On Thursday, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra asked Governor Dannel Malloy for more state detectives, inspectors, and other manpower to help him deal with the current spike in violent crime and deaths in the city.
"This is literally a public safety issue and I respectfully ask for an expedited response," Segarra wrote.
On Friday, Malloy wrote back. And he's not giving Segarra what he wants. Not yet, at least.
Instead, the governor is convening an emergency meeting with local, state and federal officials. The goal, he said, "will be to discuss your current strategy to combat violence in your City, and to understand how you would put the requested additional resources to use."
Malloy said he wants the group to review staffing levels at the Hartford Police Department, which have been an ongoing concern. Department officials have lamented that they are dozens of officers short of their target, and that the result means more overtime but fewer officers returning to regular beats. Only after the state's review of the city's handling of public safety, Malloy said, will a decision on assistance be made.
"The group will determine how state and federal law enforcement partners can best assist in activating additional resources to compliment local efforts," he wrote.
Weeks ago, in response to the violence and after he took criticism on the campaign trail and in the press, Segarra held a closed-door meeting with city leaders about the violence. He then said he would ask for more state help. But the formal request didn't come until Thursday.
