Residents urge council to study nonpolice response teams for nonviolent calls

Alyssa Peterson, a Grandview Terrace resident, urged the Court of Common Council during public comment to study nonpolice models for handling nonviolent calls and to consider civilianizing positions within Hartford's police department.

"We need to identify an agency and a group that can possibly take nonviolent calls," Peterson said, urging the city to expand programs such as the Hart team and to explore mediation teams that would not require badges or weapons.

Peterson said Hartford faces recruitment and staffing challenges and suggested the city consider civilian enforcement for certain functions and restructure ranks that were created when the department was larger. "The number the staffing numbers we had were for a 500 or 475 person police force. That has all changed," she said.

She argued the city could redirect some funds to nonpolice responses and pursue available grants. Peterson also asked the council to examine the police department's contract, saying it dates to the 1970s.

A council member asked for examples and data about other cities that have transitioned to nonpolice response models; Peterson said she would collect and provide examples and noted that Hartford has already funded the Hart team. Another attendee who helped organize the meeting described it as civil and said participants discussed registration and reporting concerns for undocumented residents.

Why it matters: Peterson linked the proposal to budget pressures and public-safety workload, asking the council to consider alternatives for routine, nonviolent calls and to study models that use mediation and civilian response teams. No formal council action occurred during public comment.