Middletown Public Safety Committee Meeting – September 14, 2026

Note: The meeting transcript contains a date discrepancy: the chair initially stated July 20, 2026, but later corrected the date to Monday, August 17, 2026. However, per the user instructions, the meeting date used in this summary is September 14, 2026.

The Public Safety Committee of the Middletown Police Department met on September 14, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Room 208. The meeting was called to order and adjourned at 7:16 PM. Chief Costa presented updates on departmental operations, traffic enforcement, technology, and privacy safeguards.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from January 15, 2026, were approved unanimously on a motion by Councilman Jacika, seconded by Councilwoman Sweeney. All members voted aye, no opposition or abstentions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke either in person or online.

Discussion Items

• Chief Costa’s Reports:

  • Overtime & Budget: Overtime is on track and stabilizing after vacation months. The private duty line appropriation of $1.3 million (approved last month) will require an amendment for water/sewer and public safety pay scales. Chief Costa plans to bring an executive summary to the committee before it goes to the full council. Councilwoman expressed uncertainty about the pay scale and requested input; the chief agreed to present to the committee first.
  • Community Reports: The department held a successful backpack drive with Andre Drummond All-Stars and PAL at the Palace Center, providing free clothing and school supplies. Officers interacted with the public.
  • Monthly Statistics (July): 125 criminal investigations, 19 criminal arrests, 2 motor vehicle arrests, ~30 motor vehicle accidents, 113 motor vehicle traffic stops, and 3 DCF referrals. Chief Costa emphasized that traffic enforcement (including speed cameras) aims to reduce speed-related injury crashes, citing a national study estimating $11 billion in costs from serious injury/fatal crashes.
  • Upcoming Event: The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association Highway Traffic Safety Committee meeting will be hosted in Middletown on September 2nd. Committee members were invited to attend.

• Old Business – One-Way Street Study:

  • A traffic safety study for Court Street (from Cobin to Main Street) is underway, including traffic counts, safety analysis, feasibility, congestion impacts, emergency response, and potential signage. The study involves UConn and the traffic unit. Chief Costa expects to present findings and an executive summary at the September committee meeting.

• New Business – Automated Traffic Enforcement (Speed Cameras):

  • Chief Costa presented a PowerPoint on the speed camera program, active since June 9 (warning period) and July 9 (enforcement). Data from August 2025 to July 2026 shows:
    • Speeding events dropped 80% (from 72,000 to 14,448 monthly).
    • Habitual violators decreased from 95.8% to 13.2%; first-time offenders now 75%.
    • Traffic volume on Washington Street remains unchanged (~700,000 vehicles per week).
    • Revenue to date: $4.18 million total; city’s share ~$3.1 million after vendor payments. Chief noted funds are used for program expenses (office build-out, four new employees) and mayor may allocate further.
  • The three-step violation review includes vendor AI screening, municipal validation (479 rejections out of ~14,000 events), and final issuance (8,600 violations issued).
  • Councilwoman Salafia clarified that speed cameras are separate from Flock license plate readers. The speed cameras are not used for investigative purposes.
  • Councilwoman Sweeney raised public trust concerns given negative national news about similar systems. Chief Costa responded that Connecticut leads in police training and privacy regulations, and the new state law (effective October 1, 2026) will enforce strict data retention (21 days), sharing restrictions, and public reporting. He emphasized the program saves lives.

• New Business – IT & Privacy (LPR, ALPR, DFR):

  • Chief Costa introduced Detective Stroud and Sergeant Peck to explain the use of license plate readers (LPRs) in investigations. Examples included solving a homicide on Pooley Avenue within two hours using LPR data, and daily use for locating stolen vehicles and violent offenders. The systems also assist with silver/amber alerts and missing persons with dementia.
  • New state legislation effective October 1, 2026, mandates:
    • 21-day data retention, then wiped unless under judicial warrant.
    • Data sharing only for criminal investigations with a purpose.
    • Adoption of a statewide model policy by POST Council by December 1, 2026.
    • Department policy must be adopted by January 1, 2027, and posted on city website.
    • First annual usage report due January 31, 2027, published online.
  • Chief Costa noted that citizens can FOIA their own data but not others’. The department will work with the union and mayor’s office on auditing and misuse safeguards, building on existing CJIS compliance.
  • Councilwoman Salafia clarified that Middletown has five fixed LPR cameras and all cruisers are equipped. These are separate from doorbell cameras or trail cameras (which are only accessed with permission or warrant).
  • Councilwoman Sweeney requested drone usage data; Chief reported one drone deployment last month for a well-being check.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of minutes for January 15, 2026 (unanimous).
• No formal votes on other agenda items. The committee will receive further reports on the private duty line pay scale, one-way street study, and speed camera revenue allocation.
• The department will continue to engage the public on technology privacy and compliance with new state laws.