HARTFORD — An independent assessment released Tuesday on Hartford police’s culture and climate found the department has work to do to around increasing diversity, reducing friction between the rank and file and administration and supporting overburdened patrol officers.
The study was conducted over the past year by criminal justice researchers at Westfield State University and the University of Rhode Island, who surveyed and interviewed officers and looked at demographic data and officer complaints to draw conclusions about the department.
They recommend Hartford police remedy the divide between officers and the administration by placing a greater focus on “organizational justice” — such as improving the internal disciplinary process and consistency in decision-making.