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

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. 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.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.