(Hartford, Conn. (WTIC Radio)-A bill before the Legislature's Public Safety and Security Committee seeks to increase programs and services under Project Longevity, a program in New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury to reduce gun violence.
New Haven Asistant Police Chief Karl Jocobson testified that since the measure has been implemented, homicides and non-fatal shootings have decreased. Jacobson said the only time some of the categories experienced increases occurred during Covid, when some of the programs and services were temporarily disbanded.
"The city of New Haven had one homicide this year. Last year at this time we had eight (homicides) and 22 shootings...The biggest difference is we're back to the basics of Project Longevity," Jacobson said.
Jacobson said a study of the city of Hartford found, "This bill will help us offer more services and these are the needs of those at high-risk of being shot or being the shooters."
The bill calls for state and federal funding to help expand connections with social service and other community-based service organizations and identify business and training programs to help clients.