Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 Source: New Haven Register (CT) Copyright: 2000, New Haven Register Contact: http://www.ctcentral.com/cgi-bin/w3com/start?ctcentral+FrontPage Forum: http://www.ctcentral.com/ Author: Rebecca Baker AMENTO ORDERS UNDERCOVER DRUG AGENTS TO VACATE COMMUNITY CENTER OFFICE HAMDEN — Mayor Carl Amento is ordering undercover drug agents out of their office at the M.L. Keefe Community Center by Friday — a move that has angered neighbors and frustrated police officials. Amento sent a letter to Police Chief Robert Nolan earlier this month telling him to move the Hamden Street Crime Unit by the end of the month. The Street Crime Unit consists of six undercover officers who investigate drug activity throughout town, focusing on southern Hamden. The unit moved from police headquarters into a second-floor office at the Keefe Center, 11 Pine St., more than 10 years ago. Amento said he wants to use all the space in the Pine Street building to revitalize youth, senior and community programs. "We do not feel that the Street Crime Unit is compatible with such uses as a child-care center," Amento said in a written statement. A community policing unit also has office space at the Keefe Center. "The Community Police Unit does not present the same issues and will remain at Keefe until a substation nearby is established," Amento said. Nolan now must find space in the small, cramped police headquarters building for the unit. He said the unit does an "excellent job" fighting crime largely because they work in the same neighborhood where their informants live. "The big busts ... have been because of Street Crime being in that location," Nolan said. "They (informants) don't want to be seen walking inside a police building." The move has outraged Paul Jacques, Democratic Town Committee chairman for the 2nd District, who lives about a mile away from the Keefe Center. "I have petitions ready to go," he said. "I'll picket Town Hall if I have to, and I'll get 100 people to join me." Jacques said he feels safer knowing Cahill and his officers are close by at night. The Street Crime Unit works mainly from 4 p.m. to midnight. "There were no meetings about it, nothing for the public," Jacques said. "The community is going to feel like they've been deceived." Jacques said Amento has agreed to meet with him to discuss the matter. Jacques said the Street Crime Unit has "held strong" against crime in southern Hamden, and believes moving the officers poses a safety risk. "It's telling any drug dealer to set up shop," he said. "If he's saying they should leave because they carry guns in the building, that's the lamest excuse I've ever heard in my life." Keefe center Director Vanna Francia said she was "surprised" upon hearing of Amento's decision. "I get the sense that people in the neighborhood want a strong police presence 24 hours a day," she said. "They do most of their work late at night, after we leave," Street Crime Unit leader Sgt. Steve Cahill also said he doesn't understand Amento's decision. "We've been there (at Keefe) for 10 years and there's never been a problem," he said. "We get along good with all the people in there." - --- MAP posted-by: greg