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March 26. 2012 10:22PM
Only in Print: Manchester chief says shooting underscores need to bolster police force
MANCHESTER — With two officers shot in the line of duty in less than six years, Manchester police must mobilize every tool available and consider increasing the number of officers on the force if the city wants to keep out-of-town thugs and criminals from defining its quality of life, the police chief said Monday.
“I'm not going to tell you if we had more police officers this wouldn't have happened,” Chief David J. Mara told about 150 residents and city officials gathered at Gossler Park Elementary School to express concerns about last Wednesday's shooting of Patrolman Daniel Doherty at Wayne and Rimmon streets during a foot chase.
Manchester, the chief said, remains a comparatively “safe city.” But he said an “explosion” of prescription-drug abuse has contributed to an increase in burglaries and other crimes that police work hard to bring under control.
“I do believe that we need a lot more police officers. But I also understand the (financial) restrictions” facing the city,” Mara said.
An agreement with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to hire seven more officers, effective July 1, will increase the force to 217 officers. That is still below the full complement of 227 officers, Mara said.
In a letter he sent to the mayor and aldermen earlier this month, Mara said he asked the board to conduct a study to assess the number of police officers the state's largest city will need in the future. The study would include FBI-recommended staffing, numbers of square miles patrolled, and other factors, Mara said. The request is currently before the aldermen's Human Resources Committee.
Applause filled the gymnasium when Mara updated the audience on Doherty's condition. The wounded officer, who was in serious condition after being shot five times, “is doing a lot better,” Mara said.
“He is talking. He is doing a lot better. He and his family have expressed appreciation for all the support everyone is giving them,” Mara said. “When the facts come out, you will learn the members of your police department — starting with Officer Doherty — were heroic.”
“This animal... had no regard,” Mara said in a reference to the accused shooter, Myles Webster, 22, of Litchfield. ““Not only was the police officer in danger, but everyone in the neighborhood was in harm's way.”
Officer Michael L. Briggs was fatally shot in October 2006 while trying to stop Michael Addison, a member of a Boston street gang, in an alley. Addison was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in 2008. He is appealing his conviction and the death sentence.
“I'm not going to tell you if we had more police officers this wouldn't have happened,” Chief David J. Mara told about 150 residents and city officials gathered at Gossler Park Elementary School to express concerns about last Wednesday's shooting of Patrolman Daniel Doherty at Wayne and Rimmon streets during a foot chase.
Manchester, the chief said, remains a comparatively “safe city.” But he said an “explosion” of prescription-drug abuse has contributed to an increase in burglaries and other crimes that police work hard to bring under control.
“I do believe that we need a lot more police officers. But I also understand the (financial) restrictions” facing the city,” Mara said.
An agreement with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to hire seven more officers, effective July 1, will increase the force to 217 officers. That is still below the full complement of 227 officers, Mara said.
In a letter he sent to the mayor and aldermen earlier this month, Mara said he asked the board to conduct a study to assess the number of police officers the state's largest city will need in the future. The study would include FBI-recommended staffing, numbers of square miles patrolled, and other factors, Mara said. The request is currently before the aldermen's Human Resources Committee.
Applause filled the gymnasium when Mara updated the audience on Doherty's condition. The wounded officer, who was in serious condition after being shot five times, “is doing a lot better,” Mara said.
“He is talking. He is doing a lot better. He and his family have expressed appreciation for all the support everyone is giving them,” Mara said. “When the facts come out, you will learn the members of your police department — starting with Officer Doherty — were heroic.”
“This animal... had no regard,” Mara said in a reference to the accused shooter, Myles Webster, 22, of Litchfield. ““Not only was the police officer in danger, but everyone in the neighborhood was in harm's way.”
Officer Michael L. Briggs was fatally shot in October 2006 while trying to stop Michael Addison, a member of a Boston street gang, in an alley. Addison was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in 2008. He is appealing his conviction and the death sentence.