By Sen. Paul Cicarella
Make no mistake: it is encouraging to see reports that overall crime is on a downward trend from post-pandemic highs. A recent story from Shore Publishing outlined a downward trend in North Haven, due in part to proactive police measures and increased staffing. Notable improvements include a drop in larceny cases and fewer vehicle and residential burglaries compared to last year. “General crime,” as the headline states, is on a “downward trend,” according to a North Haven Police report.
Any decrease in general crime is a positive development. It is reassuring to see our hardworking police taking proactive steps to deter crime, with local leaders investing in these men and women with increased staffing. But many other municipalities across the state have not been as fortunate. They work hard each day with the tools they have. It should come as no surprise that investing in additional police staffing enables the department to manage the increase in calls and deter criminal activity. I spoke with our Chief, and this improvement is a direct result of increased funding for more officers on the street.
They are also finding creative ways to prevent crime—like the local street takeover joint task force that connects several communities to share intelligence and coordinate enforcement.
The professionalism of Chief Glenn and his team—and First Selectman Freda’s investment in public safety—cannot be overstated.
However, hundreds of people across the towns of Wallingford, North Haven, North Branford, East Haven, and Durham—and many more across the state—live with a different reality. This reality cannot be overlooked, diminished, or denied.
In North Haven, we saw a recent report of a 75-year-old woman who was robbed by a thief in a stolen vehicle in a restaurant parking lot. In May, sixteen cars were broken into in one day alone in a hospital parking lot in Wallingford. There are many more headlines like these. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle contend that simply reporting these occurrences is another case of fearmongering. People know better.
We’ve seen a sustained rise in certain crimes across Connecticut, which is evident each day.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports a 33 percent increase in motor vehicle thefts in Connecticut—a fact that stands undisputed. While some data suggests a general decline in crime rates, this does not encompass all types of crime. For instance, while there are localized reports of a reduction in “general crime,” shootings remain above pre-pandemic levels. Similarly, car thefts, cybercrimes, and other violent or destructive incidents continue to rise annually. The rate of these specific crimes across the state causes people to fear for their safety.
Connecticut families and businesses do not need statistics to tell them that something is wrong. They also do not need the nuances of crime categories used to dispel their concerns. Of course, when you exclude certain crimes or confine the data to a specific area or neighborhood, there may appear to be a downward trend. General crime being down does not mean that all crime is down everywhere. It also doesn’t mean that people feel safe … and, at the end of the day, shouldn’t that be our goal?
During my two terms in the Senate, I’ve spoken to thousands of constituents. I continue to do so. Everyone I talk to either has been a victim or knows someone who has fallen victim to crime in our district or across the state.
As an elected official, if even one person in our community does not feel safe, then it merits a conversation and proposed solutions. I have offered dozens of such proposals over the past four years as a state senator. The many local victims of robberies, car thefts, carjackings, or other crimes are not comforted by selective statistics that claim crime is down. I will continue to advocate for all residents to fully restore public safety as their voice in Hartford.