Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor, police praise multi-agency narcotics operation that netted drugs, guns and cash
Summary
City and police officials described a nine-month multi-jurisdiction narcotics investigation that began in Middletown, resulted in dozens of arrests and seizures including cocaine, fentanyl, firearms and more than $4 million in cash, and which officials said required about 6,500 officer hours to investigate.
Mayor Duffano and police leaders briefed the Common Council on May 5 about a nine-month multi-agency narcotics investigation that originated in Middletown and led to multiple arrests and large seizures, officials said.
The mayor credited the Middletown Police Department's narcotics unit and partnering local, state and federal agencies for developing the intelligence that produced the operation. He said law enforcement seized significant quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, firearms and more than $4 million in cash and made numerous arrests. "If you bring guns, drugs, violence into our community eventually we will find you," he told the council.
Police described the investigation as resource intensive. The mayor estimated the effort consumed roughly 6,500 officer hours; police officials said federal partners are expected to help recoup some costs. "It did come with a cost ... but that's an investment into the safety and quality of life of our community," the police chief said, naming Sergeant Jason Boddet as leader of the narcotics unit.
Why it matters: Officials said the operation removed dangerous substances and weapons from local streets and sent a deterrent message to organized trafficking networks operating across jurisdictions. The mayor and council members said the action demonstrated interagency cooperation and local capacity for complex investigations.
What was said: Council members repeatedly thanked police and the narcotics unit for their work; one council member called the seizure of fentanyl particularly concerning because "the tiniest bit is enough to kill a human being." Police said some defendants in the operation were on active parole, a condition council members and the mayor flagged as a policy concern to be addressed at state and federal levels.
Next step: Police said they will keep the council updated on case progress, potential federal reimbursements and any additional enforcement steps. No policy changes were proposed at the May 5 meeting.
