From city Communications Director Brett Broesder:
A 26-year-old man is in stable condition following a shooting last night on Trumbull Avenue. When police located the victim, he was attempting to conceal a handgun under a nearby car.
“Police officers were on a walking beat when they heard the gunfire. They ran to the scene and found the victim within a minute and immediately called for an ambulance. That probably saved his life,” said Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr. “Officers recovered the gun he was trying to hide and quickly secured the crime scene.”The shooting happened at 11:45 p.m. in the 400 block of Trumbull Avenue. The victim was found in a parking lot suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Sgt. Trevor Niestemski and Officer Kateema Riettie were on a walking beat and ran to the scene. A police cruiser also was on patrol in the apartment complex.
The department has initiated walking beats in the city’s four public housing complexes, including Trumbull Gardens where last night’s incident occurred.
“This is the latest example of why Washington needs to pass meaningful legislation to strengthen gun laws,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “We need to act now and stop the flow of illegal guns to our streets and make sure we protect our kids and families. That’s my priority here in Bridgeport. We need to make it a priority in Congress.”
>Nationwide, gun violence has increased this year in major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee, to name a few.
As mayor and as a state senator, Mayor Finch has advocated for stronger gun laws that would keep weapons out of the hands of criminals.
“We start by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. It’s that simple,” said Mayor Finch. “And then we work with law enforcement and the court system to keep people who use guns to settle grudges off of our streets.”
This year, violent crime has dropped by 5 percent compared to last year. And, overall crime has dropped by 18 percent.
“I know folks in Trumbull Gardens don’t care about percentages. They want to feel safe,” said Mayor Finch. “That’s why we started the walking beats in all of our public housing complexes. That’s why we are we are adding new security cameras to Trumbull Gardens as part of our Safe Corridors program.”
Safe Corridors is a program designed to ensure kids get to and from school safely through additional patrols by school resource officers and community volunteers at the beginning and end of the school day and through technology, like security cameras.
In addition, Park City Communities, the city’s housing authority, has invested more than $170,000 in security upgrades at Trumbull Gardens that should be in place within 90 days and plans to invest more than $500,000 to enhance security at its other complexes.
The shooting from last night remains under investigation. The victim is expected to recover and will face charges in connection with the firearm that was recovered.
Ninety days???
Do it today, damn it!!!
How about all those PT hoodlums who come to Black Rock stealing bikes etc.? You had one today who stole a car in the parking lot of Planet Fitness in Fairfield. Step up the patrols in the Black Rock neighborhood, it’s bad enough we have out-of-town drunks at the bars driving down our side streets fast with no cops anywhere and we have PT hoodlums stealing stuff left and right. I was a undecided voter but I’ve had it with Finch and the low police staffing. A few months ago I had to call the police, it took them over a hour to come. I’m voting for Ganim.
Good post, Bob, sorry it got pulled.
What update? This is no update. Are they suggesting he shot himself and then tried hiding the gun?
Secrest will be blaming it all on Ganim next.
Secrest obviously makes good money Bob, channeling “the Nunn of the wood” 16 count in twenty-five choruses.
How can the police expect the residents to come forth with information when the residents can be shot at any time right in front of the policemen’s eyes? I feel bad for the innocent families, children and elderly who live there in fear never knowing if they may be taking a shower or sleeping in their bed and become a casualty of reckless gunfire. They deserve better.
How many unsolved murders are there in the past year that give the criminals a feeling of superiority over the police?
There you have it, folks. Bob Wash and Carolanne Curry unite. Bob Ganim owes you! Is there an announcement on the horizon for the uniting of the Ganim Foster team? It does seem like the game plan. Ganim has the momentum and the money and most importantly, he has all the anti-Finch votes. Did they have an agreement to not go after each other? That is certainly how it appears and still, Mayor Finch will most likely come out victorious. Maybe not! I guess it is all in his hands!
Stevie A,
‘Tain’t gonna happen.
Why would I endorse Ganim just to be anti-Finch.
Mary-Jane is my man and will continue to be my man until well after Primary Day.
Why settle for Ganim when you have a real deal like MJF?
Bob, first you need to acknowledge Mary-Jane Foster is a woman. Second, how about making some noise!
Dear Steve “OIB Piñata” Auerbach:
Anyone who finds Finch an unindicted incompetent incumbent must be in cahoots with this or that opposition candidate–really?
It seems to me some in our city–whether it be Maria Pereira, John Marshall Lee, or the successful State Senator Marilyn Moore, whom you underestimated so foolishly–one day, years ago, took the time to begin to examine what was going on, to persistently ask questions, and to refuse to take B.S. as the final answer. Something just wasn’t right and they had to get to the bottom of it.
Some of these activists have become citizen researchers, listeners, and soldiers in areas of great importance to our city. Furthermore, some of them communicate the information they’ve learned to the public as completely and accurately as they know it.
Steve, make no mistake. These individual citizens’ actions and information discoveries and sharing are powerfully and diametrically opposed to what the Finch administration desires.
From what I’ve seen, the Finch administration’s M.O. assumes most of us will not care, will not pay attention, will give up, will give in, and probably won’t vote at all, or will be simple enough to just vote for more B.S. (e.g., no tax increase in this election year, while the revaluation time-bomb is ticking).
Quite the contrary.
As we’ve seen in our own ways–whether through rejection of Finch’s well-heeled failed takeover of the school board or the loss of their supported and unqualified Moales for state senate (and a handful of other woefully unqualified souls they’ve put up as “machine” candidates)–enough of us have stood up and said, “No! We do care. We are paying attention. We will vote against the B.S. you’re serving up, Mr. Mayor. Your outside money cannot sink our voice or our vote.”
So without impugning those who question the current administration while supporting different opposition candidates, let’s give each other some credit and realize there may be a groundswell, a hunger for fundamental fairness and a city government that will, from top to bottom, be systematically open, accountable, and transparent in serving the public and in making it less the poor dependent of the state.
JML has hijacked Pete Spain’s OIB account.
Repeat …
Oh forget it. Everyone can figure it out for themselves.
🙂
Pete Spain, it is 2:18 am. I have responded to your post three times and this nook has erased it. I will make it short. Your post was excellent! I totally respect your efforts, activism, passion and knowledge of many issues. Why people keep mentioning Marilyn Moore to me is silly. I only argued Anthony Musto’s case on this blog. I wanted the Mayor to have support in Hartford. I knew Moore was not a Finch supporter. I did have Moore signs on my lawn after the primary. My support of Finch is simple. I am tired of explaining of the three top candidates he is the only choice. I am looking at the bigger picture and the future of this city.
You can support Joe Ganim, I respect that. You can support Mary-Jane Foster, I did and if I weren’t supporting Mayor Finch, she would have been my choice. I love your nickname for me. I feel like a piñata and I get beat up regularly. That is fine. If I were the Mayor, I would want the likes of yourself and John Marshall Lee as occasional advisers. While you guys differ in addressing issues, which I do not dismiss, I know you cannot believe there is another candidate who can improve upon what Finch is attempting to do. Of course I am not referring to the typical political attacks. I certainly appreciate watch dogs.
I could just as easily tomorrow walk the streets and tell constituents why Joe Ganim is the only choice for Mayor and I could give you a long list off the top of my head. It would be even easier for me to promote Foster. I am supporting Bill Finch. That does not mean I do not believe you have very valid points. I appreciate your posts and as you can gather I love the city more than any one candidate. If your vision does not include turning Bridgeport into the jewel of Fairfield County then I am not interested in your candidacy. Economic development is the only thing that will save this city even if we have to swallow some long-term abatements.
Great Post!
Amazing post, Pete.
Finch’s ministry of public enlightenment issues an ‘update’ that is more about blaming violence using guns on the existence of “illegal” guns. He dare not suggest gun violence is reflective of the declining moral values and norms of behavior that result in this behavior as it may offend part of his voter base.
OMG! Please read the CT Post story where Ganim is opening a police substation in Trumbull Gardens at his campaign’s expense. Grand opening at 4:00 pm tomorrow. Finch has blown a gasket. I just watched Channel 12 News and Finch’s famous neck twitching was in full effect. He has threatened to close it down. Go ahead, Finch! You will be committing political suicide.
Maria, Omg Omg Omg.
Pete Spain // Jul 7, 2015 at 10:08 pm
To your post
Pete Spain,
Exactly on the mark. Your facts are without dispute and you have the overwhelming agreement of smart savvy people, inside and outside this City, who know the depth of damage the current Mayor has inflicted on the moral and social fiber of this City.
Yes, we are at the crossroad. We can choose the path to bankruptcy of the soul and the economy of the City. Or we can RETURN to the rather magnificent achievements accorded to Bridgeport, achieved by one of the best mayors who ever held this seat.
Is this a high-risk decision? Not really. Just simply one of the most logical decisions to make at this date and time.
And Pete, we can consider “fundamental fairness” as the key to this election.