Waterbury police and Dalio Education say gun violence concentrated in six neighborhoods amid steep recent declines

Deputy Chief Amatruda of the Waterbury Police Department presented the city’s gun-violence problem analysis (GBPA), developed with Dalio Education and Boston Consulting Group, reporting substantial declines in several metrics and stark geographic concentration.

Amatruda said the city accounts for about 4% of Connecticut’s population but 9% of the state’s firearm homicides and that firearm-involved incidents have fallen to a six-year low. "Gun violence incidents are down 69% from their 2022 peak," Amatruda said, and most gunshot victims are concentrated in a small number of neighborhoods; Willow Plaza emerged as the top hot-spot. He credited targeted deployments and partnerships—specialized policing units, overdose response technicians, and local health department collaboration—for contributing to the declines.

Adler Coffey of Dalio Education described the GBPA process—ecosystem mapping, local data integration and focus groups—used to tailor interventions to each city. Focus groups in Waterbury found early exposure to guns and generational cycles of incarceration and substance use: parents and formerly incarcerated participants reported first exposure to firearms between ages 8–17 and recurring family involvement in crime.

Speakers emphasized the importance of cross-sector partnerships and data standardization: Waterbury does not use ShotSpotter and instead crosswalks police incident reports with hospital ED records, which the presenters said captures the majority of events. The presenters recommended continuing place‑based and time‑based responses and deepening community supports identified through focus groups.

The commission thanked the presenters and asked that slides and data be shared with members and subcommittees for follow-up planning.