Retired Cop Fights Crime with Chess and Trash Bags

Across the street from a murder spot, Stacy Spell showed beginner Tyisha Walker how bishops move at an angle and castles along straight lines.

It was Saturday’s sunny afternoon in West River. Spell, a retired New Haven cop, was out playing chess right in the middle of the square at Derby and Norton across from the Dunkin’ Donuts where two shootings( including one homicide) have occurred since December. Spell was taking on a new mission: using new tools, from rooks to trash bags, to keep his neighborhood from being checkmated by crime.

“Once we take ownership, we can address the crime problem,” Spell said.

The neighborhood has seen a recent spike in drug-related crime. In December a murder took place at the nearby eatery. In mid-February two people were shot as bullets flew at the same location.

Spell and Walker and about a half-dozen neighbors had just finished a two-hour clean-up by tying up six bags of litter, which included lots of discarded liquor bottles, two marbles, and a hub cap.

Spell decided to keep the marbles.

READ MORE