New Haven PD to Launch New Intelligence Team

New Haven’s Police Department has announced the creation of a new unit to improve intelligence-gathering on the streets.  WNPR’s Diane Orson reports.

Its been a deadly year in New Haven with 11 killings, and so far, no arrests. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, New Haven Police Chief Frank Limon said he’ll launch a new special plainclothes team that can move into areas quickly.

"We will be using them in many different ways, looking at crime trends, looking at hot spots, looking at shootings. We will deploy them where we see that it is necessary to address a changing problem."
 
"It’s a significant piece that has been missing for quite awhile."

Lt. Lisa Daddio.

"The creation of this new unit, the street interdiction unit will assist us in investigating those crimes and helping   us solve those crimes by targeting specific individuals that we know are career criminals."

Most of year’s homicide victims had criminal histories. Many were convicted felons returning to the city from the prison system, and settling personal disputes with firearms. New Haven’s new police team will be made up of 12 officers and 2 sergeants, and is expected to be operational in about 6 weeks.

For WNPR, I’m Diane Orson.