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Middletown police chief highlights life‑saving response, rising overtime and accreditation progress
Summary
The Police Chief told the commission that two officers performed the Heimlich to revive a 9‑year‑old in a downtown restaurant, provided May activity figures and said overtime rose after a Pratt & Whitney strike; he also reported the department passed an accreditation inspection and plans to seek advanced accreditation.
The Police Chief told the Middletown Public Safety Commission on June 16 that Officers Finney and Santiago performed the Heimlich maneuver at Ileana's restaurant on South Main Street and revived a 9‑year‑old who had been choking. The chief said the officers cleared the child’s airway, summoned an ambulance and that the child was evaluated by medical personnel.
The chief framed the incident as an example of officers’ community presence: "right place, right time," he said, and singled out both officers for recognition. He also walked members through departmental activity for May, reporting 2,899 calls for service, 437 criminal investigations, 73 arrests, 124 accidents and three DUIs. Calls were down from April (3,099), the chief said, while accidents increased.
The chief said overtime surged at the end of May because officers provided coverage at a Pratt & Whitney strike line, estimating roughly $53,000 per week in overtime for the coverage and about $175,000 total for the period. He warned that the amount will likely push the department into supplemental appropriations for the 2025 budget year after a recent stretch of operating within budget.
On accreditation, the chief reported the department passed a recent inspection (referred to in the transcript as "CALIA") and said staff expects a Level 1 accreditation award; he said the department will pursue advanced accreditation over the next 18 months to reach the highest standard.
The chief also listed recent community engagement: PAL youth events, a mental health awareness event at Harbor Park in partnership with the Rotary Club, Special Olympics activities and school visits. He told commissioners he will answer further questions about the statistics and flagged upcoming budget discussions with the mayor.
Next steps: commissioners did not vote on additional budget actions during the meeting; the chief said he will meet with the mayor to discuss vehicle and funding priorities.
