The hartford police department is requesting $157,657 in JAG assistance in order to complement locally-funded officer overtime to address gun related violence

Hartford has an overall population of 121,054 residents and IT consists of 17 separate neighborhoods that represent a diverse array of law enforcement challenges for the hartford police department (department). In a year-to-date comparison from the previous year, the city of hartford is currently experiencing a spike in gun violence. Around this time in 2023, the year-to-date homicides by firearm were at 24. The year-to-date homicides by firearm for the current year are at 11. This is a 54.2% decrease in homicides by firearm with a projection to increase by the end of 2024 according to historical data. Non-fatal shootings are on a PAR with meeting or to exceed the unprecedented numbers we had in 2022 and 2023. The department currently has 353 sworn officers (out of 478 budgeted positions) patrolling the streets, engaging in detective work and performing a host of law enforcement related activities. The department is currently experiencing a high level of attrition due to resignations and retirements; recruitment and hiring has not been able to keep up with this attrition. So far this year, the department has lost 15 officers to attrition, and this number is on target to increase and surpass the attrition numbers in the past years. Due to these high levels of attrition, the department is required to fill these vacant positions with overtime to meet staffing minimums. This is necessary to fight crime and maintain a high level of service for the community. The main goal of this program is to increase community safety and security by hiring officers on overtime to address the citys increasing levels of gun violence.