To begin with I would like to take this opportunity to again convey my thanks and appreciation to those citizens who have and continue to come forward to assist police investigating crime in our city. There are many. In fact 911 calls were received from concerned individuals at the time of the hit and run accident seriously injuring Mr. Angel Torres. They reported what they had witnessed and requested aid for Mr. Torres. The video footage of the hit and run of Mr. Angel Torres, which could well lead to the solving of this crime, came from surveillance cameras purchased by the Spanish American Merchant Association in partnership with the city and police department.
People are coming forward, however, we need more help to identify and apprehend these perpetrators. I ask that anyone who may have information on the identify and/or whereabouts of the individuals and the vehicles responsible for the hit and run of Mr. Angel Torres, 78, of Hartford, to contact Crime Scene Division Commander Sergeant Jason Thody at 860-757-4225. Anyone with information about the assault of Mr. Nicholas R. Carbone, 72, of Hartford, or the recent homicides at 31 Acton Street and 756 Garden Street, to please contact HPD Major Crimes Supervising Sergeants Rob Davis or Edward Yergeau at 860-757-4256 or 4257. If you wish anonymity you may leave confidential tips on the HPD’s Crime Solvers Tipline 860-527-TIPS. I cannot emphasize enough how important your help is in solving these crimes. What you may think to be an insignificant bit of information may in fact be of enormous value to the investigations.
It is my hope these recent events, spurring widespread public dialogue surrounding civic mindedness and one’s responsibility to our society as a whole, will generate positive actions throughout our community. You can be assured that as your Chief of Police I am dedicated to service, relationships, and safety – to serving the public to the best of my ability, establishing strong, positive relationships between law enforcement and the community, and creating a safe environment for us all.
Our community outreach efforts, whether through the media, the utilization of social networking such as this Blog and HPD E-News, through the HPD’s Neighborhood Policing Plan, or working one on one with the many caring individuals who assist the police every day in solving crime in our city, have proven the value of police/community partnerships. Make no mistake that we intend to continue our outreach in every way possible as we work together to rid our community of unnecessary violence. You can be assured that we at the Hartford Police Department “will never “give up on the city”.
On behalf of the men and women of the Hartford Police Department I wish to extend my deep appreciation for the many messages of support and confidence we have received and thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts and comments with us. I look forward to our continued dialogue.
Daryl K. Roberts
Chief of Police
7 comments:
Dear Chief Roberts:
I would like to take a moment to commend you for your statement regarding the video of Angel Torres. I believe you were justified in your criticism of passers-by who seemed to do nothing to help as a man lay bleeding, hurt and likely afraid in the street. Your words, which you delivered honestly and without hesitation, exemplified a model of social morality, and will perhaps encourage us to act selflessly, despite our own fears or concerns. I encourage your town leaders to support you during this difficult time for Hartford, and am confident that the Hartford Police, under your leadership, will solve this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Perhaps it is understandable that those who witnessed the accident did nothing. The first rule of first aid is to not move the victim. Moreover, many of those who stood by were likely startled and shocked. Before casting stones, the Chief would do well to remember who pays his salary and then proceed to keep his mouth closed.
My personal outrage over this incident was from what can be seen on the video, no one attempted to protect Mr. Torres from additional injury from passing vehicles, no one attempted to communicate with him in anyway that he was not alone and that help was on the way and no one attempted to shade him from the sun. These basic actions require minimal effort and would have done nothing to harm the Mr. Torres.
What a great way to have a dialog with the community! Your leadership and candidness are an inpiration for our youth. Keep up the good work and may the Lord be always with you!
As horrible as the scenes depicted in this tragic video of Mr. Torres’s hit and run so are the comments people are making about those who were at the scene of this despicable crime against a loving human being. In my own life experience I have know thousands wonderful people whose ethnic background is different than mine. I have also met some real scum bags of every nationality and every ethnic group.
Anyone familiar with history knows that each race or culture which has ever existed on earth has had its share of wonderful accomplishments and that each race and culture has also perpetrated its share of evil on humanity. With this in mind I suggest that we focus on what happened on Park Street rather than the race or cultural background of those involved in this tragedy.
Most would agree that those present on that day did not seem to respond as most of us (who have the benefit of hindsight) believe they should have. Without making excuses for them, it is a fact that their failure to respond could have been the result of shock, fear, or the lack of general knowledge of what to do under the circumstances.
Hopefully, in reflecting on what did or didn't happen on that day, we have all learned something about our basic values and perhaps we have even wondered about how we would have responded had we found ourselves in these circumstances.
Having had a week to reflect on what I though should have happened that day, I pray, that should I find myself in a similar situation in the future, that I first attempt to find out if the victim is breathing, and if needed that I will remember my First Aid training and provide appropriate assistance. I hope we will have the presence of mind to call 911 immediately so as to get the ball rolling on insuring that rescue personnel will arrive as soon as possible. I hope I can remember the importance of doing whatever I can to protect the victim from further injury or exposure to the elements (sun, rain, wind or snow). Finely, I hope I will be able to remember the importance of helping the victim understand that help is on the way and that I will stay with him or her until it arrives.
With this in mind, now ask yourself how you would respond if the victim was bleeding profusely, screaming in agony and going into convulsions. Pray that you never find yourself in these circumstances but pray even more earnestly that you will be able to rise to the occasion no matter how ghastly it may be. Now, take a moment and send a note of thanks to the men and women of the Hartford Police and Fire Department who face things like this daily and who are expected to respond each time with compassion and professionalism.
Police Chief Roberts and Fire Chief Teale thank each you for your leadership and your staff’s dedication and commitment to our community!
Why is the outrage at the witnesses, and not at the driver of the vehicle who hit Torres? We would all do well to stop passing judgment on the witnesses to this crime, and try to offer support to the Torres family instead. I fear that the driver(s) responsible won't be brought to justice because we have a population distracted by video of apparent witness inaction.
I just wanted to say that I was happy to hear some one give a gut honest response to the senseless violence the city is currently seeing. To think that it is okay to go speeding up and down city streets with no regard for human life or to randomly fire guns and attack and intimidate the elderly speaks of a toxic city that has lost its moral compass.For those that have no regard for human life they should not be surprised when non is given for theirs.
Your statement regarding toxicity and moral compass let myself and every one else see the side of the chief that is also a father, a caring human being and man that cares about the people he is entrusted to protect and serve The Chief and the men and women of the Hartford Police department can not fix all of the social ills of the city. People have to start standing up and taking responsibility for theirs and their children's behavior and stop relying on other to fix them. If you know your children or brother or sister is doing drugs or engaging in illegal behavior and you sit back and watch doing nothing you are as guilty as them. You are part of the problem not part of the solution. I urge all of you to step forward and work with the Law Enforcement agencies and use the resources that are available to you to rid your neighborhoods of the criminal elements and activities. If you do your jobs as Mothers Fathers, Mentors and Clergy the Police will be able to do their jobs that much better. For every child that is shot or killed an other is lost and now two families grieve. "Criminals" If it is your desire to sit in a 6x6 cell for the rest of your life, I am sure that the government could help you with those arrangements; however you need not take an others life to get there.
Chief Roberts, I always had faith you would be a great chief one day.I still believe that. If the rest of the men and women of the department had your sense of responsibility and compassion for those they serve and protect the department might find it has more friends and partners than it knows what to do with. Based on my personal observations there is a lot of work that needs to be done in that area and a whole lot more supervision of personnel.I would be happy to be more specific in a less public forum. Keep up the good work!
Be Well
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