Finch Promises More Police Visibility

On the day Mayor Bill Finch launched this summer’s Take Back the Neighborhood evenings walks, he announced a public-safety initiative with Police Chief Joe Gaudett. Ain’t the power of incumbency great? Grab a cup of joe. This is a long release. From the mayor:

Mayor Finch, Chief Gaudett Launch ‘Safe City-Safe Street’ Public Safety Initiative; Kickoff Return of ‘Take Back the Neighborhood’ Walks

Engaging the community and addressing quality of life issues are two of the highlights of Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett’s ‘Safe City-Safe Street’ Initiative unveiled with Mayor Bill Finch during a press conference held Wednesday, July 20 at City Hall Annex. The underpinnings of this plan calls for increased traffic enforcement and higher visibility throughout the City’s neighborhoods via a return to ‘area commands.’

Gaudett announced the three Captains who will be the area commanders responsible for the East, Central and West divisions in the City. They are: Capt. James Baraja, East Division; Capt. Douglas Stolze, Central Division, and Capt. Brian McCarthy, West Division.

Gaudett explained the Area Commanders will be the point of contact for business groups and associations throughout their district as well as oversee the patrol officers who serve in those areas on a daily basis.

“Meeting with the community and continuing to build relationships in the neighborhood will be one of the highest priorities of Area Commanders,” said Chief Gaudett. “The Area Commanders, and our officers, together will have an even stronger presence in the neighborhoods – a crucial part of our Community Policing strategy. Community engagement has and will play a huge role in the success of the department and the safety of our residents.”

He added, “Our two-way partnership with the community is vital to the success of our Safe City-Safe Streets initiative,” said Gaudett. “We want to further nurture the relationships we’ve established through Neighborhood Watch, our Strategic Enforcement Team and our Area Commands.”

“I am very proud of our police force and the difficult job they do every day protecting the citizens of Bridgeport,” said Mayor Finch. “They cannot do this job alone, however. We need residents, business owners and community leaders to work in tandem with our police force to help reduce crime and instill a sense of responsibility for keeping our neighborhoods and our City safe for everyone.”

Last month, the Bridgeport Police department, working together with the State Police and federal authorities in Operation Clean Sweep, netted 29 arrests, as well as the seizure of numerous illegal guns.

“We’ve seen a decrease in violent crime in the City,” said Mayor Finch. “This result is strongly tied to the cooperation of our residents, as well as the relationships with state and federal authorities that our police department has forged over the years.” The Mayor cited the ‘Take Back the Neighborhood’ walks, the recently revived Citizens Police Academy and the growth of our Neighborhood Watch Groups as some of the ways City police officers and residents are working together to combat crime.

The Mayor and the Chief will host the first of a series of ‘Take Back the Neighborhood’ walks on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. The walks were initiated last summer to much success. With the earlier starting time, the Mayor and the Chief hope to talk to more residents and engage the community in a dialogue as they walk.

In the coming weeks, the Mayor and the Chief will be announcing the opening of an East Side and an East End police sub-station, a direct answer to community concerns regarding a more visible police presence in those neighborhoods.

Other major components of the Safe City-Safe Streets Initiative include:

Traffic enforcement – the Traffic Division will be cracking down on speeding, driving under the influence, talking on cell phones without a headset, and driving without a seatbelt. Traffic officers are now working a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift throughout the City, especially in the downtown area.

“Residents will definitely see an increase in traffic enforcement throughout the City,” said Chief Gaudett. “Drivers can expect to see radar speed trailers and DUI checkpoints on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.” Radar speed trailers will be deployed throughout the City in a two-week rotation, based upon need or special request.

Park safety – Officers will be patrolling Seaside and Beardsley in cars, and on bicycles, Segways, and ATV’s, as well as specific walking details, especially during special events, festivals and large neighborhood gatherings. The Mounted Unit will be patrolling in various areas of the City, as well as assisting at major events throughout the summer.

“Our beautiful parks draw in crowds from throughout the region each summer,” said Mayor Finch. “This boost to the police department’s park detail ensures that everyone’s experience is enjoyable and safe.”

Recruit training visibility – The department currently has 25 police recruits undergoing training in the City’s police academy, thanks to a $4.8 million federal COPS grant the City received under the auspices of President Obama. The recruits have been learning on-the-job during the Barnum Festival, the Puerto Rican Day parade and other large gatherings learning crowd and traffic control techniques under the direction of their training officers.

The department will continue it successful use of the CommStat model to address crime hot spots as they occur and send additional resources where needed in order to try to stop crime before it occurs.

The police department has had a long and fruitful relationship with state and federal authorities to gather intelligence, conduct investigations and work together, as evidenced by last month’s successful arrests of more than 29 gang members in Bridgeport and the surrounding area. The department will continue its work with the Gang Task Force in order to take more gang members, and illegal weapons off the street.

The Department’s Community Services division will continue to work with residents throughout the City to form neighborhood watch groups, a grassroots way for residents to help reduce crime in their own neighborhood. The City recently added five neighborhood watches and an additional Silver Crime Patrol at Clifford House on Main Street, as a direct result of last summer’s Take Back the Neighborhood walks.

The first “Take Back the Neighborhood” walk is scheduled for Wednesday night at 8 p.m., starting the corner of Washington and Highland Avenues in the Hollow neighborhood. The next neighborhood walk will take place on Friday, July 29 at 8 p.m. at a location to be determined.

For more information about starting a Neighborhood Watch and Take Back the Neighborhood Walks contact the Community Services Division at 203.576.8278. 

Area Commanders contacts: Central Division, Capt. Stolze – 203.581.5160; West Division, Capt. McCarthy – 203.581.5161 and East Division, Capt. Baraja – 203.581.5162.