Mayor Sanchez Establishes Task Force on Public Safety
Editor’s note: The cover photo is by Dr Frank Gerratana on Veterans Day.
Mayor Bobby Sanchez (D) has announced that he has established a new Mayor’s Task Force on Public Safety, saying, “Public safety is the foundation of a strong community.”
The Task Force, established under Mayor Sanchez’ Executive Order Number 1, is to serve as, “a comprehensive, community-centered initiative aimed at reducing crime, improving safety, and rebuilding public trust across the City of New Britain.”
“Our residents deserve safe neighborhoods, accountable institutions, and solutions that are guided by data, best practices, and community input,” said Mayor Sanchez. “This Task Force will help us take a hard look at what’s working, what’s not, and how we move forward together.”
Saying that, “Mayor Sanchez [is] fulfilling [his] commitment made on campaign trail to bring community stakeholders together to have an honest dialogue about public safety in New Britain,” the Mayor’s office said that, “The Task Force is being created in response to serious public safety challenges facing the city, including crime, reckless driving, and threats to the wellbeing of families across New Britain’s neighborhoods. It will operate in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and will be charged with developing evidence-based recommendations focused on prevention, enforcement, youth support, mental and behavioral health, and community partnerships.”
The seven member Task Force is to meet on February 2nd, when its membership will be announced. The Mayor’s office says that its members are to, “include representatives from law enforcement, public works, community services, the legal community, community-based organizations, faith and civic leaders, and the business community. Members will serve without compensation,” adding that its responsibilities are to include
-Analyze short- and long-term crime trends in New Britain
-Review current law enforcement, prosecution, prevention, and diversion strategies
-Examine social and economic factors impacting public safety, including housing, education, employment, -and behavioral health
-Assess data collection and information-sharing systems
-Evaluate community trust and police–community relations
-Identify best practices from other cities and states
-Develop actionable policy, programmatic, and budget recommendations
Saying that the Task Force is to issue an initial report and then a final report within six months, Mayor Sanchez said that, “This is about smart, thoughtful action.”
“By bringing together experts, community leaders, and residents,” Mayor Sanchez added, “we can strengthen public safety in a way that is fair, transparent, and effective.
