The New Haven Police Department (NHPD) is moving to a fleet of pistols equipped with red‑dot optics after the Board of Police Commissioners approved a new firearms general order at its monthly meeting on Tuesday. The order replaces the department’s 2016 firearms policy and aligns the force with recent equipment purchases.
Officers have already begun receiving Glock 45 pistols, which Captain Michael Fumiatti described during the meeting as “widely regarded as one of the better firearms in the industry.” Once Police Chief David Zannelli signs the order, the Glock 45 with a pistol‑mounted optic will become the standard sidearm for all full‑time personnel.
According to NHPD spokesperson Officer Christian Bruckhart, the updated policy “reflects the new equipment and some small changes, but the substance of it is the same,” likening the shift to the department moving from Dodge Chargers to Durangos – different models that perform the same function. He added that pistol‑mounted optics are “becoming standard across the profession and the military,” noting that the red‑dot system shines an LED visible only to the shooter, which can improve aim and allow faster sight alignment, especially under stress.
The new order also introduces several procedural requirements. Officers must verify that their optics are turned on and functioning before each shift, replace optic batteries annually, and receive firearm‑locking devices with their issued weapons. Additionally, the policy now mandates that any firearm discharge – accidental or intentional, on or off duty – be reported within 24 hours, except during training. Previously, there was no specific time limit for such reports. Bruckhart explained that the 24‑hour window “was considered a reasonable … to allow for proper notification” while accommodating officers who may need medical or psychiatric care after an incident.
Captain Fumiatti said the revisions were made in accordance with recommendations from Chief Zannelli and the police commissioners to maintain standards set by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and Connecticut’s Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST). He also noted that the department and commissioners are now reviewing additional general orders covering use of force, artificial intelligence, and automatic license‑plate readers.
Officer Bruckhart emphasized that the department is making a “concerted effort to update all general orders on a regular basis in line with POST and CALEA standards.”
What’s next: The police commissioners will continue to evaluate proposed updates on use‑of‑force policies, AI tools, and license‑plate‑reader technology at upcoming meetings, aiming to keep NHPD practices aligned with national law‑enforcement standards.
Sources: newhavenindependent.org
