When to Pull the Trigger: Inside the NHPD Criminal Intelligence Unit

Shooting incidents in places like Ferguson and Baltimore have raised questions about police training and interactions with civilians. So how do police departments make the final decision about whether to pull the trigger?

NBC Connecticut spoke exclusively with New Haven Police Department investigators about a recent, tense moment when a crossfire could have happened – but didn't.

Investigators with New Haven's Criminal Intelligence Unit collect information to help solve shooting cases in the city. They probe everything from who the perpetrators could be to the guns they were using.

Earlier this month, the unit was put to the test while searching a Frank Street apartment building for a gun used in a recent shooting.

"As we tried to make entry, there was somebody blocking the door. When we finally got through the door, detectives dispersed around the house, which we normally do," explained Sgt. Carl Jacobson.

Both Jacobson and Det. Orlando Crespo were among those who conducted the search warrant. Crespo said he saw a gun pointed at him as he entered one of the rooms.

The person holding it, he said, was Mark Stokes.

“My biggest concern is just securing everyone’s safety and making sure everyone goes home," said Crespo.

Investigators said Stokes refused to drop the gun until detectives talked to him in an effort to deescalate the situation. That’s when Stokes put the gun down and surrendered.

The .22-caliber handgun was the weapon police were looking for, one of many they’ve been trying take off the streets of New Haven.

"We’ve got 20 guns off the street recently. Our unit has gotten over 30 guns. And we couldn’t do without help like from our other partners," said Jacobson.

The recovery of all those guns is part of an in-depth investigation into local gang members. Police expect to make more arrests.

Investigators said their training will help prevent unnecessary police-involved shootings in the city, especially during those tense standoffs.

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