Please join Ray Hassett and Jeremy Brewer for SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT - A Community Conversation on Thursday, May 11th at 7 pm. They will introduce themselves, talk about their work, have a dialogue, and then open the conversation up to the room. THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. ALL ARE WELCOME. The Best Video Coffee Bar will be open.
The conversation will focus on the power of human connection and the need to step away from social media, phones, computers and re-engage with our community. The combination of social media, the lasting effects of the pandemic and information overload have taken a great toll on our collective humanity. The ability to pick up on social cues and nuance seems to be diminishing. Our general awareness and sensitivities feel pulled in a thousand different directions. Ray and Jeremy will share with us their unique methods for connecting in meaningful, healthy and safe ways. They’ll give us “Something to Think About”.
Ray Hassett completed his police career in 2012 after twenty-five years of service. His assignments have included: Patrol Officer, Detective, Police Sergeant, Lieutenant, and District Commander of one of the busiest Police Districts in New Haven. (Google: New Haven Independent “Ray Hassett”) Ray Hassett holds a BA in English Literature, and an Associate of Arts Degree in General Education from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Hassett began his Police Career in 1987 as a Patrol Officer answering calls for service. In 1993, he was promoted to the rank of Detective after completing a two-year investigation into Organized Crime. During this time, Hassett publicly left law enforcement but continued to work covertly under a different identity until the investigation was completed. Upon returning to New Haven, Hassett worked as a Detective in the Narcotics Division, the Major Crimes Unit, and the Arson Squad. While a Detective, he became part of a unique collaboration between a group of Child Psychologists, and first responding Police Officers. The premise of this relationship was that Police Officers are often the first and only professionals to come in contact with children exposed to violence, and a timely referral at this critical point can often minimize the traumatic aftermath of any violent event. The Yale Child Studies Program began by working with children of homicide victims and has since expanded to help children exposed to domestic violence, as well as any other incidents of violence and trauma. Ray is a Fellow with the Yale Child Studies Center, and throughout his career, has worked as a trainer, replicating this program to other Police Agencies throughout the region.
Ray is an FBI-trained Hostage Negotiator and was the Officer in Charge of NHPD’s Hostage Negotiation Unit since 2003. He was also responsible for bringing in professional actors to simulate real-life incidents so that Negotiators could be better prepared for Unit Callouts. Ray is Crisis Intervention trained (CIT) and was team leader for CIT Officers in New Haven since 2006. In 2012, he was named CIT Officer of the Year by the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE) and is the Lead Instructor for CABLE.
Ray’s training includes: Law Enforcement (Patrol/Supervision), Security, Probation, and Parole. Business: Electrical Engineers; Tribal American Transit, Transit Operators, Museum staff, Human Resources. Education: Faculty/Staff (Middle School, High School, Universities). Non-Profits: (Clinicians/Social Workers), Churches, Mosques, Synagogues (Ushers and Security Staff).
Prior to entering Law Enforcement, Ray was a professional Actor working in London, England, New York, and LA. Some of his film credits include: Superman, the Movie; Ragtime; The Spy Who Loved Me; The Empire Strikes Back; and Body Double. (Google: IMDb Ray Hassett for full-screen credits)
Ray currently works as a Contractor for the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, He teaches the Art of Hostage Negotiation, as well as Behavioral Observation Skills (BOS) to foreign Police Agencies around the world. To date, he has worked in the Middle East; The Philippines; India; Colombia; Tajikistan; Morocco; Kingston, Jamaica; Trinidad; Malaysia, Thailand; Senegal; and Bangladesh.
Officer Jeremy Brewer is currently serving in the role of School Resource Officer at Hamden High School. He is also a Hartford TEDX Coach and TEDX Speaker. He likewise envisioned the creation of a new position within the Hamden Police Department's Special Victims Unit: Crisis Services Liaison Officer.
Jeremy began his career as an EMT for a professional ambulance service in the mid 1990's and transitioned into police work in 2002. Since then, he has been working in the communities patrol division where he has been actively honing his crisis intervention and deescalation skills, earning several certifications. Officer Brewer is also currently the liaison between the police department and the Yale Behavioral Health Center.
As one of the originating officers from the Crisis Intervention Team, Officer Brewer focused his new role on issues within the community ranging from mental health, domestic violence, elderly assistance, and other crisis-related issues.
Officer Brewer recently ushered in 3 new Hartford TEDX Mini Talk Winners from Hamden High School. He not only brought the Hartford TEDX program to HHS along with the help of Assistant Principal Scott Trauner, but he worked with the individual students to record, refine and hone their presentations. All 3 students won for their talks and they were able to present them in full at Best Video last month to a packed house.
From a 2021 NH Register article: “As police officers we can’t take the gun belt off and leave it in the car. But as police officers we need to slow down and think about understanding the emotion and connect with the situation,” he said.