Critics Question Staffing Changing at New Haven Police Department

New Haven’s newest police chief continues to make significant changes to the city’s police department. But as WNPR’s Neena Satija reports, some in the community are questioning his move to replace all of his top aides, including the first African-American woman to become an assistant chief. WNPR’s Neena Satija reports.

When Dean Esserman took the job of New Haven’s top cop late last year, he was largely supported by a community who’d lost the former chief in a sudden, unannounced departure. Residents were optimistic about Esserman’s pledge to reduce the city’s homicide rate and return to community policing. But now, some are concerned with his latest decision that all of his assistant police chiefs leave the force. Longtime police critic Barbara Fair wishes the community had been part of that decision.

FAIR: “We’re not against Esserman. We just want to ask some questions. What is wrong with that?”

Esserman has said that he simply wants the opportunity to pick his own team. But many don’t understand why that team can’t include Assistant Chief Petisia Adger. Clifton Graves is a lawyer in New Haven who ran for mayor last fall.

GRAVES: “You have an assistant chief like Adger, born and raised in New Haven, 20 years of service to the department, has extensive ties and relationships in the community Why get rid of that or lose that as you go forward?”

Chief Esserman and Asssitant Chief Adger were unavailable to comment. For WNPR, I’m Neena Satija.