Community Group’s Prodding Leads To Police Department Posting Policies And Procedures Online

News release from Bridgeport Generation Now:

For the first time, an initial set of 20 policies and procedures of the Bridgeport Police Department will be available online, allowing the public immediate access to the workplace rules that govern the employees of the largest police department in the state.

On Thursday, June 4th, Gemeem Davis and Callie Gale Heilmann, Co-Directors of the grassroots civic engagement organization, Bridgeport Generation Now, attended a meeting with the State Commissioner and Police Chiefs from the major Connecticut cities, to address the crisis of racism, abuse, and corruption within the system of policing.

Bridgeport’s Police Chief, AJ Perez, and Assistant Police Chief Rebeca Garcia were in attendance. Ms. Davis and Ms. Heilmann repeatedly pressed the Chiefs on why, after almost a year, the City Attorney’s Office had ignored the group’s Freedom of Information requests for the policies. In response, Chief Perez committed to looking into the issue. On Wednesday, Chief Perez called Gen Now to announce that all the policies would be posted online. Lt. Manuel Cotto, responsible for this work, will continue uploading the 80 or so additional department policies over the next several weeks. Policies are available here: https://www.bridgeportct.gov/content/341307/341425/341439/367559.aspx

We at Bridgeport Generation Now have no tolerance for racism, abuse, and corruption within our police department. Please read our attached statement, Gen Now Statement_6.12.20 as we stand with Black Lives Matter build on the work we’ve been leading since 2017. The people of Bridgeport deserve and demand the highest levels of respect, transparency, and accountability from our Police Department. Allowing us and the public to access the policy handbook proved to be an easy, and doable, first step.

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11 comments

  1. Ms. Davis and Ms. Heilmann I review the concerns on your site and I have number of questions. First, I’m glad that the organization has gotten involve but as I looked the issues listed there were two major items that are totally left out first is the hiring, the BPD needs to look like the residents they serve and they should live in the city that they work in, they should be our neighbors and have the same interest and concerns about the city they live in. You need to understand testing and testing companies and what is their background in hiring black police officers. Police policies and procedures of the Bridgeport Police Department are one thing but they meaning unless you have the union contract. I don’t know who is on your team but you need someone who knows and understands union contracts along with the BPD discipline procedures and their past practices. These are just starters.

    Bridgeport City Council’s recent resolution proposal to ban knee and chokeholds, to pay ​all settlements for police use of excessive force and civil rights violations out of the Police Department’s overtime budget, and to review of the function and structure of the Board of Police Commissioners is a great start – and we know Bridgeport can do more. ​The Bridgeport Police Union contract ends in 2021 and negotiations for a new contract begins this July. This means nothing until you actually see for yourself.

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    1. You do realize that the minority social groups of the department are by far the most power social groups in the department? To the point that they are now the majority.

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      1. Jo Salling, you said,”minority social groups of the department are by far the most power social groups in the department? To the point that they are now the majority,” What the hell are you talking about, I post this yesterday from the CT Post, “The Bridgeport Police Department did not respond to requests for information about the current racial and ethnic makeup of its force but, in 2014, the population of Connecticut’s largest city was 35 percent black, compared to 15 percent of its police.” What power, city was 35 percent black, compared to 15 percent of its police, you call that power.

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        1. Since it went way above your head.

          Considering that the “minority” groups are now the most powerful groups in the department, they “run” the department that you wish reflected your minority community. That’s the point. The department reflects your community in terms of decision making and leadership, yet your still at square 1.

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  2. Today some Police Department policies are listed on line. Lt. Cotto has a responsibility to provide the balance of them online in the future, which I am certain will happen. However. not everyone is paperless. And Bridgeport has an In Plant Print shop still.
    What does it cost to provide them with the digital information, have them print it up and provide copies enough for all officers, City reps., etc. and enough for interested citizens. Instead of secrecy and guessing about what the “rules” are we can shine a light and focus where necessary.
    If it cost taxpayers $10 for such a text, I am willing to pay and the local libraries ought to get copies too. Time will tell.

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    1. Really Don?? Wow that’s unbelievable!! That guy had a real talent. If I could run, struggle with police, and then take one of their weapons away, while I was sleeping that would be amazing. Is that the narrative you want to perpetuate? We’re the cops behind him in the car line waiting to get some dinner and he pissed them off?
      I don’t understand.???

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