City police were involved in two deadly shootings within eight days last month. Both men shot were armed with a knife, but each was enduring a mental health crisis.
HARTFORD, Conn. — Last month, Hartford police were involved in two fatal shootings that occurred within eight days of each other.
Now, the city’s police department is facing major scrutiny for its inability to de-escalate either situation.
Making matters more complicated is the fact that both incidents reportedly stemmed from emotionally disturbed person calls. Now, community members are hoping more can be done to improve how officers respond to individuals who are experiencing mental health crises.
RELATED: Man shot by Hartford police officer on Feb. 27 has died: Inspector General
Hartford police officials say law enforcement personnel only get involved in these situations if there’s a threat of violence.
They noted that personnel typically respond to multiple emotionally disturbed persons, or EDP calls, each shift. In 2025, they responded to more than 1,500 of these calls.
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam says the city’s emergency assistance response team typically responds to EDP calls.
“We continue to try to expand our mental health response here at the city to ensure that there’s non-police response to incidents like these when possible,” Arulampalam said.
However, officers do get involved if there is an active threat of violence to themselves or others.
“In both these cases, there was an attempt to get that mental health response. in the [Feb. 19] Capitol Avenue case, that was the first response there, and they felt they couldn’t be successful, and that’s when they asked for police to step in,” explained Arulampalam.
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Regarding the police shooting on Blue Hills Avenue last Friday, the mayor said they attempted to get mental health professionals there.
“When the victim stepped out on the street with a knife, it just escalated very quickly because of the safety of those surrounding, and they were not able to get there in time,” said Arulampalam.
He added that police try to de-escalate the situation first.
However, Josh Michtom, a City Council member, said the police department’s methods need to be reviewed.
“You had people trying to do the work of de-escalation, and they were talking about de-escalation, with their guns drawn,” said Michtom.
Michtom thinks officers responding to these calls with guns drawn is counterproductive.
RELATED: Community protests Hartford PD after 2 police-involved shootings in less than 2 weeks
“Most of us have been alive too long and seen police operate too long to feel calmed with a gun on us,” said Michtom.
He believes the city needs to take a deeper look at these responses beyond the scope of the Inspector General’s reports.
“We have the mechanisms to say, was a cop to blame, but we don’t have the mechanisms to say what other steps we can take so that we don’t have to do this analysis again,” explained Michtom.
As they learn more information on both shootings, the mayor said they will continue to evaluate their police response to EDP calls to ensure they’re being handled safely and appropriately.
Alyshia Hercules is a Multi-Skilled Journalist for FOX61 News. She can be reached at AHercules@FOX61.com. Follow her on Facebook or X.
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