Chief Halloran Praises Police Activity During Irene

summed up police activity during the days following by saying, “We put a lot of citizens in Branford at ease.”

Halloran, who took the reins of the in an understated ceremony following the storm on Sept. 1, made his remarks during a meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners Monday night.

He said during the storm, the at the Police Department was inundated with phone calls – most, from members of the community concerning electricity.  He noted that officers were reallocated throughout the town, with detectives putting on their uniforms and joining the other officers on patrol.

During the storm, electrical wire was stolen from Thimble Island Road, the police chief said, which complicated the restoration of power there. In addition, four generators were stolen.  Two generators were taken from a private home, and two from the back of a truck.

He held out special praise for two officers:  Lt. Raymond Dunbar and Officer Joseph Peterson, each of whom attended the meeting.

Dunbar, who headed the taking the reigns from former Director Captain Geoffrey Morgan, handled the emergency management, according to Chief Halloran, like a seasoned veteran.  “It was 37 hours before I was told to go home,” Dunbar replied when asked how long he was on the job.  

“I think they live on Duracell batteries, these guys,” the police chief said.

Shortly after 3 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4, Officer Peterson, who works the midnight shift, while checking on a vehicle in the parking area of 470 East Main St., by a man later arrested and charged with assault on a police officer, interfering with an officer, criminal attempt to steal a firearm, breach of peace and third-degree criminal mischief.

“It had to be like 30 seconds, but it felt like an eternity,” Peterson said of how his experience until his fellow officers arrived to assist him and take the man, who has been identified as Bridgeport resident Leonardo Finelli, into custody.

Halloran noted that, overall, the crime rate during the storm and its aftermath was low.  He said that the storm had resulted in the expenditure of $20,000 in overtime costs, although it is thought that the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA will reimburse the town for that expense.

During the meeting, the board also approved the expenditure of $6,164.54 for a police vehicle from the U.S. Marshals Service.