DERBY – The Derby Board of Police Commissioners held its monthly meeting on June 17.
Here is a summary of the meeting:
No Parking!
The commission approved a ‘no parking’ sign to be installed in front of an apartment building at 9 Hawkins St. to protect access to emergency equipment.
The request for the sign came from both the police commission and members of the Derby Fire Department, according to Deputy Police Chief Brian Grogan.
The apartment building is across the street from the Storm Engine Co. Ambulance Corps’ auxiliary building and has two large garages for emergency vehicles.
Grogan said it houses some of the special operations vehicles and other large apparatus.
Police commissioners said at its meeting last month that an abandoned car had been parked in that spot for a long time. Grogan said the car has since been removed.
“Designating the one spot as ‘no parking’ is to allow large fire apparatus the ability to back into the garage,” Grogan said. “Due to the large size of the equipment, there is difficultly getting the equipment in and out of the building’s garage bays as Hawkins Street is narrow and parking is currently allowed directly across from the garage bay doors.”
Grogan said someone illegally painted their own parking lines on the street where the ‘no parking’ sign is slated to go. Police commission chairman Thomas DeGennaro asked Grogan to instruct the city’s public works department to remove the lines that were spray painted onto the street.
“Unfortunately, the area is congested and many of the multi-family dwellings as well as apartment buildings do not have off-street parking so residents must park along the streets,” Grogan said.
So Long Officer Hernandez
The commission accepted the resignation of police officer Michael Hernandez, who came to Derby two years ago as a transfer from Bridgeport Police Department. Grogan said Hernandez has moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Hernandez’ leaving will leave two vacancies in the department, Grogan said.
“We are actively looking to fill them whether by lateral transfers or new hires,” Grogan said.
Grogan said the department is in the final stages of reviewing a recommendation for a new hire.
