Hate crimes ... always call
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
With knowledge and reporting comes hate crimes’ demise. Always call.
The goal is to annihilate — or at least reduce — hate crimes in Connecticut.
Members of the Connecticut’s Hate Crimes Investigative Unit (HCIU) are taking their important information on the road. Their latest stop was Putnam last week.
The unit coordinator, State Police investigators and John F. Fahey, state’s attorney for the Judicial District of Windham, leveled their efforts to fight hate crimes with knowledge.
The group has spoken all over Connecticut, connecting with police, school superintendents (upcoming), and the public. Putnam Police Chief Christopher D Ferace said the HCIU asked him to set up a presentation for the Quiet Corner. While there have been a minimal number of bias incidents or crimes with bias elements in Putnam, the issue is still important.
Building awareness of hate and bias crimes will lead to more incidents being reported, he said. Over time, crime should be reduced. People will feel more comfortable reporting it, he said.
Unit Coordinator Michael Bloom said the highest priority is getting the information out to communities. During some of the unit’s Zoom programs, he said, some of the participants have their Zoom screens hidden. “That’s how scared they are.”
The unit is getting the information out there — how to spot hate crimes — what it is, what it is not, Bloom said.
The reduction of hate crimes hinges on accurate reporting.
The unit members described a hate crime as “a criminal offense motivated by bias against race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.” Many incidents do not rise to that description. There are also crimes with bias elements.
And there are “bias incidents” which refers to acts of prejudice that are not crimes and do not involve violence, threats or property damage. But that ask that you always call, regardless. Hate speech is speech expressing hatred or bias based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics. It is not a crime unless it is tied to a criminal act.
State Police Sergeant HCIU Nicholas Caez said they know incidents are happening in schools. “We know they are.” They are expanding their outreach to School Resource Officers and school administrators and beyond.
State Police Detective Michael Dargan said the unit has seen some progress in the last six or seven months. Reporting hate or bias crimes to the local police helps build the data base that will help all.
Why reporting matters: it helps law enforcement in prevention of future hate crimes; it allows law enforcement to identify trends of hate/bias; unpunished offenders may continue to commit hate crimes; and it strengthens the community trust and safety for all.
He said that “race and religion are targeted the most, by far.”
Caez said reporting is important. It helps police and the HCIU unit track trends. The HCIU is the repository for law enforcement related to hate crimes, bias incidents and crimes with bias elements.
On his side of the effort state’s attorney Fahey echoed the importance of reporting.
Always call it in, he said, because there may be more to what you saw than you realize. Something illegal may have happened five minutes before you got there. Investigation is key.
“This is not a black and white issue,” he said but always report. He added “We will pursue this vigorously. We take these crimes seriously.”
If you don’t know the non-emergency number for the police, call 911. Always call.
caption page 3:
Above left, from left: Rev. Michael Choquette, Mayor Barney Seney, state's attorney John Fahey, state's attorney supervisory assistant Jackie McMahon and Putnam Police Chief Christopher Ferace. Linda Lemmon photo.