Hartford police host open house with tours of crime van, bomb truck, patrol boat

In its newest community outreach effort, Hartford’s police department on Saturday hosted an afternoon outdoor open house where residents got up-close looks at the bomb truck, an evidence van, a SWAT truck and other specialty vehicles.

Luz Alicea declared it a success.

“It was really good to see what they use and what all of this stuff is for,” Alicea, a Clay Arsenal resident, said as she stepped down a ladder after touring a boat from the department’s marine unit.

Detective Kevin Salkeld and Officer Anthony Rinaldi spent the early afternoon showing visitors around and explaining how police use the boat on the Connecticut River. It was brought on a trailer to the High Street parking lot across from police headquarters so residents could get a look inside.

Nearby, Officer Brian Herrmann showed visitors the equipment in the armored emergency response truck. Other officers led tours of the major crimes van and handed out information to prospective police Explorers and cadets. Officer Tyrell Jenkins walked his cellphone through the scene to stream on Facebook Live.

This was Hartford’s first “Get to Know Your Police Department” event, and Acting Chief Jason Thody described it as part of a community policing campaign that’s been steadily growing for more than 15 years.

“I’ve been here for 23 years. When I first got on, community policing was kind of just a couple of words. Now we go to community meetings, NRZ meetings, and community policing is really department-wide,” Thody said.

Thody noted that police have already arrested suspects in 12 of the city’s 18 homicides this year and said strong relationships between police and residents made that possible.

“That wasn’t just from the cameras. There was cooperation from the community. Years ago we were hearing ‘No witness statements. The victim wouldn’t cooperate,'” Thody said. “But now, having relationships with the community helps keep this a safe place.”

Sgt. Nikki Mordasiewicz and Chanhda Ly, Thody’s secretary, sought out young people to invite to the PAL program. Throughout the year they visit schools and community events to represent the department.

“This also helps people see the officers behind the badge,” Mordasiewicz said.

Don Stacom can be reached at dstacom@courant.com.