Vernon Chief Citing 'Zero Tolerance' In Quick Stabbing Arrests

VERNON, CT — A lack of cooperation on the part of those involved in last Friday's brawl after a Rockville High School football game has led to what local police are calling a "zero tolerance" policy regarding two local factions and relatively quick, sysetmatic arrests in the case, the top law enforcement administrator in Vernon said Wednesday.

Outlining the policy was part of a candid sit-down meeting between Patch and Vernon Police Chief James Kenny on Wednesday afternoon. Kenny addressed not only the stabbing and bat attacks after the RHS game, but two unrelated stabbing cases as well.

"For anyone to broadcast the notion that the Rockville section of town is out of control is doing this town a disservice," Kenny said. "We've had three cases — all unrelated — and we've made quick arrests in all of them."

Kenny described Friday's brawl as an "ambush-type" meleee that was the culmination of tensions festering before school even started.

"The kids are well-known to the police department and there was a beef between the two groups all summer," Kenny said. "We attempted intervention and the parents and the kids on one side were uncoperative and not interested."

The disagreements came to a head last Friday at about 10:15 p.m. when one group attacked another in a fracas involving a bat and knife, according to police records. The incident took place on the "Farmers Road," an access way that eventually leads to Route 83 from the Rails-to-Trails system and the Ryefield condominium complex.

Police wasted no time in rounding up supects. The following day, three were taken into custody. Two more teens were arrested two days after the first set of charges was levied. On Monday night, a teen was arrested for allegedly trying to intimidate a wintess in the case.

"Since the arrests, the parties have cooperative, because they now know this is serious," Vernon police spokesman Lt. William Meier said.

About a third of the 13 participants are active students in the local system, Superintendant of Schools Joseph Macary said after the arrests. He added that weapons charges call for automatic explusion by state law. He said he would follow the letter of the law and determine punishments on the case-by-case basis.

The "zero tolerance" police is not isolated. Police also made quick arrests in a stabbing case at the intersection of Union and Ward streets and after a stabbing on Bellevue Avenue.

"We've taken fast action in all three cases," Kenny said. "These all involve small factions and we're dealing with them."

Kenny said social media posts and "news conferences" staged by neighbors and perceived publicity stunts by business owners implying or claiming that Rockville is "out of control" are uncalled for.

"It's all false information and it's exacerbating the problem," he said.

Kenny cited a community police officer dedicated to the Rockville section of town, bike patrols and a VPD, Eastern Connecticut Health Network and Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery program that offers services for people with opioid dependence at Rockville General Hospital as an alternative to arrest as efforts to improve the "quality of life" in Rockville.

He also credited Vernon Youth Services, the Vernon ROCKS Coalition and the Circle of Moms as outside entities also contributing.

"Vernon is in good shape. Vernon has a lot to offer," Kenny said. "The police are on top of these isolated situations and Vernon remains a good place to live. But I also want to emphasize that we have zero tolerance for anyone who wants to break the law."