Hartford Court of Common Council Public Comment Meeting – March 9, 2026

The meeting was called to order by Council President TJ Clark at 7:57 PM on March 9, 2026. The entire public comment period was dominated by the two recent police shootings of Everett Walker (March 9, 2026) and Stephen Jones (late February 2026), both involving men in mental health crises. Council President Clark opened with a statement acknowledging the tragedies, expressing condolences, and outlining the council’s commitment to transparency, exploring mental health integration, non-lethal de-escalation, and waiting for the State Inspector General’s investigation. No consent calendar, discussion items, or votes occurred because the meeting was solely for public comment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alyssa Peterson (Grandview Terrace) – Detailed criticism of Officer Joseph Magnano’s conduct in the Stephen Jones shooting, citing the medical examiner’s homicide ruling. She questioned the lack of supervision, the absence of non-lethal tools (tasers, beanbag guns, etc.), and the cancellation of seven public safety committee meetings in 2025. She called for the public safety committee to meet in person.
• Corey Betts (President, Greater Hartford NAACP, 880 Asylum Avenue) – Expressed that families should never fear calling for help in a mental health emergency. He highlighted that Hartford is one of the poorest capital cities with 19 census tracts of concentrated poverty, which brings trauma. He called for a coordinated crisis response team with mental health professionals, stronger community-based mental health services, and clear protocols that do not default to law enforcement for every emergency.
• Elaine Hatcher (83 East Morningside Street) – Expressed outrage that Officer Magnano remains employed after the homicide ruling. She held up General Order 5.06 (Section C) which says to calm the situation, but the scene was calm when the officer arrived. She demanded the mayor fire the officer and called the shooting unnecessary.
• Zoe Chatfield (President, Hartford Decides; 32 Home Street) – In a shortened address out of respect for the tragedy, she urged the council to continue allocating capital improvement funds to community-based safety initiatives like Hartford Decides.
• Deborah Davis (421 Blue Hills Avenue, Mothers United Against Violence) – Stressed the need for officers to become familiar with the communities they serve, especially in Blue Hills. She called for beefed-up mental health services, community cameras, and more training for police. She noted that the officer fired nine rounds in 30 seconds.
• Henrietta Beckman (211 Cleveland Avenue) – Emphasized that police need more training to handle mental illness, and that officers should know the community to de-escalate situations.
• Rev. Henry Brown – Expressed grief over the deaths of two innocent men with no police records. He criticized the council and mayor for not appearing at community events or speaking directly to the families. He demanded that Officer Magnano be fired immediately.
• Laverne Terry (Mothers United Against Violence) – Called for stronger crisis response teams and better mental health resources, stating that calls for help should lead to healing, not tragedy.
• Roy Al Saez (inaugural flow artist for Hartford, supporting Mothers United Against Violence) – Advocated for collaboration between law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community organizations. He also criticized the police academy for training officers to “shoot to kill,” suggesting instead aiming for a kneecap.
• Iva Lisa Carrera (BLM 860, Clark Street) – Expressed disappointment that the mayor canceled a forum to film a soccer watch party. She criticized the police union for asking for more money while officers get new vehicles every year, and she urged the council to fire the officer now and pay him later.
• Sarika Walker (sister of Everett Walker) – Described her brother as a hardworking man with no police record who was planning to buy a house. She asked the council what they will do to prevent such tragedies from happening to other families.
• Shamar Logan (196 Trumbull Street) – Argued that asking the public to be patient is a way of saying “accountability can wait.” He noted that the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, yet the officer remains employed. He questioned why funding for mental health crisis response runs short while police funding never does.
• Peter Little (American Justice Project, 42 Kenmore Road, Bloomfield) – Announced that attorney Ben Crump is representing the Jones family. He criticized the council and mayor for not attending the press conference at Phillips Metropolitan CME Church. He also noted that General Order 5.06 has been withheld from the public for over five years. He warned that the police union contract is coming up for renegotiation.
• Haley Neeble (338 Asylum Street) – Shared personal experience with mental illness and crisis calls. She said there need to be better options than police for people in crisis, and that she should not have to fear losing a loved one when calling for help.
• Reed Hopkins (79 Orange Street, New Britain) – Stood in solidarity with the families and condemned the lack of action.
• Kamora Harrington – Reflected on a long history of coming to the council after police killings. She criticized the mayor’s statement as “mealy-mouthed” and called on the council to step into moral leadership. She pointed out that the Institute of Living has a long history in Hartford and that the community has PTSD.
• Rashawn Lee (Clarissa Lee Law Group) – Shared his personal background as a former incarcerated person now a lawyer. He urged the council to think of the victims as family. He criticized the police accountability review board as ineffective and called for replacing old guard with people who genuinely care. He noted that businesses are leaving Hartford and the city resembles “Gotham.”
• Howard Fair (450 Barbara Street) – Called for collective accountability from the community, police, and city leaders. He said the police training was subpar and that mental health and substance abuse are not being addressed. He supported accountability for the officers.
• Cynthia Jennings (86 Hartland Street, former council member, civil rights attorney) – Framed the issue as a civil rights and liability issue. She argued that 99% of Hartford residents have trauma and that the city has an affirmative obligation to provide reasonable accommodation and de-escalation. She called for behavioral health crisis teams, co-responder units, and non-lethal interventions. She also noted that the city will pay for lawsuits.
• Holly Holloway (Malachi James’s mother) – Spoke briefly through an advocate, urging the council to pass a resolution for non-violence and to support cameras and community action.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or decisions were taken during the public comment period. The council listened to over two hours of public testimony.
• Council President Clark committed to using the Inspector General’s findings to push for policy changes.
• Multiple speakers demanded the immediate firing of Officer Joseph Magnano and a full investigation into the shootings.
• The council was urged to fully fund mental health crisis response teams, improve non-lethal options, and increase transparency regarding police policies (especially General Order 5.06).
• The NAACP, Mothers United Against Violence, and other groups pledged to continue advocacy and legal action.
• The next public safety committee meeting was called for in-person format.