In response to several incidents, most notably a recent armed robbery attempt on the main campus of the University of Hartford, officials and city police began nighttime checkpoints at both campuses, Bloomfield Avenue and Asylum Ave. The University originally assumed that the alleged perpetrators were from off-campus. The implication was that they were from the city of Hartford. The checkpoints, which consist of both University security and Hartford police officers with squad cars, blocked lanes and flashing lights, require that anyone entering campus have a valid UH ID. The following is from what WWUH radio staff members received as notice:
“UH ID Required to Enter Campus at Night
Due to the three unfortunate events that have occurred on campus over the past few weeks, UH is initiating additional campus security measures in the evenings. Beginning tonight and throughout the rest of the semester students, faculty and staff (inc. WWUH volunteers) entering the campus between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. will be required to show a valid University of Hartford ID to Public Safety and Hartford police officers to gain entry. Unaccompanied visitors to campus will not be allowed to enter the campus between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.”
However, upon further investigation, the original assumption about the perpetrators was incorrect. In a letter to all students, faculty and staff, University President Walter Harrison wrote:
“It is with mixed emotions that I acknowledge the arrests of four University students in connection with the alleged armed robbery in Park River Apartments on April 9. I know that this news will help to provide a shared sense of relief in knowing that this crime against members of our community has been investigated and arrests have been made. I thank the Hartford Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the University’s Public Safety Department for their
diligence and swift action. . . After further investigation by Hartford police and the DEA, a robbery reported by a non-student on April 28th has proven to be false. That a visitor to campus would file a false report of a crime is a matter of great concern to me and all of us at the University. I regret this thoughtless act by the individual in question.”
As it turns out, students were engaging in criminal activity, allegedly selling drugs from their dorm rooms.
At the time of this post, the checkpoints have not been canceled. An email has been sent to President Harrison, and HIMC is awaiting a response. More updates forthcoming.
I would like to know if the HPD is going to set up checkpoints in the North End to prevent University of Hartford students from coming to the hood to buy drugs…Some street associates of mine from the 1990′s could attest to the fact that U of H students were some of their most steady clientele.
Excellent point David. Kevin, I wonder if they will share with you the exact reasoning that led them to initially set up these checkpoints! It’s kind of stupid that public safety officers are wasting so much time standing at the campus entryway.
I remember about five or six years ago there was a big drug warehouse bust in the north end. one hundred people were arrested, but about 75 of them came from towns outside of the city.
Umm, called it.
So, why are they still patrolling the entrance to campus? Mary and I went to our radio show last week and we both had to show our IDs, even though one should’ve been enough, since you’re allowed a guest. And if was UH students who “vandalized” the campus, then who exactly are they “protecting” “us” from?
Scary Black People from The Scary North End…
Oh yeah, that…
Grrrr
It’s funny… I was born & raised in the North End. I feel more comfortable cruising in the hood than I do driving in West Hartford or Avon. My guard is always up when I’m driving in the suburbs. Living in the West End is cool, but I love going back around the way.
UPDATE: I emailed the president of the University, Walter Harrison, and he said that they made a commitment to continue the checkpoints until the end of the semester. Commencement was Sunday, May 17, so maybe they’ll be stopping them now. He also asked me what I thought they should do. I told him they should stop the checkpoints because it was really sending a bad message to the community at large, it was all based on a false assumption, and it was probably going to have little or no effect anyway.
Thanks for staying on top of this, Kevin. The checkpoints defy logic since the home invasion was perpetrated by students. They’re just trying to appease the upper middle class / rich parents who were demanding that they protect their kids from the “urban menace” next door. This is all quite amusing, considering the fact that U of H is attempting to move into the North End by making a land grab for the Bowles Park & Westbrook Village housing projects, which they want to convert into student housing.
ANOTHER UPDATE: just heard back from the president of the University. As of yesterday, May 18, the checkpoints have been lifted. He said that they will reassess what to do about campus security over the summer.
Maybe they could build a moat between the school & the North End… I better be careful not to give them any ideas…