Hartford interim police chief warns staffing shortfalls persist as budget holds steady

Interim Police Chief James Rovella told the Hartford City Council's operations management budget committee on Monday that the Hartford Police Department is operating well below authorized strength and that the recommended fiscal 2026 budget holds mostly flat while shifting some grant-funded posts into the city's general fund.

'We're down 31 officers since this time last year,' Rovella said, describing current staffing of 347 sworn officers, about 44 short of full staffing. He said the shortfall has driven higher-than-normal overtime and contributed to gaps in patrol coverage.

The presentation to the committee, chaired by Councilman Amirca Hernandez, reviewed crime statistics, recruitment outcomes and a small net budget increase. City data presented at the hearing showed a 2% decrease in overall crime for calendar 2024, a 16% year-to-date decrease in 2025 compared with the same date in 2024, and a 20% decline over a two-year look-back. The department also reported an increase in larceny incidents.

Rovella and his staff emphasized recruiting and retention as top priorities. The department reported two small academy classes in the current fiscal year: one that…