The Board of Aldermen could debate a proposal to give cash rewards to crime tipsters at its meeting Tuesday.
Alderman John Marini, lone Republican on the board, suggested the move after a spate of vandalism at the end of June.
He wants to offer $1,000 for information about the vandalism and $2,000 for information about two murders that happened this year. The money would only be paid if the police department uses that information to arrest and convict someone, Marini said.
But some Democrats on the board, including Board of Aldermen President Stephen Blume, aren’t convinced it’s proper or feasible to give cash rewards for information.
The two sides will converge in a debate Tuesday, when Marini officially proposes the resolutions to the full Board of Aldermen.
The two murders referenced are the March 9 fatal shooting of Daryl Venson, and the March 16 fatal shooting of Isaia Hernandez. No arrests have been made in either case.
The vandalism refers to slashed tires, broken windows and a punctured pool found in the north end of the city in late June.
Pros
Marini said the ordinance would give the message that Ansonia is tough on crime.
“It seems to send the wrong message to back down, to not do anything,” Marini said.
He suggested the money could come from the claims account, which pays out settlements and claims against the town. Marini said the item wouldn’t hit the city’s budget too hard because payments would only come out upon a conviction.
Cons
But Blume said the police department doesn’t need the Board of Aldermen meddling, and that it would be difficult to execute the plan.
“The amount placed on the crime could make some people very angry,” Blume said. “Where do you stop? Is it for vandalism? Misdemeanors? Murder? Rape? A lost child? And how much do you give for that lost child?”
He also worried that it would be too costly for the town to keep up with rewards.
The two publicly butted heads on the issue last month. Click here to read an article about their debate.
Since then, Marini and Blume have met to talk about the issue, Blume said.
And they forwarded the proposal to the Board of Police Commissioners, which will give its feedback to the Board of Aldermen next month.
Police Chief Kevin Hale called the proposal “complex.”
“You’ve got a span of proposals, criminal mischief to homicide,” Hale said, referring to the reward proposed for vandalism, and for the two murders. “That’s quite a span. There are various other crimes or incidents that occur in between there.”
Hale said the police commissioners will take up the issue at their next meeting.
It wasn’t clear if private rewards have made an impact in Ansonia because it isn’t something that happens often.
“I haven’t really seen it here,” Hale said. “It’s rare.”
Graffiti
Along with the rewards proposal, the Board of Aldermen ordinance committee also submitted plans for an anti-graffiti ordinance to the Board of Police Commissioners for review.
“We asked them to please, by next month, give us some direction and tell us how they feel,” Blume said Monday.
“If we’re enacting ordinances, it’s only fair that we get their input,” Blume said. “We’ll take their suggestions and bring them to the board (of aldermen).”
Marini also proposed the graffiti ordinance. Click here to read a previous story on the proposal.
Blume said he is on the same page with Marini about the ordinance, and they are waiting for the police department feedback.
Ansonia police Officer Rick Esposito has some expertise on graffiti programs, Marini said, so the Board of Aldermen hope to have him come give a presentation to the board as well.
The ordinance proposes setting fines for possessing graffiti tools and for painting graffiti. It also proposes installing cameras in hard-hit areas. The fines would eventually be used to pay for graffiti clean-up.
The board hopes to pass the ordinance before the end of the year, Marini said.
