Immediate Release: April 2, 2009
SINA’s Two-Wheeled Donation Makes Hartford Southside Safer
Hartford, Conn. – The Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (SINA), whose members include Trinity College, Hartford Hospital and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, today announced that it has donated two state-of-the-art bicycles to the Hartford Police Department (HPD) which will enhance public safety in the South End of Hartford. The bicycles are known as The Specialized Stump Jumpers and they boast two-wheel disc brakes, upgraded handlebars, improved risers bars, and many other features.
These enforcement vehicles were purchased by SINA in close consultation with the HPD. The bicycles were purchased from Bikers Edge in Bristol, which supplies all of Hartford’s police bikes. Unlike the others, which are kept at police headquarters, the new Specialized Stump Jumpers will be housed in the Southwest Substation at 134 Affleck Street.
A dedication ceremony was held Tuesday, May 26, at the Frog Hollow Substation, where SINA Executive Director Luis Caban, Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts, and new Police Captain John Betz were in attendance. “This donation will support the Hartford Police Department’s continuous efforts to maintain our bicycle patrol unit which began in 1994 as part of our community policing efforts. The new state-of-the-art bicycles will allow us to be more visible and accessible and help us better patrol in congested areas such as Park St. The generosity and cooperation of SINA is greatly appreciated.” said Roberts. Among those in attendance were representatives of Trinity College, Hartford Hospital, the Connecticut Children Medical Center, and members of SINA and the police department.
David Corrigan, Chairperson of the Frog Hollow NRZ says having police officers patrol on the new Stump Jumpers will mean the police will be more accessible, community oriented and more approachable. Not to mention, this is an especially good time to enhance public safety because as history has shown, crime tends to increase when the weather warms up.
The donation, prompted by SINA’s ever-vigilant participation in the public safety of the city’s South End, is one of many initiatives between SINA and the HPD. The collaboration includes security chiefs meetings with HPD area captains, the Specially Assigned Police Officer Initiative, and participation in the Cops N Kids book drive and youth domino tournament. SINA is now in its 32nd year of existence, SINA members – Trinity and Hartford Hospital – were founding members.
