Police Department Scores High in Recent Survey

A recently released “Citizen Police Satisfaction Survey” gave the local department high grades including an overwhelming majority of 85% of respondents saying that the Stratford Police are “professional and helpful.”

Overall, the report concluded that 78% of respondents agreed that local officers were both “fair in dealing with citizens” and that they were “satisfied with the police services in their neighborhood.”

The survey was paid for by a grant Everyday Democracy, an East Hartford-based non-profit group working in conjunction with Stratford’s Citizens Addressing Racial Equity group (C.A.R.E.) and its Community-Police Relations Action Team. 

The Bridgeport-based duBay Horton Associates conducted the survey of more than 430 Stratford residents who responded to the 21-question survey in 2010, which was distributed at community meetings, sporting events and various in-town locations.

All told, about three-quarters of the respondents were White/Caucasian, 24% African-American and 1% Asian. Of the total, about 11% identified themselves as Hispanic. Of those racial groups, 67% of African-American respondents said they were “satisfied” with police services, compared with 71% of Hispanics and 81% of Whites. 

However, the survey found that only 60% of African-Americans in Stratford believed that the police are fair in their dealings with citizens, although Stratford Chief John J. Buturla noted that African-Americans are also the most likely group to want to work with the police to address cultural differences. 

The survey results also indicate that neighborhood geography does matter, as the levels of concern related to quality of life issues either increased or decreased depending on the neighborhood that respondents lived in.

Stratford Patch met last week with Chief Burturla and Deputy Chief Deputy Chief Patrick Ridenhour who both stressed that working with members of the community and the respective minority communities in town has been a high priority. 

“Overall, I am encouraged by the survey results,” Chief Buturla said, “as we have increased our outreach to the community as a whole over the last few years. 

“Externally, we have partnered with organizations like C.A.R.E. as well as Stratford Community Services, the Education department and other town departments. 

“Internally, we have created both an Officer of Professional Standards and an Office of Community Affairs,” the chief continued. “We have an officer assigned to the Juvenile Review Board and we have also established things like our Citizens Police Academy and Police Explorer program.

“While overall the survey results are positive, I realize that we still have some work to do,” Chief Buturla said. “We are committed to giving all citizens the highest quality of police service.”