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STAMFORD, Conn. A recent surge in violent crime has been keeping Stamford police busy and causing officers to work more overtime than was allotted for in the previous fiscal year.
We throw every resource we can at apprehending criminals, Police Chief Robert Nivakoff said Monday night.
Capturing those responsible for violent crimes is the police force's biggest responsibility, Nivakoff said. The past three homicides in Stamford have all been stabbings, with the most recent coming last week.
We got to get those people off of the streets, the police chief said.
The chief spoke with the Board of Representatives Fiscal Committee with Jim Hricay, the assistant director of the Office of Policy and Management for the city, to request $200,000 more for fiscal year 2011. The board approved the appropriation, which will be mitigated from the salary line. The police department had allotted $2.7 million for overtime from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011.
Part of the reason the chief believes overtime and crime were higher than expected over the past year is because of the decline in the number of cops in Stamford. The force has shrunk from 313 people to 264 mostly because of retirements over the past few years, Nivakoff said. The police force has never had layoffs, he said. Also, manpower is lower over the summer with many officers on vacation.
The police department is trying to hire more personnel and recently hired a consultant to help, the chief said. The department also will start to interview candidates for vacant positions Tuesday, Nivakoff said.
How would you attempt to reduce crime in Stamford? Share your thoughts and ideas below or send them to reporter Anthony Buzzeo, tbuzzeo@TheDailyStamford.com.
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