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Hartford Police Chief Pressured To Retire"It's obvious that he is not coming back. I love the guy personally," Peters said Friday. "But it's time for him to give it up." Croughwell, a member of the Hartford police force for 28 years and chief for five years, has been on medical leave since June because of a heart condition. He said a week ago that he could not make a decision about his job status until after he spoke to his doctor. He could not be reached for comment on Friday. Peters and Councilman Louis Watkins, chairman of the council's public safety committee, said Friday that Croughwell's extended absence has made it difficult for city officials to improve the state's largest municipal police force because it doesn't have a permanent chief. The council wants to make some changes in the department that were recommended in a report by national consultant Carroll Buracker, who criticized the department's management and day-to-day operations. The department must also have a permanent chief to receive national accreditation. "Joe has not made any signs that he is coming back," Watkins said. "I can't say he needs to retire. But a decision must be made immediately. Fortunately, we have an acting chief [Deborah Barrows] who is doing a good job. But that is not the way you should be running a police department." City officials have said that Croughwell, 52, hasn't retired yet because he is concerned about whether the city will continue his medical benefits. But Peters said, "I'm concerned about our city. We'll work that out with him." "We have a department in flux. Joe is very dedicated and I respect him for that. He knows as well as I do, now is time to say it's been a good ride," Peters said. City Manager Saundra Kee Borges and Deputy City Manager James Wright are negotiating the terms of Croughwell's retirement. They were out of town Friday and couldn't be reached for comment, however they said recently that when Croughwell retires, they will began a national search for his replacement. |
Optimism Revived On The RiverfrontTogether, the private and public dollars could transform the 33 riverfront acres from parking lots to an urban destination that would include a hotel and convention center, a "town square" filled with shops and restaurants, maybe a Wadsworth Atheneum expansion. The money also would pay for a UConn football stadium, which would now be in East Hartford rather than at the riverfront. On that front, the last three weeks have brought good news. With President Clinton's Nov. 4 visit as a catalyst, many of Hartford's major corporations publicly pledged millions for Hartford redevelopment. Just how close the project is to the $210 million depends on how the money is counted. While meeting the $210 million threshold might free the state's $455 million, it doesn't guarantee success for Adriaen's Landing, since not all of the corporate commitments are pledged to that project. Still, project officials and even some skeptics agree the recent developments on the money side represent a big change in reality and perception from the dark days last April - when the Patriots snubbed Hartford and seemed to dash hopes for Adriaen's Landing. Just a month ago, even the city's optimist-in-chief, Mayor Michael P. Peters, was saying only that Adriaen's Landing "may happen someday." In order to persuade retailers or restaurateurs such as an ESPN Zone to invest in the project, they need to know that people will actually go to Adriaen's Landing. |
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