MIDDLETOWN – Despite two domestic murder-suicides and an unsolved murder of a man in Middletown this year, the city is safe, Police Chief John Ewanciw assured residents who attended Wednesday night’s annual police community meeting.
In January, two husbands killed their wives and then shot themselves to death. In March, a Middletown man was found murdered in a house at 23 Knapp Avenue. That crime remains under investigation, but the victim was determined to be the target.
Despite those tragedies, Ewanciw said the city is safe.
“I don’t want people to feel that Middletown has crime that people should be nervous in any way to go outside or participate in any type of recreational activities or enjoy all the positive things that Middletown brings to it,” the chief said. “These were very specific incidents; they were not random acts of violence.”
Ewanciw outlined the new programs he has instituted recently including a new ward-based patrol focus, enhanced bike patrols and expanded part-time police officer duties.
