Robert Genevicz, pastor of Stratford Baptist Church

The pastor of Stratford Baptist Church, Robert Genevicz, 67, of Stratford, was arrested by Stratford police on March 18 and charged with first-degree larceny for allegedly being involved in the theft $170,000 from a parishioner, according to Lt. Frank Eannotti.

The arrest occurred after detectives followed up on tips from at least one parishioner and issued a warrant for Genevicz’s arrest. The investigation began in May 2013.

Stratford Baptist Church is on Huntington Road across from Paradise Green.

After receiving complaints from the wife and son of Charles

Charles Buynovsky Jr.

Buynovsky Jr., age 51, of Stratford, that Buynovsky had threatened to kill them, Stratford Police went to the man’s home at 88 Second Avenue at approximately 9:50 p.m. on March 19 to investigate the domestic disturbance.

Police report that officers knocked on the door of Buynovksy’s home and were met there by Buynovsky who was armed with a loaded AK-47 style rifle. Buynovsky confronted the officers who immediately grabbed onto the rifle and disarmed Buynovsky after a brief struggle, according to police.

Police took Buynovsky into custody, and one officer received minor injuries as a result of the struggle.

Subsequent investigation led to the seizure from Buynovsky of over 20 firearms plus ammunition and a silencer .

Buynovsky was charged with threatening in the first degree, interfering with an officer, breach of peace, disorderly conduct, and reckless endangerment and was held on a $750,000 dollar bond.

Members of Stratford Baptist Church released a joint statement on March 21 in support of their pastor Robert Genevicz who was charged by Stratford police on March 18 for his alleged involvement in the theft of over $170,000 from a parishioner.

“The Church supports fully Pastor Genevicz in these matters and desires that he remain pastor of the Church,” according to the statement.

An office worker at the church named Debbie told The Star that the church has about 200 members, and there were about 120 members at a meeting on March 19 where the statement of support was written. Agreement with the statement was “unanimous,” Debbie said.

Genevicz, 67, of Stratford, was arrested by Stratford police and charged with first-degree larceny for allegedly being involved in the theft $170,000 from a parishioner, according to Lt. Frank Eannotti.

Robert Genevicz, pastor of Stratford Baptist Church.

The investigation reveals that Genevicz may have had an accomplice, whose identity has not been revealed by police, and “$50,000-plus was the confirmed profit (Genevicz) made, according to Eannotti.

The arrest occurred after detectives followed up on tips from at least one parishioner and issued a warrant for Genevicz’s arrest. The investigation began in May 2013.

Stratford Baptist Church is on Huntington Road across from Paradise Green.

Stratford Baptist Church at Paradise Green.

Members of Stratford Baptist Church released a joint statement on March 21 in support of their pastor, Robert Genevicz, who was charged by Stratford police on March 18 for alleged involvement in the theft of over $170,000 from a parishioner.

“The Church supports fully Pastor Genevicz in these matters and desires that he remain pastor of the Church,” according to the statement.

An office worker at the church named Debbie told The Star that the church has about 200 members, and there were about 120 members at a meeting on March 19 where the statement of support was written. Agreement with the statement among attendees was “unanimous,” Debbie said.

Genevicz, 67, of Stratford, was charged with first-degree larceny for the alleged theft.

According to Police Lt. Frank Eannotti an investigation revealed that Genevicz may have had an accomplice, whose identity has not been revealed by police, and “$50,000-plus was the confirmed profit (Genevicz) made, according to Eannotti.

The arrest occurred after detectives followed up on tips from at least one parishioner and issued a warrant for Genevicz’s arrest. The investigation began in May 2013.

Stratford Baptist Church is on Huntington Road across from Paradise Green.

Stratford Crime Watch will be meeting on Wednesday, April 2, at 7 p.m., at the Stratford Police Station on Longbrook Avenue, in the training room.

Anyone with problems regarding crime watch should bring their concerns to the meeting. All board members are urged to attend.

Anyone interested in becoming involved in Crime Watch or have problems concerning crime may contact Stratford Crime Watch at 203-375-3322, c/o Kent Wahlberg, president Crime Watch.

Crime Watch is here to serve the citizens of Stratford. We have house inspections available on request among other services. Please come and bring your concerns.

For more information, visit crimewatchofstratford.org.

A growing heroin epidemic in Connecticut brought U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to Hartford March 17 to discuss the problem with local service providers, law enforcement, health care advocates, and patients.

In Connecticut and other states in New England, deaths related to heroin use spiked last year. According to the Connecticut chief medical examiner, accidental deaths involving heroin jumped 47% from 174 in 2012 to 257 in 2013.

The medical examiner also reported that fatalities involving heroin in Fairfield County increased 62%, from 21 in 2012 to 34 in 2013; in New Haven County the increase was 47%, from 44 heroin-involved deaths in 2012 to 65 in 2013; in Bridgeport heroin-involved deaths increased 55% from nine in 2012 to 14 in 2013; and, overall, 64 of Connecticut’s 169 towns reported at least one death last year due to heroin.

Stratford Police report 24 arrests and one overdose involving heroin in the past 15 months. During that time there were 29 arrests involving prescription pills. Neither Stratford police nor Stratford’s director of health is aware of any fatality in Stratford due to heroin in 2013.

Heroin use has nearly doubled in the United States over the last decade, according to Blumenthal and Murphy.

The link to prescriptions

The abuse of heroin — an illegal opiate derived from the poppy plant — and abuse of legal Schedule-II opioids like hydrocodone (Vicodon/Lortab) and oxycodone (OxyContin) are intricately linked, according to the state of Connecticut and local police. The highly addictive heroin is like a partner drug to the regulated legal painkillers.

“If the users can’t get pills, then they switch to the heroin, or vice versa,” says Stratford Police Lt. Frank Eannotti. “They take what they can and what is available.”

Lt. Ken Cain, southwest region commander of the Connecticut State Police statewide narcotics task force, said prescription opiates are the biggest narcotic problem in Connecticut. Cain started using the word “epidemic” in 2010 when the national Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued its latest report on accidental deaths in the United States. Accidental poisonings — 90% of which were attributed to drug overdoses — had exceeded vehicular fatalities in the United States.

Overdose deaths in the state of Connecticut rose 20%, from 9.1 per 100,000 in a prior report to 10.9 persons per 100,000 in 2010, according to the CDC.
On average, one person dies every day in Connecticut from an overdose involving some sort of opioid, such as oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, tramadol, morphine, and methadone.

The use of heroin in Connecticut has grown as availability of opioid painkillers has become more expensive in the last few years, according to Cain.
Additives to heroin also are causing alarm. Fentanyl, a legal prescription painkiller similar to morphine that can be up to 80 times more potent, is increasingly being found in some of the drug. In 2012, this mix of Fentanyl and heroin caused only one death in Connecticut. In 2013, that increased to nine.

Combating heroin
“Our state has lost hundreds more people to heroin use in the last year, but we’re not doing enough to change the way we address this crisis,” Murphy said. “This is a complex problem that requires better coordination between governments, health care providers and law enforcement, so that resources are allocated in the most effective way possible.”

Cain added that addicts are most likely to die of overdose during recovery. These deaths often happen in the town where the clinics are located and can skew a town’s overdose death report numbers. Addicts often die near the recovery clinics, he said, but are often not residents of the town. Stratford has one addiction recovery clinic, part of the Recovery of Network Programs.

Blumenthal and Murphy called for a five-step plan to reduce heroin overdoses, including increasing funding for treatment; stabilizing federal funding for the Statewide Task Force; targeting prevention funding to treat those who are co-addicted to heroin and prescription opioids; making prescription overdose prevention drugs more available; and creating better collaboration between federal, state and local agencies.

“There is no room for turf wars,” Blumenthal said. “This epidemic requires the attention and collaboration of federal, state and local officials. There is a beltway of cheap, highly toxic and highly pure heroin coming into the country and our communities from organized corporate cartels in Colombia and Mexico. We cannot mince words or waste time.”

Three full-time Stratford Police officers are assigned to an in-house narcotics unit on the force, with one more officer assigned to assist the New England division of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

The Stratford Health Department and Community Services organized funding for a used prescription drug drop-off container that is now located at the police department. Director of Health Andrea L. Boissevain said Stratford recently offered a Live to Tell program, in which addict and former athlete Tim Rader discussed addiction and redemption.

“People may not realize what addiction is,” Boissevain said. “We want to advertise that there are programs available and that people can recover.”

According to DoingItLocal.com:

Just before 12:30 p.m. Saturday an oil truck from Derby rolled his oil truck at the intersection of Broadbridge Avenue at the Second Hill Lane.

This was a single vehicle accident and it appeared the truck hit the curb just at the intersection possibly causing the truck to roll.

There were no injuries.

After impacting the road a stress crack appeared on one of the welds on the truck. Approximately 2,000 gallons of oil in the truck must be pumped out before they can right the truck and tow it away.

About 100 gallons of oil did go down the drain and the Fairfield Hazardous Waste Team was called in.

Truck container oil rolled over and leaked March 29.
Doing It Local photo.

The Connecticut Citizens Defense League, a group supporting the Second Amendment, will be hosting a gun rights rally at the State Capitol in Hartford, Saturday, April 5, 12-3 p.m.

Limited parking is available at the capitol, with public parking available throughout the area.

“We intend to gather in a peaceful manner and we are as determined as ever to see this law overturned in federal court, or repealed by the state legislature one day,” said Scott Wilson, the president of the group. “We can assure our elected officials that we do not accept this unjust law as a permanent fixture in our lives. Connecticut gun owners appreciate the support from other states that have reached out to us recently.”

Speakers for the event will include several political candidates, Second Amendment supporters, Second Amendment attorneys and others. Representatives from the National Rifle Association will be on hand.

Visit www.ccdl.us for more information.

Four businesses were found in violation of state laws that prohibit the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to minors during a recent investigation in town.

The Stratford Police Department and the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services held a tobacco compliance check of a handful of Stratford businesses on March 25.

Under the direction of DMHAS, investigators with an underage employee of DMHAS entered local establishments and attempted to purchase tobacco products. A total of 20 unannounced compliance inspections were conducted during the operation, according to Stratford Police.

The stores in violation were Lordship Shell at 145 Lordship Boulevard, Beans and Leaves at 1056 Stratford Avenue, Devan News and Variety at 2385 Main Street, and Tobacco Express at 3634 Main Street. The store clerks in violation of state law were issued an infraction at the time of the violation.

All other businesses inspected were found to be in compliance, a press release said.

A former Stratford resident arrested on felony charges for threatening students here and in Danbury had a fascination with the murders at Columbine (Colo.) School and talked about shooting students and staff to death, according to warrants unsealed April 1.

Natalie A. Carpenter, who was arrested by Torrington police on March 4 on felony charges of first-degree attempt to commit assault and conspiracy to commit assault linked to Stratford and Danbury high schools, remains incarcerated at Niantic Corrections Institute according to published reports.

Natalie A. Carpenter, arrested for threatening to kill at Stratford High School.

At the time of her arrest Carpenter lived at Hope House, a residential facility for individuals with mental illness.
According to a a fellow resident at Hope House who told police she heard Carpenter talking about killing people at schools, Carpenter and a friend, Peter Thulin, planned on getting “down to Danbury High School and then to Stratford High School and hide out in the school like in Columbine. They were going to take the school hostage,” the witness said, “and after some time start shooting students and staff until they were dead. She said they planned on killing themselves afterwards.”

According the arrest warrant, Carpenter, 18, and Thulin, 19, conspired to “shoot up a school,” but they figured they had to wait until they were 21 when they could legally buy guns. The two recently went to two gun stores to look into various weapons possibly to purchase, the warrant states.

Torrington police said Thulin is currently in a secure mental facility and will be turned over to police when released.

Carpenter admitted to police that she recently watched videos about the Columbine shootings and had written in a journal that “High schoolers are the ones who deserve to get shot. They’re (expletive deleted) heartless, trust me I know.”

Carpenter had attended Bunnell High School and Stratford High School and claimed to have been bullied while attending those schools, according to testimony of Carpenter’s mother, Wendy, in an affidavit leading to the arrest. Carpenter wrote in her journal, “There’s still bullying going on and its getting worse.”

Other writings in Carpenter’s journal, according to the warrant, were expressions of sympathy and compassion for the two Columbine murderers, feelings of suicide, depression and being disrespected by men in her life.

Along with Carpenter’s journal, which was seized as evidence, police found in Carpenter’s apartment a book : Ceremonial Violence, A Psychological Explanation of School Shootings.

“Carpenter admitted writing about the shootings,” the warrant states, and she “stated she remembers thinking about the people who were mean to her when she wrote the entry into her notebook but claims it was just writing and she wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

Carpenter’s mother “confirmed Carpenter currently suffers from mental health issues such as mood disorder, personality disorder, ADHD, depression, and she has been known to cut herself and has made previous suicide attempts,” according to the court documents. The mother “also confirmed that Carpenter has expressed a desire to commit suicide by shooting herself inside of a school so all the bullies can see the effects of bullying,” the warrant states.

For an expanded report on this case check back to this website.

Jamar Traylor

Stratford Police Narcotics Unit members, who were conducting surveillance in the Stonybrook Road area on March 24 due to ongoing complaints of drug dealing, stopped a vehicle for a traffic light violation and found the operator, Jamar Traylor, age 32 of Bridgeport, in possession approximately 101.2 grams of crack cocaine and approximately 3.6 grams of marijuana, according to a police report.

Police say Traylor also had drug packaging materials in the vehicle as well as a large amount of U.S. currency consistent with narcotics sales and packaging.

Traylor was arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell and within 1,500 feet of a school, operating a drug factory, possession of marijuana, and failure to obey a traffic signal.

He was held on a $150,000 dollar bond.

The programs are working.

Stratford youths who considered themselves undisciplined, without confidence, weak, or shy — characteristics that make one especially vulnerable to trouble on the streets — talk about how much more self-assured they are now.

Six months ago, the Stratford police started a PAL Boxing Program in partnership with the Academy of Self Defense to bring Stratford youths off the streets to learn physical skills and life skills. Boxing was added to the police Straight Path program, in which youths combine physical workouts with life-mentoring conversations with police officers and to other self defense and life development programs offered by the academy.

On March 19, roughly 100 members of the community — youths, parents, police officers, and Mayor John Harkins — came to the academy on Main Street for an appreciation dinner marking the programs’ successes.

At the PAL boxing launch in September, Martin Chisholm, owner of the academy where the Police Activities League program is held, explained that the program and activity would “help them with perseverance. It’s a way to find oneself,” and at the celebration dinner he outlined how the training programs help young people learn focus, self-discipline, self-confidence, goal-setting, respect, and making friends as well.

Boys who are maturing into young men in short order, as they have participated in the police and academy programs, were happy to speak up about how they have been affected.
Andrew Murray said he was “ a pushover” when he started working out at the academy at age 16. He said he used to avoid people, but “now I stand up for myself. No one walks over me.”

Murray is studying psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Seventeen-year-old Shane Butler said he had never been arrested, but “there were always little things, like getting kicked out of class.”

“This keeps you off the streets,” Butler said. “Working on skills, repeating, mastering, and moving on helps you to stay in shape and gain confidence. It teaches discipline. It helps you learn who you are and who you want to be. I want to be something great,” he said. “A champion.”

Adrian Santiago, 18, said he used to be shy and quiet, and he once was a victim of a crime — he got jumped. “This program was a blessing,” Santiago said. “It’s not all about throwing hits. It’s a pathway guide from teenager to young adult. How to be an adult and handle situations.”

“Martin [Chisholm] is like a second father,” said Santiago. “I used to have trouble speaking up. He teaches you to better yourself and step out of your shell. To get with right people to better yourself.”

Ethan Brokelschen is 16 and said he has been more disciplined with schoolwork and his physical health since working with Straight Paths. “I have more respect for police. You grow a bond with them and realize cops are there to help, not be an enemy.”

Youth and police dialogue
Stratford police Chief Patrick Ridenhour said the Straight Path program pairs officers with kids for 10-week sessions, and “it works both ways, with kids realizing cops are not what they thought and cops realizing kids are not what they thought.”

During the appreciation dinner event, plainclothes police officers and youths acted out typical dialogues that come up throughout Straight Paths.

In one mock dialogue, a young man told the officer that he was “trying to get with good people.” The officer affirmed that effort, saying, “You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with.”

Another youth said to an officer that he had been having a problem with self-confidence. The policeman advised, “If you do some good it makes you feel good, and doing good gives you self-confidence.”

“But,” the officer added, “no one can give it to you. You have to find it yourself.”

For a boy who said he was struggling with lack of respect, the police mentor said, “That’s a simple fix: Treat people the way you want to be treated.”

During the gathering, a parent, Jessica Johnson, said, “This is a great accomplishment for Stratford. This is what we needed. My son listened to no one. Now I just say ‘sensei’ [the title for Chisholm], and he stands at attention.”

Stratford youths Adrian Santiago, Kevin Banegas, Jonathan McCormick, Shane Butler, and Ethan Brokelschen are feeling good about themselves after participating in physical skills and life skills programs with Stratford police and teachers at the Academy of Self Defense. Greg Reilly photo.

Robert Genevicz, pastor of Stratford Baptist Church

The pastor of Stratford Baptist Church, Robert Genevicz, 67, of Stratford, was arrested by Stratford police on March 18 and charged with first-degree larceny for allegedly being involved in the theft $170,000 from a parishioner, according to Lt. Frank Eannotti.

The arrest occurred after detectives followed up on tips from at least one parishioner and issued a warrant for Genevicz’s arrest. The investigation began in May 2013.

Stratford Baptist Church is on Huntington Road across from Paradise Green.

Many of the students who crowded into Bunnell High School’s auto shop were experienced drivers, but quite a few were not. The occasion: the Peer Awareness Tour Safe Texting program, an all-day event held Feb. 28. More than 200 Bunnell and Stratford High School students tried their hand at driving — while texting.

Using a specially equipped compact car and visor headsets, the program took participants through a texting-while-driving simulation. The goal of the exercise is to demonstrate how difficult it is to do, and how texting impairs driving performance.

“Our message through programs such as these is, driving is tough enough — don’t add texting to the equation,” said Tammy Trojanowski, administrator for Stratford Community Services, which obtained a grant for the program as well as for education on drinking and prescription abuse. The program is sponsored by the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based PEERS Foundation.

“We all know how fast an automobile accident can happen,” Trojanowski said. “It takes just one serious accident to forever alter one’s life or end a life. Our message in this campaign is, whatever the message someone is sending us is, it can wait until we arrive at our destination safely.”

Mobile phones have been a great source of convenience for people today, but they also serve as a serious hazard for teen drivers. Studies show that texting while driving can be eight times more dangerous than drunk driving. As more research comes, more legislation is passed to make it illegal to text while driving.

The statistical evidence is pretty conclusive on the dangers of texting while driving. On average, a text takes five seconds to compose and send. Cruising along at 55 mph, a driver will traverse the length of a football field in that amount of time.

Moreover, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), about 1.6 million automobile accidents each year involve drivers using cell phones and texting. That is about one-fourth of the total car crashes in the United States. The NSC has called for a nationwide ban on driving while on cell phones or texting.

The texting experience
Bunnell’s auto shop hosted the event because it is the only school facility with a door wide enough to accommodate a car. While each student “drove,” others students observed, on computer monitors, what he or she saw.

On command, each participant had to send a text message while staying as close to the speed limit as possible. The car’s steering wheel, gas pedal and brake pedal were also equipped with sensors to record student driving performance. Most students had to slow down considerably while composing and sending a message.

Afterward, students gathered in groups for breakout sessions with teachers, administrators and other school officials. “This was a good eye-opener,” said Trish Tesla, the Stratford Police Department’s school resource officer at Bunnell High. “As a student resource officer, I see students texting while driving every day I’m at work. I think most of the kids who participated in this exercise now realize how dangerous that can be.”

According to Joe Crapanzano, an assistant principal at Stratford High School, several students admitted to having firsthand experience with texting while driving. Still others talked about using mobile phone applications that automatically block calls and texts while a car is in motion. AT&T DriveMode, CellSafety and tXtblocker are just a few of the apps now available.

“When they are driving, their phone will automatically send a message to the sender that the message will have to wait until they stop,” said Crapanzano. “That’s good problem-solving on the part of these students and their parents, and more of our students need to download these apps.”

All of the officials hope to see a replay of the exercise. “Students were quite sobered to learn that they weren’t as adept at texting while driving as they had thought — which is an important lesson,” said Tesla.

Trojanowski said the event was praised by students, teachers, administrators, and parents. While the phenomenon is usually associated with young drivers, adults have been shown to be just as careless in their driving habits.

“The timing for this exercise was perfect — right before prom season,” Crapanzano noted. He was one of two assistant principals from Stratford High School to attend the Feb. 28 event, but time precluded him from getting behind the wheel.

Sex and scissors

Police say that two Stratford residents who knew each other had an arrangement of him paying for her sexual favors. When Philip Covello, 55, refused to pay in advance, Alexandra Douglas, 26, stabbed Covello with scissors, according to a police report. That led to police being called for the domestic violence dispute.

Douglas was charged with prostitution and assault, while Covello was charged with patronizing a prostitute and disorderly conduct. Douglas violated a condition of her release by texting Covello, so she was re-arrested and charged with criminal violation of a protective order.

Forging narcotics prescriptions

Jessica Huchko, 32, of Stratford, was arrested and charged with criminal attempt to obtain drugs by a criminal act, obtaining drugs by a criminal act, criminal attempted forgery and forgery, after her employer, an East Haven physician, called police to report a stolen prescription pad and attempts to falsify a prescription in February. The physician was alerted when two Stratford pharmacies called to verify the narcotics prescriptions that were submitted by Huchko. The prescriptions were false.

A police investigation led to the arrest of Huchko.

Heroin bust

Jeremy Joseph Kaufman, 21, of Derby, was pulled over by police for using a hand-held phone, police say his mannerisms led the officer to suspect he was trying to hide something. Police discovered hypodermic needles, numerous packets with heroin and 42 pills of Alprazolam and Suboxone not in a prescription containers.

Kaufman was charged with possession of a controlled substance, illegal sale or distribution of prescription drugs, operating a motor vehicle while using a hand-held phone, and failure to obey a stop sign.

Not stopping for police

Police observed a scooter-type motorcycle allegedly passing vehicles in the center lane and cutting off a vehicle. When they attempted to pull over the scooter, the driver cursed at police and refused to stop. The scooter drove over private property, and the driver, Robert E. Lukasik, 46, of Bridgeport, attempted to flee.

Lukasik was charged with engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, evading responsibility, criminal trespass, failure to drive right, and among other charges.

Cell phone thefts

West Haven police had alerted Stratford and other area police departments that a college student, Anisha Wilson, 22, of New haven, was stealing cell phones from people on the street. Stratford police received complaints that a woman asked a person for help with directions. When the person used a cell phone to search for the directions, the woman then asked if she could hold the phone herself to read the directions. Once she had the phone in her hand she sped away. Wilson was charged here with robbery and larceny, and police say she is expected to be charged with the same crime in neighboring towns.

After over a week of complaints of repeated incidents of large amounts of broken glass being distributed across Lordship Blvd. (aka Burma Road) Stratford Police report April 18 that they are confident that they have identified the person responsible. Capt. Paul DosSantos said the matter is still under investigation, but they expect no more incidents or complaints. The department’s priority was to get the activity to stop, DosSantos said.

DosSantos said on April 15 that Stratford Police had increased patrols in both marked and unmarked vehicles and were conducting surveillance in the area in an effort to apprehend the individual.

Even with a suspect identified, DosSantos is encouraging anyone with information about the spreading of the glass on the road to contact the Police Department at 203-385-4100, or they may leave an anonymous tip on our Tips Line at 203 375 TIPS (8477).

Broken glass that had been spread across Lordship Blvd. is shown here on the afternoon of April 16 after being swept to the side of the road. A Lordship resident reported that were about six stretches with similar glass on both sides of Lordship Blvd. (aka Burma Road) between the airport entrance and Lordship. Mario Recupido photo.

The Stratford Police Department announced a new iWatch Stratford free software application for residents to use to report crime tips and suspicious activity. Chief Patrick Ridenhour, Deputy Chief Joseph McNeil and Capt. Paul DosSantos made the announcement at a press briefing on April 21.

The application may be downloaded to cell phones and other mobile electronic communications devices, enabling people of Stratford to deliver tips to police immediately from wherever they are, the officers said.

People interested in using the system may go to www.iWatchStratford.com and download the application to an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry.

The tip system is not intended for reporting emergencies. For emergencies or if anyone is imminent danger, “Call 911,” Ridenhour said.

With Police Capt. Paul DosSantos operating the audio-visual presentation Chief Patrick Ridenhour introduces iWatch Stratford tip reporting system on April 21. Greg Reilly photo.

McNeil replied to a question of using either 911 or the iWatch Stratford tip application if a resident learns of an assault that caused injury. Use 911 in that case, McNeil said. But “if you have information on the assault later on and want to report it anonymously, use the app, he said.

Tips delivered through the iWatch Stratford system are anonymous, unless the tipster wishes and chooses to add personal contact information. The general area location of the person providing the tip is communicated unless the person chooses to clicks on a prominent disable-location function.

Individuals also may send photos or videos relating to a reported crime, with or without written information, from their handheld device or from their personal computer.

Ridenhour said the department’s adoption of the iWatch system is “recognition of technology advances,” especially among young people. He wants to “take advantage” of the technology and “make it easier” for people to report criminal or suspicious activity.

“They know the neighborhoods better than we do,” said the chief. “This is free, safe and simple.”

McNeil said, “The issue we [police departments] face is that people don’t speak up” when they see or hear about criminal activity. iWatch Stratford is designed to get more people involved in fighting local crime.

As the system is rolled out in Stratford all tips will be received by either McNeil or Capt. Greg Proudfoot, who will forward the information to the appropriate officer in the department. Like all tips received from the community, they will be sorted out for urgency and validity.

False tips are always a concern, McNeil said, but the advantages of the mobile tipping system far outweigh those concerns.

McNeil said that experience at the very beginning of using the system shows that tips that come in may often be related to narcotics and dog complaints. “Quality of life issues,” in the words of Ridenhour.

The company that developed the iWatch application, iThinQware, describes the system as “enabling the public to act as the ‘silent eyes’ of law enforcement on a street-by-street basis using cell phone cameras and videos, digital cameras and email to build comprehensive maps of suspicious activity or gang-related incidents.”

Robbery with a gun

Police arrested Daqhon Alston, 20, of Stratford, on April 18 for an incident that occurred on March 29. Police allege that Alston showed a gun while robbing a Dominos Pizza delivery man of money, cell phone and wallet. Police are investigating to find three other perpetrators who were involved in the crime.

Bad day on the streets

Benny Alicea was arrested twice and charged with a dozen violations — mostly related to his driving. Police say that Alicea, 24, of Stratford, hit three cars with his car near the intersection of Stratford and South avenues on April 7. He allegedly tried to get away but was stopped and arrested by police and charged with operating a vehicle without a license or insurance, reckless driving, failure to obey a control signal, and breach of peace, among other charges. Forty-five minutes after being released by police, and driving a different vehicle, Alicea hit a telephone pole. This time police observed bloodshot eyes and other signs of intoxication, they say, and charged Alicea with operating under the influence, failure to keep drugs in original container, and interfering with an officer for allegedly spitting on and arguing with police.

Wanting more

Alexandra Douglas, 26, of Stratford, was charged  with assault, disorderly conduct and interfering with an officer on April 13 after, police say, she pushed and bit her husband who was reportedly trying to help her by giving her cigarettes and money. Apparently she wanted more than he gave to her.

Making matters worse

Police arrested John Greer, 44, of Stratford on April 9 for allegedly throwing eggs onto the car of a licensed solicitor in the neighborhood and then admitting to the crime. The charge was criminal mischief. Because Greer refused at first to be fingerprinted and cursed at a police officer he was charged also with refusing to be fingerprinted and interfering with an officer. Police say Greer later agreed to be processed so they dropped the fingerprinting charge.

Kevin Hardison, 48, of Bridgeport, was charged with refusing to be fingerprinted and interfering with an officer after he was arrested for allegedly shoplifting a watch and sunglasses from WalMart on April 16.

Strangling and threatening

Carl W. Hupchick , 57, of Stratford, was arrested April 11 assault, threatening, strangling and impairing morals of a young person after police were told by his girlfriend that, during a domestic dispute, he broke furniture, pulled her hair and put both hands around her neck. Police say Hupchick also her the girlfriend in her head with a pot and threatened to kill her.

Unvaccinated pit bull roaming

Police responded to a report of a pit bull dog roaming near Barnum and West Avenue. They contained the dog and kept it at the Animal Control Facility until the owner called and came to retrieve the animal. At that time, police say they issued a written warning for allowing the dog to roam and issued an infraction for failure to vaccinate and license the dog.

Dog bites child

Police responded to a report of a five-year-old child bitten by a dog on Clover Street on April 19. They found a child with a cut on a hand and reportedly saw a small dog run to a residence, where they met the dog’s owner. Police issued infraction citations to Migdalia Burgos, 41, of Stratford, for allowing a dog to roam and animal nuisance.

Oxycontin and Zanax

Narcotics detectives were investigating numerous complaints of drug activity around Seymour Street and observed an occupied car in front of a business for a prolonged period. Police say they recognized James Graziani, 34, of Stratford, in the driver’s seat and knew that he had a suspended license. They stopped the car on Hancock and noticed Graziani allegedly trying to conceal something. Graziani was charged with illegal possession of Oxycontin, operating a vehicle without a license and impairing the morals of a child, as there was a two-year-old in the car. Police arrested another occupant of the car also, Priscilla Schlotterhausen, 32, of Derby, and charged her with illegal possession of Zanax.

The Center for Family Justice’s free and confidential services for victims of domestic violence and sexual violence are now available at the town’s Birdseye Complex.

The CFJ and town of Stratford announced the opening of a satellite office here on April 22, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. There is a need in Stratford, and it is better to have the services closer to the people in need, explained CFJ board director Wanda Toth during the office-opening event, rather than have them go to the Bridgeport offices.

“Some [victims] may not have transportation,” Toth said.

CFJ provided counseling and other services to Stratford residents 582 times between July 2012 and June 2013, out of its Bridgeport offices, according to CFJ President Deb Greenwood.

Greenwood and Stratford police Chief Patrick Ridenhour described a typical situation where a daughter is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, the family is traumatized, and they do not know what to do.

Police would mention that services are available through Stratford Community Services or the Department of Child and Family Services.

Now, with CFJ offering counseling services, legal services and law enforcement services under one roof, people are less likely to slip away, as they sometimes did in the past when walking between buildings, said Greenwood. They are less likely to slip through the cracks.

Mayor John Harkins welcomed the board and staff of CFJ and said, “We are very happy to have you here.”

Ridenhour said, “Anything we can do to support victims, I am here.”

“It’s about partnerships,” said the chief. “We have to bring people to justice.”

The partnership between CFJ and the town works well, said Stratford Community Services administrator Tammy Trojanowski. “CFJ is there for the crisis,” she said. “When the situation is stabilized, we’re here. It’s a smooth transition.”

The CFJ will have staff at Birdseye on Mondays from 2 to 6 p.m., and Stratford counselors are in the office Monday through Thursday until 8 p.m. and on Fridays until 4:30 p.m.

“It is best if they call ahead,” Trojanowski said of people in need, “but if they walk in we’ll figure it out.”

Attending the opening of the Center for Family Justice’s satellite office at the town of Stratford’s Birdseye Complex on April 22 were CFJ board Chair Andrea Goodman, CFJ board director Carly Yearsley, CFJ board director Wanda Toth, Mayor John Harkins, CFJ President Deb Greenwood, Stratford Community Services administrator Tammy Trojanowski, Chief of Police Patrick Ridenhour, CFJ case manager Sasha Collins, CFJ counselor Holly Benedetto, CFJ intern Candey Aponte, CFJ case manager Ashley Bolaski, and Stratford Dept. of Health Assistant Director Greta Broneill. Greg Reilly photo.