Community Corner
A Plan for Pawcatuck
First Selectman, Police Chief present ideas to Police Commission to address Pawcatuck's 'quality of life' issues
The Stonington Police Department will realign its beats, implement bicycle patrols in concert with Westerly officers, and examine the feasibility of installing security cameras in downtown Pawcatuck in an effort to address the public perception that the area may be unsafe.
Chief Darren Stewart and Capt. Jerry Desmond made a presentation to the Police Commission Thursday night about the department’s history of dealing with crime and quality of life issues in Pawcatuck, as well as plans to combat problems moving forward. Residents and business owners were in attendance.
First Selectman Edward Haberek also spoke to the commission, and presented a six-point plan he said would go a long way toward alleviating both real and perceived crime and safety issues in the area.
Haberek’s appearance before the commission was prompted by a recent rash of crimes in downtown Pawcatuck, beginning in January with a series of home break-ins and most recently the break-in at McGill Chevrolet and thefts from cars in the adjoining neighborhoods.
Stewart first and foremost praised the officers in his department for solving the home break-ins (there have been two arrests) and the McGill break-in (one suspect was arrested in that, and was subsequently charged with other crimes).
“We know what is going on,” Stewart said. “We’re out there. We address it. We have a motto in the department — ‘no call too small’ and we want to work with the community on the solutions.”
Stewart said that his department has put together a plan to address crime and safety issues as summer approaches:
- Police beat realignment with a greater focus on downtown Pawcatuck
- Community Service Officers assigned to Pawcatuck (‘early and often’)
- Bike patrol in conjunction with Westerly PoliceContinuing to work with Westerly Police
- ‘Hot spot’ policing (identifying areas of trouble and responding immediately)
- Continuing communication with businesses
- Examine possibilities of a downtown camera system in conjunction with Westerly Police
- Establish downtown Pawcatuck communication mechanism (similar to the town’s emergency notification system via email and telephone)
- Work with building owners on state and federal fair housing laws to help them better screen potential tenants without violating anyone’s rights.
- Implement police foot patrolsImplement a ‘broken window strategy’ to remove so-called signs of disorder such as broken windows, litter, loitering, public use of drugs or alcohol.
- Continue to work on the economic revitalization of the downtown area
- Establish a computerized mapping system of crime reports to identify ‘hot spots’ of criminal activity.
“We have a number of new businesses, events, and the area has really grown into a beautiful area,” he said. “We want it to be sustainable.”
Haberek said that since 2011 he has heard complaints from residents and business owners about the real and perceived issues of crime and safety in the downtown. He said the community service officers made a difference last summer and he was appreciative of all the department’s efforts.
“We need to work as a team, we need to work collaboratively,” he said. “I would support funding for foot patrols down there. Community policing cannot help enough, to have an officer there to visit the businesses, go into the bars, be visible.”
Stewart said dedicated foot patrols were not really feasible because of the number of officers in the department, but he said the department does deploy reserve officers and CSOs on Friday and Saturday nights and in the summer to boost police presence.
Lisa Konicki, the executive director of the Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce, told the commission “A lot of what we’re dealing with is the result of good news. We are having a Renaissance. On the Westerly side, we have the highest occupancy rates for businesses and residences we’ve had in a long time. That’s a good thing. But with more people and more commerce comes more concerns and more issues. There is not a rampant crime problem in downtown Pawcatuck.”
Konicki also praised the Stonington police department, saying in her discussions with business owners they feel the incidents are isolated and the police are responsive. She said business owners are “talking to each other more now than ever. We want to keep that good vibe and great momentum. We need a balance that is good for business and good for residents.”
Police Commission Chairman Scott Bates said at the conclusion of the discussion that Thursday was just the start of the conversation. “There is nothing we can’t do when we work together,” he said, adding that the commission plans to hold meetings around town in the next few months.
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