Hartford says gang problem overstated

Hartford (AP) - Hartford officials say the city's gang problem is nowhere near as bad as it is described in an internal police memo, which said Hartford is infested with 4,000 gang members and middle schools resemble prison yards.

City officials used the June 4 memo to successfully apply for a $500,000 federal grant to match young people with adult mentors.

Police and school officials say the memo's description does not match the reality on the streets. They also say there was a "miscommunication" between police and youth services officials as the grant was being prepared.

Assistant Police Chief Neil Dryfe had urged city officials to not use the gang numbers in the memo, because they included many small and informal groups that do not meet federal authorities' definition of gangs.

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Information from: The Hartford Courant