Hartford police report shows 22.9% drop in Part A crimes; department cites targeted enforcement

Chief Reella told the Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee that the department’s year‑end report showed a 22.9% reduction in Part A crimes, and presented neighborhood breakdowns and response metrics. “The biggest highlight for the police department will be a 22.9 reduction in part A crimes,” she said during the March 19 presentation.

Her presentation included district and neighborhood data and noted reductions in shot‑spotter activations and seized firearms. The chief reported 11 homicides over the period and said 11 of those cases have been solved or have active warrants. She also said fatal traffic accidents increased to 16 incidents involving 17 victims and said staff would investigate timing and location patterns to identify causes.

Sergeant Christopher Maserani, who provided detailed enforcement context, urged caution in reading seizure totals as a sign of reduced enforcement. “It really coincides with our firearm violence. Last year we only had 89 total shooting victims… when you go back to 2021, we had 211 shooting victims,” he said, adding that a RICO prosecution against local gangs and proactive trafficking enforcement reduced the number of violent‑actors, which also reduced firearm recoveries.

The presentation described other department activity: declines in total arrests alongside a rise in juvenile arrests, workforce changes (the department reported 361 total officers and recent academy graduations), and a shift in average suspect and victim ages to roughly 24–35. The department also reported outreach and prevention work—firearm‑safety education, training, and community programs—alongside enforcement.

Committee members asked for further neighborhood‑level analysis and follow‑up on traffic‑related fatalities. The report is posted by the department for deeper review.