Connecticut City Looks to Use Retired Detectives as Security for Apartments

Connecticut City Looks to Use Retired Detectives as Security for Apartments

Problems at a downtown apartment building leads to discussions on hiring retired officers to keep the peace.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Feb 04, 2019

A housing authority in Meriden, Conn. is looking for ways to fund a security program using retired detective to patrol large apartment buildings downtown.

"We are working with police and the council at Community Towers," said the Meriden Housing Authority Executive Director Robert Cappelletti. "Police walk through them every day."

The problems are chronic at Community Towers, an apartment building where security doors are propped open by residents and guests enter and exit without going through front security.

"I do not know if extra patrols are assigned at this time, but the challenges remain the same with limited assistance from residents who do not want to get involved," said Meriden Police Department spokesperson Sgt. John Mennone said. "Our Neighborhood Initiative unit does spend time in that area and deals with quality of life issues."

Despite a daily police presence, the doors reopen after officers leave and the problem continues. The MHA had purchased devices to lock the doors except during emergencies, but the city fire department had asked that they unlock them. They also cannot put cameras in the hallways.

Cappelletti said there are three types of problems at Community Towers: homeless individuals sleeping in the hallways, unauthorized overnight guests and drug activity. 

The MHA says retired detectives would be beneficial because they are familiar with the neighborhood, and are trained to identify criminal activity.

"They know what to look for, how to report it, and how to collect evidence," Cappelletti said. "By state statute, the housing authority has the ability to hire its own police force."

There were expressed concerns about the costs of hiring retired officers, but Cappelletti said there could be funds available through HUD.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.