Derby Police Chief Gerald Narowski is taking issue with a statement in a campaign flier that says the city “is one of Connecticut’s 10-worst cities for violent crime.”
The mailing was sent out by Dan Foley’s campaign. Foley is running as a Democrat for mayor against incumbent Anthony Staffieri.
The statement in Foley’s flier references data that is seven years old, Narowski said Thursday.
This is the flier. Article continues below.
The chief said it is not his place to get involved in local politics, but residents who read the flier are asking him questions about the crime rate.
Narowski sent a letter to the Derby Board of Aldermen Thursday clarifying the statistics.
Derby had an abnormally high crime reporting rate in 2004, the chief said. It is unclear why.
In his letter to the Board of Aldermen, Narowski said the Department of Public Safety’s Crime Statistics Analysis Unit told him 2004 is not a good sample by which to measure Derby crime trends.
Click here for a Department of Public Safety website that tracks crime in Connecticut.
Narowski said Derby’s violent crime rate in 2009 was 51 percent lower than the national average — and 29.7 percent lower than the Connecticut average.
“In a quick comparison of violent crime rates of communities in Connecticut in 2009 (the most current data available for comparison) Derby was not even close to the top 10 highest crime rates,” Narowski said.
Foley said the data in his flier is from the most recent research of the state’s Office of Legislative Research. The report was published in 2008, but cites 2004 statistics.
Click here to read the report, which said Derby had the tenth-highest crime rate in the state in 2004.
Another legislative report published in 2008 looks at quality of life indicators in Derby. Click here to read that report.
Narowski pointed out that the Office of Legislative Research doesn’t track crime trends in the state — it researches answers to questions asked by state lawmakers.
The Department of Public Safety’s Crime Statistics Analysis Unit tracks crime stats and maintains a voluminous website with more recent information.
Foley stood by his flier’s statement Thursday. He said he shared the information with the chief before the mailing was sent.
“He didn’t have any reservations about it,” Foley said.
The chief said he and Foley talked about Foley’s ideas for the police department — but Narowski said he never saw the sentence printed in Foley’s literature before it was mailed. The two never discussed violent crime statistics, the chief said.
Are you concerned Derby’s crime rate is too high?
This is not the first time Narowski has responded to crime statistics quoted by Foley’s campaign. Narowski addressed the Board of Aldermen about the same issue in late July.
Click here for a story we wrote in February on Derby crime stats.
Staffieri, who has been in office since 2006, said the candidate needs better researchers.
“It seems as if he is trying to frighten the citizens of Derby using scare tactics. Scare tactics using very old statistics to make his point. The people of Derby deserve greater integrity and honesty,” Staffieri said.
Foley said his intent is not to argue with the police chief, but simply point out what residents are telling him as he goes door-to-door campaigning — crime is a major quality of life issue in Derby, especially on the city’s west side.
In the last few years, Derby’s violent crimes have been centered around lower Hawthorne Avenue and Hawkins Street in the area of Sixth Street.
Residents in the area are concerned the quality of life and the crime rate are expanding out of the “HALO” district and into the surrounding neighborhoods.
“We can argue statistics all we want, but the point is that there are a number of people that are very upset about the crime in the City of Derby,” Foley said. “I’m not criticizing the chief or the department. I want to know how I can support them.”
The data in question is the most recent data published as a comparison among municipalities. It was confirmed prior to the mailing, and again this week when it came into question. Two sources at the Office of Legislative Research and another source from the State Library in Hartford, as recently as Monday of this week, confirmed the data presented was also the most current comparison they had in their archives.
We cannot hide our heads in the sand by thinking Derby does not have crime problem. In fact, during the first two terms of the Staffieri administration, Derby witnessed a total of 1,641 serious crimes. That’s an average of more than 410 each year. Serious crimes include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.
In a comparison among other Valley towns, Derby ranks the highest in terms of number of serious crimes over the same four-year period. Below are the averages per 1,000 residents of each town.
Instances of Serious Crimes
per 1,000 Residents:
Derby 32.0
Ansonia 20.8
Seymour 16.3
Shelton 13.8
Oxford 10.0
Crime is one of Dan Foley’s most important priorities to address if elected mayor.
I am a concerned derby tax payer!! Violent crimes are happening blocks away from my house. There is no Denying or hiding that. And they happened in the middle of the morning if I remember correctly.
I do not let my son play on the sidewalk he is not allowed to walk down the street without us. He is not allowed to ride his bike down the street.
Our cars have been broken into just a few years ago right in our driveway
Friends bikes and scooters have been stolen just a week or two ago..
So small and big Crimes are happening statistics or not and I am concerned.
The data should have been referenced as data taken from 2004, 7 years ago. Anything other than that was done in an attempt to mislead voters and to falsely represent 7 year data as current. No one is denying crime exists. The denial is of the false representation the Foley administration made on its latest mailing.
Dan Foley is attacking the Derby crime-statistics seven years ago, under the administration of former Democratic Mayor Marc Garofalo. It makes no sense. Doesn’t Foley have any current campaign issues to address?
Happy bithday, Dan Foley
When Dan Foley can only attack Derny crime figures that existed seven years ago, during the former Democratic Marc Garofalo administration, it appears that he cannot find any current campaign issues to address — and Derby Republican leadership — under Mayor Tony Staffieri, and Aldermanic President Ken Hughes — are apparently doing a good job oin Derby! And, most of all, Chief Gerald Narowski and his dedicated Derby Police Department — deserve a lot of praise –for keeping crime down in Derby.
Happy birthday wishes to Daniel Foley, Jr!
Again, Mr. Foley cannot get his facts straight and does not hesitate to use old, misleading data if he thinks it will prove his point. The ends justify the means, Mr. Foley? He also seems to have no respect for the Derby Police Department, or more importantly the people of Derby. This is 2011, your data was from 2004. That’s a 7-year difference! Also, the website tells you to not use that data for comparisons. If you think there is too much crime in Derby right now, then you need to develop an argument taking into account what is happening right now. You played this same game with our financial data trying to pass off a “Foley version” of the facts as the real deal. You need to do your own homework, Mr. Foley – Cliff’s Notes isn’t going to cut it.
Well if I reply here, they can’t delete my comments and unfriend me so I can’t comment. What I said on their Facebook account was that the crime in Derby, especially Anson Street, has been ongoing for at least 40 years and has gone on with every administration throughout. Each one has done their best to take care of the problem.
I asked, why are you waiting to complain about things until election time. Why didn’t you attend any aldermen meetings over the years? Why didn’t you approach the mayor and offer to help out? Give him ideas?
But they deleted my questions and unfriended me. Oh well.
I do not like this flyer or whatever it is. And I’m not a Republican — I don’t believe in parties. I’m proud to be an Independent.
The redevelopment is not instantinstantaneous. Under Tony, all the ugly buildings have been torn down. We no longer look like the remnants of a WWII bombing. The riverwalk makes downtown look beautiful. Contracts are set, yet again, to develop downtown. This time it’s the real deal instead of a developer messing with us.
Oh and maybe the mayor doesn’t want to debate because there are no issues to debate! The only issues here are what’s being made up and put on fliers and postcards. Oooohhhhh!! The postcards said maybe Staffieri has something to hide. Seriously? Only people who are in the habit of hiding things would even think of that!
Tell us what you think he’s hiding? And then show the proof!
Mark Twain once stated, “Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable.” In other words, you can bend statistics to demonstrate any point of view. So the statistics may be 7 years old…who cares? While doing their due diligence, the people seeking these statistics were provided the numbers by the Office of Legislative Research and the State Library…that’s good enough for me.
The numbers may have changed, but let’s look at the public perception. I wonder if the young man who was murdered on Hawthorne Avenue were still alive if he would take homage with 7 year old statistics. I wonder if the neighbors or the shop keepers in that area feel Derby is non-violent. I know the parents of children in the local schools were terrified when they found out a murder occurred just around the corner.
I wonder about the stabbing incident on Hawkins Street, the home invasion on Anson Street, the drive by shooting near the former Stahl’s dealership off of 34. Do these victims think Derby is a non-violent community? Would published photographs of people lying in their own pool of blood help drive home the point that the violence has gotten out of hand?
Folks, the crime statistics non-issue is a red herring that is being used to divert the real issue…that violent crime in Derby is a reality and it has gotten out of hand
Can people really waste their breath arguing about statistics while this garbage is going on in our community? I have lived here all of my life and have never seen or heard of so much violence in this town. In my opinion, statistics be damned. Admit there is and has been a violent crime problem and take the steps to fix it.
I can’t believe someone can just say, “So the statistics may be 7 years old who cares?” Who cares? So are you saying that Foley can put anything he wants out there, it doesn’t matter if its current or true, as long as there is an underlying issue that he wants to address? Again, are you guys saying that the ends justify the means? Of course we know there is crime in Derby. Guess what? There is crime everywhere! We should always support our Police Dept to help curb crime. We’ve done our job. Our 2011-2012 budget essentially gave the Police everything they asked for. We approved the Capital Planning requests for 2011-2012 from the Police for 2 new Crown Vics and an important upgrade to their computer system. We approved the new Police Dog, Bear. We did all of these things and we were able to stick to the facts as we did them. We didn’t need to fudge any numbers or brush aside any annoying facts that were in our way. Here is a fact for you: Derby, right here, right now, is NOT in the top 10 list of CT Violent Crime. Nor has it been anytime in the recent future. You can put – we want to make Derby safer on your mailer – or whatever – you can’t put false information and hope to keep the respect of Derby’s citizens. I’m pretty sure they care!!
Art, I have a hard time believing you condone the fact that 7 year statistical data was passed as current. If Dan Foley footnoted his data as he should, these conversations are a moot point. No one is saying there is no crime. What we ARE saying is data was misrepresented…..blatantly misrepresented. If you think this type of political behavior is OK, than I think voters should take notice. Its kind of ironic that the crime data Dan Foley referenced as being so terrible was during the last democratic administration.
Whether or not you are aware, many of the tragically violent instances you pointed out were targeted at specific victims, they were not random acts of violent crime as you would like people to believe.
This BOA recently approved a Chronic Nuisance Property ordinance which will target areas of repeat offences. The BOAT also approved the purchase of a police dog. As stated above, the BOA and BOAT have been working hand in hand with the PD and the new Chief. To have people who are only involved as the election approaches criticize that things are not being done is a grave injustice to our hard working police department.
It appears that someone has apparently given
Dan Foley, some bad election campaigning advice. Hopefully, Dan can make some adjustments, to give Derby an interesting Mayoral race, in the remaining several weeks, before Election Day.
I think from the comments made, the statistics are older than they appeared in the manner and forum that they were found and for those who know Dan as the person of integrity that he is know things like being deliberately deceptive is just not in his make up. Such open character assassination in the political realm is why people hate politics, most people in it and why good people generally avoid it like the plague.
The statistics may be old, but so is the problem. I think it’s apparent that for years now the types of crimes which we read about in placing like the Valley Independent shootings, knifings, drugs, etc are a lot more serious and frequent types of crimes than we used to read about. Many on the west side have seen it creep into areas that used to be unaffected by the actions more centrally located to the downtown area. More funding, new approaches, etc. need to be put in place to address the problem. From what residents on that side of town tell me and from personal observation incidents of crime are getting worse not better, regardless of statistics quoted.
So … all of these concerns are certainly valid but no one, not even Mr. Foley, has come up with any solutions. Does anyone have a suggestion? Did you go to the aldermen meetings to voice your concerns? To give those suggestions?
Here’s my questions to Mr. Foley — HOW do you plan on stopping the crime in Derby? I see plenty of finger pointing but no suggestions or ideas.
The shootings were not random. They were quarrels or whatever. Can yo figure out who’s going to have an issue with another person and put a police patrol in front of their house? Do you really think having extra police patrolling, which I’m sure they ARE in the problem areas, is going to stop someone from shooting someone else? If they’re determined to do it, they will — if it’s a quarrel. If it’s random, I don’t know. But these were not random.
Will you profile people before they move into Derby to see if they fit our perfect little town and then say they can’t live here because they may have drug issues or they are low income or whatever? And just because a person is low income, doesn’t make them criminals.
What is the plan? I’m sure the voters would love to know. We don’t need debates for that.
Walt Mayhew: Derby should not be used as manufactured crime capital, for any political advantage — as it’s just not true. More money is being spent in the Derby to keep crime in check.
Daniel Foley is making his second attempt to leave his teaching-retirement-status — as he can afford to accept the low Derby Mayor’s pay. already receiving a comfortable teacher’s-retirement-pay. However, at this stage of Mr. Foley’s lack of business and political experience — what does he really offer to the City of Derby — as a Mayoral Trainee?
Mayor Tony Staffieri, a former successful businessman, has a two-term experienced,and produtive record as Derby’s Chief Executive, and has verified Downtown Derby Renewal around the corner, which will bring from 300 to 350 new jobs to Derby.
Derby has a great Mayor in Tony Staffieri. Vote for him on Election Day!
Mark Twain once stated, “Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable.” In other words, you can bend statistics to demonstrate any point of view. So the statistics may be 7 years old…who cares? While doing their due diligence, the people seeking these statistics were provided the numbers by the Office of Legislative Research and the State Library…that’s good enough for me.
Woah. Doing due diligence is fine, but is it really acceptable to accept information that is wrong? Are you SERIOUSLY implying that it’s OK to make stats “pliable” (read: bendable) to suit someone’s political needs? I have a feeling if this was Mr. Stafferi making these numbers “pliable”, the reaction would be much different.
Please, let’s show some consistency. And some honour.
Christopher Bowen; You will have to do more than ‘quote Mark Twain’ to win the Derby Mayoral election for Dan Foley! However, you deserve credit for trying, Mr. Bowen.
@Stan: I… wait, wha!? Dude, are you trolling me at this point? Did you read anything I said? Like the part where I specifically said it was dangerous to trust such old, decrepit data, and that not only was I not the one that quoted Mark Twain, but I criticized the one that did?
Assuming this is our old “friend” Sharpeye, you have got to be one of the most inane people I’ve had the displeasure of trying to talk to. I can’t tell if you are a brilliant internet troll, or one of the strangest people I’ve ever seen. Either way, your ability to disrupt good conversation is unparalleled.
Christopher Bowen: Sorry I disrupted your good conversation. Most of all, Dan Foley should be sorry that you are attempting to be a spokesman for him.
If you are a friend, Dan Foley needs no enemies.