If you think this is one of the worst crimes waves in the city's history, you clearly have not lived in New Haven for long. Furthermore, New Haven is much safer than many make it out to be. Let me know if barricading streets and blocking traffic is legal... Had any other group used these same techniques, the police would have arrested them.
It is frightening to see that the police is engaging in anti social behaviors to protest 16 layoffs. What should we do to protest racism, racial profiling and other ethically and morally questionable behaviors of our men and women in uniform?

Ayup:
If I decided to walk out of my job, blockade the streets, and scream:
a. I would lose my job
b. These same officers would arrest me
c. I would be put in a mental institution

Yes, they can protest, but not like this. This is thug behavior at best.

I dont think that Streever was saying that they don't have the right to protest ...and he's not the only one, which did not appreciate the way it was done.

Exactly Gabriela--I can not believe that anyone would defend the police closing off streets and breaking the laws.

If they want to protest, fine, but follow the same rules & regulations I must follow.

I am very disappointed to see police officers flagrantly breaking the law, in public, and proudly at that.

Another case of the NHPD showing the City of New Haven and its residents that they only care about themselves -

It is illegal what they did. For a protest, you need a permit. At least we didn't have to pay for their overtime to block the streets? Should all of the protesters be docked pay because they didn't work today?

So the cops get to blatantly disregard the law now? Why haven't they been reprimanded, fined, and failing to disperse - arrested? Crime waves, by the way mean that the police failed in their jobs paid for with your taxes.

It's a good reminder of how much they hate the citizens who pay them.

exactly!

I'm personally tired of the superior attitudes of many police officers in New Haven. As an example, it @#$% me off when an officer rolls up to a red light, flashes his lights just long enough to blow the light, then continues on casually (clearly not responding to an emergency). I'm sorry, but deciding when the law applies to you is NOT one of the perks of being a police officer.

Holy ... I really hope they were ticketed and some of them were arrested. This is completely unacceptable. I'm in support of the right to protest. However I would be in jail if I did this.

Why do the cops think that there is one set of rules for civilians and a different set of rules for them?

Exactly, Kam.... why do police believe they have a right to break laws?
"To serve and protect"
If some police officers believe they neither need to follow laws nor uphold them, I am wondering what why they think taxpayers should pay their salary. It is a two-way street.

The majority of Police in New Haven are tremendously disrespectful to residents. Expect no support for this illegal action. Search this site for all of the things that police are doing in this city to make residents feel uncomfortable.

On a separate note, I'm interested in how we close this issue? Should citizens push for a case against the police force for this disruption?

BTW - what they did yesterday was considered an illegal wild cat strike - if they are so concered about the people of New Haven's safety - why did some of those officers leave their post and storm city hall w loaded weapons????... would any other protest be considered peaceful had those citizens excercised their right of assembly while all armed - i just don't know....
as a former union organizer i fully repect their right to organize, and the fact that they are that internally organized for that show of force - HOWEVER!!!! the manner in which this was carried out was IMO truly in bad taste...as were the comments by the the local union leader who was shown on the news last night.

Call the non-emergency line and report this as a crime.

Operator 613 REFUSED to take my report. She said that it was "not a crime" and gave me permission to record the call (which I was not doing at the time unfortunately) and to quote her, although it was "not an official position".

She went on to say, "We're the police" when I said the actions were illegal.

She then transferred me to the Chief's department who told me to call 946 6316 (the non-emergency line which had just transferred me to him).

I called back. I got operator da648, who agreed to be recorded (which I did) and also wouldn't take the report, but instead referred me to internal affairs: 203 946 6249.

I recommend anyone who is upset about this call non-emergency to report it. Ask if you can record the call, and then do so.

I'm in support of the Police. If there is any group of people who should be exempt of layoffs, it is the NHPD. The NHPD union put a lot of reasonable offers on the table to counter layoffs including fur low days, less vacation time, pay cuts. They all went unheard.

BUT what they did yesterday was IRRESPONSIBLE and UNPROFESSIONAL. As a property owner and taxpayer in the city of New Haven, I was insulted by that stunt. It was like a slap to the face. They went above the very laws they have sworn to uphold and protect. There should be consequences for their actions.

Just spoke to the head of IA: super professional and very polite.

I dislike the mayor as much as anyone, and think the layoffs were done poorly.

With that said, it in no way gave NHPD the right to behave that way.

Don't they realize how many people dislike the Mayor and would LOVE to support the NHPD vs him? When they flagrantly break the law it makes it impossible to support them.

This is the same group of people that have the absolute worst dispatchers I can imagine--people who think nothing of calling you at 4 am after you report a non-emergency at 8pm the day before. This is the same group that wanted to hire a PR FIRM to "improve their image". I can give them free consulting: don't call citizens at 4am on non-emergencies, don't break laws.

Hi Gabriela,
What kind of action can be taken against the police department? I would be happy to help.

they should be held accountable!

Looks like a practice run for their Coup d'état. Give these thugs AR15's - I don't think so.

David, I am not sure you need permission to record calls to dispatch because I think dispatch records all their calls too and stores them for at least five years. Check, but I think that is right. I think you can record any call made to PD.

Has the Board of Aldermen considered this matter? Grievances could be addressed there through a hearing, but a lot of time has gone by now.

I'm closing this as it looks like nothing will be done. Sad.