Abbreviation NHPD Size 20.1 sq mi (52.1 km2) | Formed 1861 Population 130,660 (2013) | |
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Preceding agency New Haven Police Department Legal personality Governmental: Government agency | ||
The New Haven Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of New Haven, Connecticut.
Contents
Civilian workforce
In addition to sworn officers, the department employs civilian employees for administrative functions funded partly by the Community Oriented Policing Services program.
Emergency services
The Emergency services division of the New Haven Police Department is made up of several specialist teams.
Crisis negotiation
The team is trained to defuse hostage situations, talk to barricaded and/or suicidal persons, and alleviate a situation gone wrong without injury or the direct application of force.
SCUBA TEAM / USRT
The New Haven Police Department also has a professional underwater search and recovery team which falls under the command of the N.H.P.D. Emergency Services Division. A New Haven Police Diver must be certified as an Advanced Open Water Diver. The team has a 40 foot Metal Craft Firestorm boat and a Zodiac for smaller waterways. The team is responsible for the recovery and preservation of any person(s) and/or contraband, body recovery, and weapon recovery located in waterways throughout New Haven County.
The N.H.P.D. Dive Team consists of fourteen active members. Team responsibilities include:
- Perform dive recovery and search tasks
- Line tending
- Underwater communications with divers
- Act as O.I.C. of dive operations
- Report findings of operations and analysis of remedies
- Maintain Emergency Services fitness level
- Maintain equipment
Underwater Search & Recovery Team members (USRT) are also Certified Dive Rescue Level I and II SCUBA Divers. All team members must qualify once a year by performing swim fitness testing, underwater testing, dive competency testing, and a physical fitness test as well. The New Haven USRT also trains twice per month throughout the year.
The USRT is also attached to Region II in Connecticut and is responsible for HAZMAT DECON of all public safety personnel in Region II. NHPD USRT members are certifed through the Department of Homeland Security (Anniston Alabama) as HAZMAT Techs in this field.
SWAT team
The New Haven Police Department also has a SWAT team. Their SWAT team includes snipers that were involved in a gun fight on 24 September 2011.
Narcotics unit
The department's narcotics unit was disbanded in 2007 after two officers were arrested and two others implicated in a corruption sting. The unit was replaced by a VICE/Narcotics unit in 2009, and that unit played a crucial role in the investigation of the murder of college student Annie Le.