Newtown Officers immediately responded and requested assistance from Connecticut State Police. Surrounding police agencies also sent assistance to the scene. Troopers, both on-duty and off-duty, responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, teams of Troopers and Officers formed “Active Shooter Teams” and immediately entered the school. Teams performed rescues of students and staff, removing them to a safe location as they searched for the shooting suspect within the building. The building was evacuated and students walked hand in hand out to a safe location.

Teams encountered several students and staff suffering from gunshot wounds. The building was secured, the ”shooter” was located deceased, and Newtown EMS personnel entered to provide emergency care for the wounded. Eighteen (18) children were pronounced dead at the scene, two children were transported to Danbury Hospital and later pronounced dead. Six (6) adult victims were also pronounced dead at the scene. Teams located the shooter on scene; he was also pronounced dead. The perimeter was also searched and secured by responding law enforcement.

The building was secured and at the request of the Newton Police Chief and Danbury State’s Attorney, two Connecticut State Police Major Crime squads responded to conduct the investigation into this crime. Troopers are assisted by Newtown Police Detectives, Danbury State’s Attorney, and many Federal, Local, and States Law Enforcement Agencies.

The processing of the scene began immediately with documentation of the crime scene and identifying and gathering both physical and forensic evidence. The urgent focus of the Major Crime investigators was to work with the Office of the Chief State’ s Medical Examiner to establish the identity of all the deceased victims. This was accomplished overnight and the next of kin were all notified that positive identification was made.

The family of each victim was assigned a Trooper or Officer to establish and maintain an open line of communication. This was put into place so families of the victims can have immediate contact related to any questions they may have and to also provide State Police investigators the ability to communicate with families without delay. The families have requested no press interviews and we are asking that this request be honored.

The deceased victims have been transported to the Office of The Chief State’s Medical Examiner where a post mortem examination will be conducted to determine the manner and cause of death. State Police Major Crime Investigators are continuing to process the school crime scene, gathering evidence and documenting the entire facility. State Police Detectives assisted by Newtown Detectives processed the interior and exterior crime scene. Teams of investigators flooded the community and followed each lead, developing extensive information.

A second crime scene was located by investigators at a residence on Yogananda Street. A female was located deceased inside the residence. This scene was secured and an additional State Police Major Crime Squad responded to this scene to investigate this incident. Preliminary information determined that the deceased was a relative of the “shooter” at the Elementary School.

Presently, the school scene is still being processed by detectives and it anticipated that this process will take several days. In addition, Troopers are continuing to follow any and all leads in this case utilizing Law Enforcement in-state as well as out of state as required.

Crisis counseling teams are on-site to provide support to the families of all of the victims. The investigation is continuing. See Inquiring News Dec. 19th Edition, for continued post news coverage.

Chief Rovella and Mayor Pedro E. Segarra, promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief:
Deputy Chief of Police Neville A. Brooks
Appointed a Hartford Police Officer in September of 1994, Deputy Chief Brooks was assigned to the Patrol Division before joining the Street Crimes Unit.

As a detective he was assigned to the Major Crimes Division. In 2000, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned as a supervisory investigator with the Internal Affairs Division. He also served as a supervisor with the Vice and Narcotics Division, Major Crimes Division, the Disorder Control Team, Emergency Response Team, Hostage Negotiation Team, the Court Liaison and Warrant Unit, and commanded the K-9 Unit. Promoted to Lieutenant in 2007, Deputy Chief Brooks was assigned as C-Squad Watch Commander, then Commander of the Detention Facility, Bicycle Unit, Special Events and the Internal Affairs Division.

Deputy Chief Brooks is a past President of the Police Benevolent Association, has served as a former Board Member of the Hartford Police Federal Credit Union. He has also served as an EAP Peer Contact, been active with the Police Explorer Program, and was an adjunct Instructor with the Hartford Police Academy.
Deputy Chief of Police Joseph J. Buyak 
Deputy Chief Joseph Buyak was born and raised in Hartford, attended local public schools, and graduated from South Catholic High School in 1980. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1979 as a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 105 in Hartford’s Southend. A thirty year veteran, Chief Buyak joined the Hartford Police Department on December 19, 1983. He has served with the Field Services Bureau and in a variety of Patrol Division assignments focused on crime suppression and vice and narcotics interdiction.

In March of 1992, Chief Buyak was promoted to the rank of sergeant, in 1995 to lieutenant, and in 2001 he was promoted to the rank of Captain. Chief Buyak has held numerous command level positions including Evening Watch Commander, Commander of the Crimes Against Persons Division, South Police Service Area Executive Officer, Commander of the Investigative Services Bureau, Commander of Inspections, Ombudsman, Commander of the Southeast Police District and currently Commander of the Northwest Police District.

He is the recipient of numerous Hartford Police commendations and holds a degree in criminal justice. Chief Buyak’s family has a long history of service with the Hartford Police Department that includes his grandfather, brother and sister, uncle and numerous cousins.
Deputy Chief of Police Emory Hightower, Jr.
Born and raised in Hartford, Deputy Chief Hightower graduated from Annie Fisher Elementary, Fox Middle, and Weaver High Schools.

He was appointed a Hartford Police Officer in April of 1994, and was subsequently assigned to the South PSA Operations and Community Service area. As a sergeant he served with the Patrol Division and as a supervising sergeant with the Hartford Police Academy as the recruit and citizen academy coordinator. He also has served as a POST Certified Instructor and taught various law enforcement subjects at the Bridgeport, Meriden, and New Britain Police Academies as both a sergeant and lieutenant.

In 2006 Deputy Chief Hightower supervised the Northeast Violence Reduction Initiative and in 2007 he supervised Operation True North. As a lieutenant he commanded Zone 4 in the Northeast Police District and supervised and coordinated the Weed and Seed Program, during which he initiated a quality of life inspection team made up of all city departments. Deputy Chief Hightower has also served as an Evening Watch Commander. He is a former supervisory instructor for the Gang Resistance and Education and Training Program (GREAT).
He currently is assigned to the ATF Task Force, the Hartford Shooting Task Force Cold Case Unit. Deputy Chief Hightower attended Trinity College and is currently studying organizational management at Charter Oak State College.

Deputy Chief of Police William F. Long III
Deputy Chief Long joined the Hartford Police Department in 1994 and has moved up through the ranks from patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant and captain. As a patrolman he served with the Field Services Bureau and Street Crimes Unit. Appointed detective in 1999, he was assigned to the Juvenile Investigative Division and became a supervisor in that division when promoted to sergeant in 2001. He also served as a sergeant in the Traffic Division and Field Services Bureau.

As a lieutenant, Deputy Chief Long commanded Zone 1 in the Northwest District and the highly successful Operation True North in 2006. He has served on the Disorder Control Team, as a voting member of the Accident Review Board, on the HPD Uniform Committee, and is a certified bicycle patrol officer. Promoted to the rank of captain in 2011, he currently serves as Headquarters Commander. Deputy Chief Long is the recipient of 3 Exemplary Service Awards, 2 Chief’s Letter of Commendation, 4 Merit Awards, and 3 State Police Unit Citations. He is also the recipient of a Presidential Debate Citation and a State of Connecticut General Assembly Official Citation.

Trained in Critical Incident Management, Deputy Chief Long is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Clemson University. 
Deputy Chief of Police Luis A. Rodriguez
Deputy Chief Rodriguez joined the Hartford Police Department in 1994 and was assigned to the Patrol Division and Street Crimes Unit. In 1999 he was appointed a detective and served with the Vice & Narcotics Division and Statewide Narcotics Task Force.

After his promotion to Sergeant in 2000, Deputy Chief Rodriguez was assigned to the Internal Affairs Division; he also served with the North and South Community Response Divisions, Intelligence Division, Northeast Violence Initiative and the Major Crimes Division, and supervised the Emergency Response and Disorder Control Teams, and the HPD Honor Guard. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2006 and assumed Command of the Vice & Narcotics Division, after which he commanded the Intelligence Division and the Inspections Bureau.

Deputy Chief Rodriguez has also served on the Crisis Negotiation Team and as an instructor at the Hartford Police Academy. An eight year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Deputy Chief Rodriguez served on active duty with an anti-terrorism unit in Europe and in California with a Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable deployed to the Los Angeles riots in the early 1990’s. Deputy Chief Rodriguez has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Tunxis Community College.

To be promoted to the rank of Sergeant:
Officer Julie T. Holmes
Officer William D. Labelle-Boucher
Detective Sean Patrick Michel
Officer Paul West.

Photo: U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder joins federal, state and city authorities in launching Project Longevity, a joint effort to stem gun violence in CT.  Photo Credit: Jocelyne Hudson-Brown

U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder joined Gov. Malloy, Sen. Blumenthal the mayors of New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport as well as a host of federal, state and city officials along with community activists saying “We’re opening a new chapter in the fight against violent crime… I’m here to pledge the Justice Department’s strong support”. The FBI, DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service are working the Project Longevity effort.

Gov. Malloy acknowledged that overall crime has gone down in CT. Although he stated “Gun violence in our major cities is unacceptably high. Last year 94 out of 129 homicides were committed in our major cities of Bridgeport, Hartford or New Haven. Almost all involving guns, almost all involving men of color. As a result we are losing young people.”

In New Haven there are about 19 active gangs. Many individuals were “called-in” to sit down with police who informed them that their entire group would be held accountable if one of them commits a murder. There will be stiff penalties to pay, everyone is going down.

In the past New Haven Mayor John DeStefano has been opposed to federal intervention to curb gun violence. He says does not view Project Longevity as a federal intervention. Instead he considers it a “Community wide effort that involves law enforcement partners.”

DeStefano says Project Longevity will “Directly engage folks who are practicing violence, offer them a choice. If the choice is a positive one it will turn them away from a life of violence. If it is a negative one they become the focus of federal prosecution and be removed from the streets.”

NAACP CT President Scott X. Exdaile is a bit concerned that there were no “Young people at the press conference to buy into it. 100 percent of the violence is among young people, 100 percent of the people here are adults. If the young people don’t buy into it what kind of results are you going to get?”

Project Longevity will make resources available for those who want to leave gang life and the violence it brings behind. (Need contact information, will have Thursday a.m.). New Haven educator Alicia Caraballo, whose 24-year-old son was murdered, said his killer “Got 100 years. He will never leave prison. He will live and die in jail. And this is what will happen to you.”

Gangbangers/Violent offenders be forewarned. The feds are here operating at full capacity and giving you their “undivided attention”’.

Hartford – (November 30, 2012) –The Hartford Hurricanes, a youth football and cheerleading team, comprised of 90% Hartford kids leave today to complete in the Eastern National Youth Football Championships tournament. This comes after their win at the New England Regional tournament last weekend.

“I want to congratulate these young men for their sportsmanship, hard work and talent. I also want to congratulate Coach Phil Bryant for his leadership and dedication. His commitment to work with our youth creates a positive impact on the entire community. I wish the team all the best, and of course, victory,” said Mayor Segarra.

Competing in the national championships represents a once in a lifetime for many of the young men. As a gesture of support for Hartford’s youth, Mayor Segarra has agreed to contribute $20,000 to offset their $40,000 travel expenses. Photo by Merel Davis

An Illinois study found that the price of phone calls from prison was one of the two most significant barriers to family contact during incarceration.

Why are the most captive and vulnerable being charged such brutal rates for a phone call? Because they can be. They have no choice in provider.

The prison system cuts a deal with a telephone company that pays the state a “commission” — what the New York Times calls a “legalized kickback” — that ranges from 15 to 60 percent of the revenue. Thus, as a report by the Prison Policy Initiative details, state prison systems have no incentive to select the company with the lowest rates. Instead, the correctional departments gain the most by selecting the company that provides the highest commissions.

The result makes prison-telephone use a cash cow for the phone companies — and a brutal exploitation of the families of prisoners who pay the charges.

Not surprisingly, over the past few years, three corporations have come to monopolize the service of 90 percent of all incarcerated persons, making it even easier to control rates.

The Cook County Jail contract is with Securus Technologies. The Dallas-based company has contracts across the state of Illinois, and with a total of 2,200 jails and prisons nationwide, provides phone service for some 850,000 inmates. Securus peddles its service by emphasizing that the prison systems can make money for the prison systems.

These outrageous rates make it harder for prisoners and their families to stay in touch.

Yet studies show that family contact and support is directly related to the success of a prisoner after release. As the Prison Policy Initiative reports, the 2012 Republican Party Platform endorses “family friendly policies . . . [to] reduce the rate of recidivism, thus reducing the enormous fiscal and social costs of incarceration.” The 2012 Democratic Party Platform also supports initiatives to reduce recidivism. A sensible step would be to lower prison telephone rates.



According to the Center for Media Justice, eight states have passed laws banning jail phone contracts that generate revenue for government bodies. But the Federal Communications Commission has been dithering for nearly a decade on regulations that would either break up monopolies or impose price caps on long-distance prison telephone rates and put a lid on the price-gouging. But action has been delayed in wake of an aggressive lobbying effort by prison phone companies.



The phone companies and prison officials argue that the extra charges are needed to pay for security screening of inmates’ calls. But New York State banned kickbacks years ago, requiring low-cost service, while doing screening. Currently Global Tel-Link charges New York prisoners and their families about 5 cents per minute for local and long-distance calls. Compare that with Georgia, where inmates pay $17 a minute for a 15-minute long-distance call.

Again, by contrast, the federal prison system has inexpensive phone service, using a computer-controlled system that enables inmates to place calls to a limited list of numbers.

Some 60 percent of our nation’s inmates are poor. If families accept their collect calls, the burdensome charges — it can cost less to telephone Japan — can help push families into bankruptcy or foreclosure. If families don’t accept the calls, they are consumed by guilt and contribute to the psychological isolation that can thwart rehabilitation.

Rep. Bobby Rush from Illinois and Rep. Henry Waxman from California have joined in calling on the FCC to act. It’s time to end a shameless system that benefits a few big corporations at the expense of the poor families trying to support loved ones in trouble.

Racism and poverty are known contributors of negative outcomes among youth, but few have investigated the developmental trajectory that leads to academic failure among African American males. According to the Council of the Great City Schools (2010), only 12 percent of Black boys read at or above grade level by fourth grade, compared to 38 percent of White males. In some inner city communities, the Black male dropout rate hovers at around 50 percent or more.

Picking up where “at-risk” theories stalled decades ago, Porter examines two key developmental factors to understanding Black boys’ academic performance: Hypermasculinity and academic self-concept.

Hypermasculinity is “male bravado”-a boastful, sexual, and confrontational mindset and code of behavior valued by Black males and scorned by mainstream society. Anger is the engine that drives Hypermasculinity, a survival mechanism in high risk communities used to instill fear and respect and that is prevalent in urban classrooms.

“Education is way down on a list of priorities that might include drugs, gangs, chasing girls, or just trying to survive a disruptive home life,” says Porter. “Our boys know that education can offer a brighter future, but maintaining a street image trumps doing homework, studying for tests, and behaving in the classroom.”

Porter closely studied the second developmental factor, academic self-concept (self-esteem), among a group of at-risk African American teens and found that despite failing grades, Black boys tend to rate highly in academic self-concept compared with other groups. “Clearly, Black boys are not accurately understanding their own school performance,” says Porter. “They believe they are doing much better than their grades indicate. Furthermore, they tend to blame others, especially teachers, for their troubles in the classroom.”

Becoming aware of these developmental challenges is the first step to equipping youth to succeed in school and in life. A mentor to at-risk Black boys for more than 20 years, Porter offers his C.O.D.E model for mentorship:
1. 1. Help youth to connect to a vision.
2. 2. Observe and moderate personal behaviors.
3. 3. Practice self-discipline.
4. 4. Emulate positive examples.

For additional information, contact 1-800-552-1991, Fax# (708) 672-0466.

P.O. Box 1799, Chicago Heights, IL 60412.
Website: http://www.africanamericanimages.com,
Email: customer@africanamericanimages.com

Chicago, Il ,- President Barack Obama handily defeated Gov. Mitt Romney and won himself a second term on Tuesday after a bitter and historically expensive race that was primarily fought in just a handful of battleground states. Obama beat Romney after nabbing almost every one of the 12 crucial battleground states.

The Romney campaign’s last-ditch attempt to put blue-leaning Midwestern swing states in play failed as Obama’s Midwestern firewall sent the president back to the White House for four more years. Obama picked up the swing states of New Hampshire, Michigan, New Mexico, Iowa, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Ohio. Of the swing states, Romney picked up only North Carolina. Florida is still too close to call, but even if Romney wins the state, Obama still beat him in the Electoral College vote. The popular vote will most likely be narrower than the president’s decisive Electoral College victory.

In a sweeping victory speech early Wednesday morning, Obama thanked every American who voted, and vowed to work with leaders from both parties to tackle the country’s challenges.

“Our economy is recovering, a decade of war is ending, a long campaign is now over,” he told a crowd of cheering supporters in Chicago. “And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you and you have made me a better president.” Obama added he has “never been more hopeful about America. … We’re not as divided as our politics suggest. We remain more than a collection of blue states and red states.”

In his speech, he offered clues to the policy goals of his second term, which included a deficit reduction plan that combines tax increases with spending cuts, a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s federal immigration laws and tax reform. He called on Republicans to join him in achieving those goals.

The battle for the White House between Obama and Romney divided the nation, causing, at times, bitter disputes between the parties. Obama urged his supporters to look beyond the fight of the past several months and defended the process of choosing a president.

“I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly,” Obama said. “And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics who tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of evils or the domain of special interests. If you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turned out to our rallies and along the rope lines of high school gyms, or saw folks working late at campaign office or some tiny county a long way from home, you’ll discover something else.”

Romney conceded in Boston in a speech around 1 a.m. ET. “Like so many of you, Paul [Ryan] and I have left everything on the field. We have given our all to this campaign,” Romney said. “I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead your country in another direction. But the nation chose another leader.” Romney congratulated the president and his campaign on their victory.