Money, feds help in fight against crime



Hour Staff Writer

Nearly a week after a shoot-out took the life of 19-year-old Amos Brown Jr., city officials addressed their efforts to investigate the crime and the police department's proactive response to the violence.

Police Chief Harry Rilling said three teams of three uniformed- officers have been riding in unmarked cars through problematic areas, quietly making their presence known. State and federal law enforcement agencies are also assisting the police in their efforts.

"Hard work gets the ball rolling," Rilling said.

Mayor Richard A. Moccia authorized the release of the funds necessary to redeploy officers and to pay overtime to investigators.

New information about the shooting of Brown Jr. was not revealed at the news conference, but Rilling said investigators have made significant headway in the Brown Jr. homicide probe, and officers collected a "tremendous amount of forensic evidence" at the crime scene.

"The men and women of the detective bureau are tenacious," he said.

Moccia sent his condolences to the Brown family, stating that regardless of the circumstances surrounding A.J.'s death, "we still lost a young man who grew up in Norwalk."

"I've known Amos for over 25 years, and I saw A.J. grow up," he said.

Rilling said the department also utilized investigative resources from state police and a federal agency. He could not reveal why outside law enforcement agencies are involved in the investigation.

However, the department still needs information from witnesses to bring Brown Jr.'s assailants to justice, Rilling said.

Lt. William Lowe emphasized that the community can talk to detectives with the confidence of knowing that their name is not going to be released to the public.