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Middletown police chief rejects candidateclaims of understaffing and secrecy
Summary
Police Chief responded to public claims by a mayoral candidate alleging understaffing, rising crime and secrecy, saying index crimes have fallen and the department is supported by the mayor and council and uses technology alongside traditional policing.
Middletown Police Chief told the Common Council he rejects a slate of recent claims from a mayoral candidate alleging the department is understaffed, that crime has spiked and that the city is replacing patrols with camera systems.
At the council meeting the chief provided context on staffing and crime trends. He said the department’s 2025 sworn officer budget is 75, acknowledged some vacancies but described long‑term staffing levels as “in the same realm” as prior years. He said index (Part I) crimes were down roughly 25% from 2023 to 2024 and suggested the department’s reported Part I crime levels are about 50% lower than they were in 2010, citing publicly available Department of Criminal Justice (DCJS) statistics.
The chief defended investigative capacity and victim follow‑up, noting recent arrests in cold cases and saying detectives continue long investigations. He described trailer‑mounted cameras and other surveillance tools as “a tool in our toolbox,” purchased with grant funds and used together with additional boots on the ground in targeted Gun Violence Elimination (GIVE) hotspot operations. He said the cameras feed into dispatch and have helped prosecute crimes.
The chief also addressed radio system changes, saying Orange County moved from analog to a digital countywide platform about four years ago to improve interoperability; he said the change was not intended to ‘‘encrypt’’ policing from the public but to modernize communications across agencies. He invited scrutiny and said the department publishes monthly statistics at the police commission meeting and cooperates with state reporting and audits.
Council members who spoke after the chief praised the department’s transparency and community policing initiatives and urged patience while civil‑service test results — needed to fill officer vacancies — are returned by the state.
Why it matters: The remarks respond to campaign claims that could affect public perception of safety and policing policy during an election cycle. The chief cited reductions in index crimes and said the department has support for technology, staffing and community programs from the mayor and council.
