Hamden Residents Believe PD Shooting Not Justified: Poll

HAMDEN, CT — A Quinnipiac University poll found that most residents think that the Hamden Police-involved shooting on April 16 wasn't justified and that officers should be disciplined.

The poll found Hamden residents said 66 to 11 percent that the shooting was not justified, but approved 62 to 29 percent the job the police department was doing overall.

The survey was conducted after a request from the Town of Hamden. The poll surveyed 1,699 residents from May 2 to 6 with a margin of error of 3.1 percent.

“This survey suggests that Hamdenites regard the incident as an aberration, rather than indicative of how the Hamden Police Department operates,” said Quinnipiac University School of Law Professor William Dunlap.

The police-involved shooting left a 22-year-old woman injured. It is being investigated by State Police. Some video footage of the incident was publicly released. The investigation continues, but State Police Commissioner James Rovella said that the officers involved didn't follow protocol for activating body cameras. A Hamden officer and Yale University officer are on administrative leave.

Related: PD Body Camera Captures Video Seconds Before New Haven Shooting

There were several wide racial differences in opinion. It found that 88 percent of black residents, 60 percent of white residents and 68 percent of Hispanic residents thought the shooting wasn't justified. Overall department approval was 50 percent among black residents 67 percent among white residents and 66 percent among Hispanic residents.

“These differences among racial groups seem to be typical of attitudes reported in other cities in the wake of police shootings around the country,” Dunlap said.

Seventy percent of Hamden residents said the officers involved in the shooting should face discipline, but only 38 percent thought the officer should be fired and 36 percent thought the officer should face criminal charges.

The poll also found that 66 percent of black Hamden residents personally worry about becoming a victim of police violence compared to 12 percent of white residents and 39 percent of Hispanic residents.

Police mistreatment of people of color is a serious problem in Hamden, according to 31 percent of those polled with 72 percent saying police mistreatment of people of color is a serious problem in the U.S.

The poll also found that 93 percent of residents support body cameras that are activated automatically by a specific action such as opening a police car door or the sound of gunfire.

“The overwhelming public support for body cams that activate automatically will probably not be lost on the Police Department and the Legislative Council,” Dunlap added. “And there seems to be some public concern about levels of firearms training, as well.”