This is posted fully and unedited (photo by Peter Casolino):
NEW HAVEN POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE
9 February, 2013 - BLIZZARD 2013, 7:08 PM - FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
The New Haven Police Department and its Officers have
been working around the clock to provide vital storm related services to the
city. Aside from typical calls for service, Officers have focused their efforts
to keeping streets as clear as possible so plow trucks can remove snow from the
city's roadways.
We understand many main arteries are not passable and
most secondary roads are not either. The Department of Public Works and the
City's Parks Department are making every effort to remove snow as quickly as
possible, but it stands to reason that with the incredible volume of snow and
the falling temperature, their efforts may be ongoing for several days.
Regardless of whether travel and parking bans are lifted,
the Police Department is pleading with people to stay off the roadways. Only
those who must travel to provide emergency or vital services should attempt to
do so - and then only if the vehicle they are operating is worthy of such efforts.
Many streets have seen partial snow removal. A seemingly
cleared roadway could, after a few blocks, in fact be impassable, forcing the
vehicle to have to back up to a cleared cross street. This poses a hazard and
has led to many cars becoming stuck.
Vehicles that are stuck in a roadway will prevent an
emergency vehicle or plow truck from making it through.
It is the responsibility of the owners of stranded
vehicles to solicit the necessary assistance to remove such vehicles from the
roadways. Even roadways that are passable will eventually be re-plowed to widen
the travel paths. Vehicles parked in such a manor as to impede these efforts
will be towed at the vehicle owner's expense.
All of this said, shoveling or otherwise trying to remove
snow is a physically exhausting task. We are urging people who are not
physically able to do so or have a heart condition, to again, solicit the help
of others.
The public and private plow operators are reminded that
snow can not be deposited into a roadway, regardless of its condition. Those
who do not heed this warning and have violated the law in such a manor will
face fines.
Chief Dean M. Esserman is asking for the public's
patience during these times. "The New Haven Police Department and its
Officers are doing their utmost to answer calls from the public in as timely a
manor as is humanly possible. We appreciate everyone's understanding that to
get to many calls for service, Our Officers are doing so, at least partially,
on foot".
The Department's Patrol Division is fully staffed as are
the ten Police sub-stations, Emergency Services Unit and Vehicle Maintenance
Division. Those with routine or non-emergency issues are asked to understand
that priority calls will be answered first and that all calls for service will
go through a process of determining their urgency.
Stay warm and stay safe.
Officer David B Hartman, Media Liaison
No comments:
Post a Comment