom we serve and protect.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you Chief Roberts for carring for Hartford and its residents. Keep up the good work!

One suggestion tho, is to keep the bad cops who are working in your department from using paid city work time on using paid city computers to a Hartford Courant website to air garbage of you and of our Mayor of Hartford. I as a resident do not appreciate the garbage spewed on this website by your Police Officers.

Thank you from a long time Hartford Resident!

Daryl K Roberts said...

I wanted to share this email I recevied this morning:

Please pass this on to your email list. Tonight Jenn and I were on our
way to First and Last for dinner on Maple ave. at the light in Barry
Square. There was a motorcycle in front of the car ahead of us. While
the light was red the guy on the bike was revving the engine and smoking
the rear tire. Of course as this was taking place I was screaming at
Jenn in the car about the noise ordinance. Next thing we know while the
light was still red a cop car comes out of nowhere with the lights on
and tells the kid to get off the bike and asks for all his information.
It was great!! Jenn and I were clapping as we drove by. The guy on the
bike looked shocked. Wanted to share this with you because obviously
the police are taking this ordinance seriously. Hopefully we won't have
a lost summer like last year. It's important to set the tone early.
Have a great weekend.

Chief Daryl K. Roberts

Daryl K Roberts said...

Dear Anonymous:

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your concerns. Please be assured that I take any violation of city personnel rules and regulations and police conduct very seriously and when violations are uncovered take appropriate action. If you have specific information of violations of misconduct please do not hesitate to contact HPD Lieutenant Paul Ciesinski, Commander of the HPD’s Internal Affairs Division. I assure you Lt. Ciesinski will investigate and report his findings directly to me.

It is unfortunate, but we have some officers who are less that professional. However, we still have a great department with more good officers than bad. “Success is never final.”

Chief Daryl K. Roberts

Anonymous said...

Chief Roberts,

Warm weather tends to bring out a grave abundance of the less than considerate as it relates to noise (amplified music, loud mufflers, racing down the street, fighting, etc.)as well as other problems. Adelaide Street (b/t Campfield and Franklin) is probably one of the worse. Even when called, the police either don't come or come hours later. The dispatchers say they'll come as soon as they can; even though I just witnessed an inactive police car by Burr School. Some nights, I've gone over relatives or friends houses just to get some sleep so I could go to work the next day. I don't know if the lack of response is out of fear or what. This street is being overtaken by illegal activity. A while back I ran into a couple of your officers in Max Bibos. I asked what the acronym on the back of their outerwear represented. They responded they were community officers. I went on to tell them of some of our neighborhood problems. My boss and I were mortified when their response was that South Hartford was being overtaken by drugs and gangs and their assignment from the higher ups (you?) was not to go to the street level. When I responded that would cause the area to become a drug haven, their cavalier response was "we know." So my question to you is, if the police won't come, what's our recourse? Is it possible for you to request assistance from neighboring towns' officers like fire departments do when fires get out of hand? Or can you solicit help from the State Officers? We sorely need some assistance here, please.

Daryl K Roberts said...

Dear Anonymous Blogger:

First, let me say you how much I appreciate your taking the time to share your concerns with me through my blog. In creating a blog it is my objective to establish a two way dialogue such as this with the community I serve.

Secondly, with respect to your concerns, as I pointed out in my “A Quieter City” blog, the HPD is very serious about noise enforcement and I hope you will see an improvement in your neighborhood. If you continue to experience problems please contact your neighborhood commander to inform them of the issue so that they can address it. I am including a link to the roster and contact numbers of HPD District and Neighborhood commanders and community services officers by neighborhood, so that depending on where you live you can reach the appropriate individual who can address your problem. In the future please do not hesitate to contact your neighborhood policing staff; they are there to serve you and do their very best to solve problems at the neighborhood level.

Finally, without specifics regarding the portrayal of an incident between you and “a couple of police officers” at Max Bibos, it is difficult to investigate. In the future, if you have a negative encounter with a Hartford Police officer, please note the date, time, or officers name so that we can take corrective action.

I also wish to inform you that the HPD works closely with not only surrounding towns and other cities in the state on a daily basis, but also with state and federal agencies to harness as many law enforcement resources as we can to protect our city and its people.

Sincerely,

Daryl K. Roberts
Chief of Police

Anonymous said...

Chief Roberts --

A new "lounge" has recently opened across the street from my residence in Hartford. Thursday through Saturday nights, they play music which can be heard well over 100 feet away, even with their front door closed. I've called in a noise complaint, but the responding officer said that their permit covers noise, and that they're not in violation of the ordinance. Does a club or lounge license allow noise which would otherwise be in violation of the new noise ordinance?

Anonymous said...

chief roberts, regarding the noise ordinance, i live in a 5 unit house with thin walls, your officers have been here conservatively 20 times responding to our phone calls. The rsponse from the pfficers has ranged from suggestions of "filing standing complaints" to "if i cant hear it from 100 ft..." regardless of the fact my cabinets are reverberating. it's my fealing that a swift kick in the butt the first time would have corrected the problem. by not taking a hard stance on this however the the hpd ends up being mocked by this individual, i can hear her laugh at the men in blue thru the wall.
how should i proceed?

Anonymous said...

Chief Roberts,

I am a 9 year Law Enforcement Officer in the State of Florida. I am originally from Connecticut and have kept an eye on whats going on in Hartford and with the PD for many years. I would like to commend you and your officers on a job well done. I hopefully one day would love to return to Connecticut and be part of the Hartford Police Department.

Thanks,

Christopher Selander

Anonymous said...

Heres a thought! get guns off the street not noise! These are all great examples of the police wasting their time on stopping noise and not real issues! don't like noise don't live in a city!

Anonymous said...

100ft thats it? SHould i call the police the next time my neighbor cuts his grass??

Anonymous said...

my neighbor likes to practice the saxophone. Does this mean he's breaking the law if it can be heard from 100 ft at any time of day or night? That's creative infringement. Are we a retirement community in florida? Secondly, how is one to file a complaint against an officer when those officers refuse to give their names on the scene?

Anonymous said...

my neighbors have a water fountain that they leave running day and night. it's so loud i can here dripping water from across the street. what should i do? last night i wet the bed because of the sound of flowing water? why did the police not stop this? Will the City of Hartford Buy me new bed sheets???

Anonymous said...

IF I TYPE THIS LOUD DOES IT BREAK THE ORDINANCE? I KNOW IT CAN BE OFFENSIVE TO THE EYES AT LEAST, RIGHT? ARE THERE ORDINANCES ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE OFFENSIVE TO THE EYES BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN HARTFORD THAT QUALIFY IN THAT ARENA?