Security

New Haven "Hashthrax" Update

Last week we learned that paranoia strikes deep in New Haven, CT. There’s more, and it gets worse: The cost of the public safety response to Thursday’s "white powder" scare that closed the Ikea store on Sargent Drive for four hours was more than $50,000, a city spokeswoman said Monday. The incident drew dozens of […]

Whitepowder_4 Last week we learned that paranoia strikes deep in New Haven, CT. There's more, and it gets worse:

The cost of the public safety response to Thursday’s "white powder" scare that closed the Ikea store on Sargent Drive for four hours was more than $50,000, a city spokeswoman said Monday.

The incident drew dozens of New Haven and state police officers, firefighters, health department workers, FBI agents and other personnel from New Haven and neighboring communities, as well as special equipment from the U.S. Postal Service’s Wallingford processing center, which authorities say is the only place in the state that has such equipment.

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"There’s not an exact number yet" for the total cost of the response "but we’re looking at upwards of $50,000," said Jessica Mayorga, spokeswoman for the Police Department and Mayor John DeStefano Jr.

On Friday, Mayorga said officials were inclined to seek restitution from the two "hashers" who were charged with a felony in the case. She said after a meeting Monday on the case that no determination was made on whether to seek restitution.

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Chief of Police Francisco Ortiz Jr., in a statement relayed through Mayorga, said, "We stand by the fact that we did the right thing." He added, "We have an obligation to look out for the best interests of the people of New Haven and therefore we won’t take situations like this lightly."

Heckava job Jessie!

But, here's the key quote that says it all : *"as well as special equipment from the U.S. Postal Service’s Wallingford processing center, which authorities say is the only place in the state that has such equipment". *

The only place in the state that has that equipment? Oh realllllly? Well, I'm sure the 14th Civil Support Team (WMD) based in nearby Windsor Locks would be disappointed to hear that. The whole freakin' reason CSTs exist is for WMD response, but I guess they weren't part of the master plan.

I've worked a couple white powder calls, and yes, caution is exactly the right course of action. But, there is a difference between caution and over-reacting. Because I'm pretty sure this guy isn't a terrorist or a criminal.

The sad thing is that this isn't the first time this has happened.

And maybe they should have just called in this elite team to solve the case,