UPDATE: Includes statement from NAACP. The Bridgeport Police Department has no dashboard cameras in its 63 patrol cars. Civil rights activists like them to guard against police abuse, even some cops like them because they can contradict a false citizen complaint. So the cameras function as both protection for citizens as well as guarding officers from false claims. The East Haven Police Department, facing a federal investigation into racial profiling including federal criminal charges against four officers, recently installed dashboard cruisers at a reported cost of $115,000 for 16 cars.
In response to a request for comment from Police Chief Joe Gaudett, Bridgeport police spokesman Bill Kaempffer says “The chief said it is a matter of limited fiscal resources. Not only retrofitting a fleet of cars but also establishing the infrastructure to store and maintain all the data would be an expensive undertaking.”
But measure that against the liability the city pays out for civil complaint actions over the years and perhaps it’s a wise investment. And perhaps it would give some cops pause about doing Dirty Harry impersonations.
The graphic YouTube video of three city cops stomping suspect Orlando Lopez-Soto that made national headlines could cost the taxpayers of Bridgeport more than the investment it would take to install dashboard cameras.
So chief, why not include the money in your budget? Let the City Council say no to dashboard cameras in an election year. That way you can say well, if we had dashboard cameras maybe … Perhaps Mayor Bill Finch and the council will authorize enough funds to start the process and phase it in over time.
Or why not go to Congressman Jim Himes? Hey Jim, can you secure us a grant for dashboard cameras? Or lobby the city’s legislative delegation in Hartford to push for the money.
Carolyn Vermont, president of the Greater Bridgeport NAACP issued this statement:
The NAACP agree with the article’s suggestion for dashboard cameras in principle, with provision for financing & implementation to be worked out through elected officials as suggested. Perhaps one area that can be researched for funding is Homeland Security. With the high level of complaints of police brutality, it would be in the best interest of the police department and the residents to have the cameras installed in the cars as soon as possible. The City can pay now for the installation or pay later in the form of lawsuits.
It has recently come to our attention that the nearby community of East Haven, CT, has taken the proactive stance of going about acquiring and installing “dashboard cameras” in their Police Department Patrol Vehicles. The fact that this may well have been prompted by pending Federal Authority litigation due to allegations of racial profiling, in East Haven, in no way diminishes the necessity for Bridgeport elected officials to strongly consider acquisition of this modality, in addition to various others, as a part of our developing action plan to address the recently video captured, unprofessional conduct, at the hands of our very own Police Officers here in Bridgeport.
Admittedly, technologic gadgetry is not the full answer for the ills Bridgeport’s Police and Public now suffer. There are the perennial scourge of Unemployment and Poverty, compounded by Drug Addiction and Disease, consequent to lack of Education and Opportunity, leading to involvement in the Criminal Justice system.
The NAACP and various other organizations, religious and non-affiliated alike, are actively engaged in the alleviation of these burdens.
There are costs to be considered, and fiscal priorities are in this circumstance, as always, paramount. However, we of the NAACP, agree that the trust and security of our citizens mandates, that we meet this challenge of insuring our city of the continued professional conduct and high performance in all circumstance, of our Police personnel. Perhaps Homeland Security can be considered as a resource for funding.
It will be with the leadership of our elected representatives and responsible Police officials, acting rationally and judiciously and in unity with our entire citizenry, that the trust and security of the Bridgeport community can be restored and strengthened.
The NAACP stands prepared to join in this task.
Let’s get rid of Finch’s PR staff starting with Elaine Ficarra who gets paid a lot of money for lying for Finch. Finch will just have to do his own lying … he is pretty good at it.
This is brilliant. If East Haven can pull it off then certainly the largest city in the state of Connecticut in the wealthiest county can secure funds from the state or on a federal level. The current events are beyond outrageous. I hope the NAACP makes noise. Lots of noise as well as area residents. This is beyond a racial issue. I am certain Mayor Finch will figure out a way to make this happen. The actions of these three officers did a lot of damage to the City of Bridgeport as well as a black eye to an amazing Police department that put their lives in harm’s way every day. The police department with one voice should verbalize their disgust and disbelief. These officers should be fired and sued by the City of Bridgeport to recoup any monetary payout that taxpayers will be footing the bill for. The police union, Internal affairs and the police board need to act swiftly and send a message immediately! I think these cameras on cars are way overdue for the city that has great aspirations. Mayor, you are doing a fine job and I believe you will take care of business. Btw I was on the town hall meeting last evening. I agree with the Mayor. We should rename the new Warren Harding High School to Barack Obama High.
How about Ronald Reagan high school?
I voted for Reagan. I just asked a class of 5th grade students who Ronald Reagan was. Out of 26 students, 4 students knew he was a President. Why would a city of 9 to 1 Democrats over Republicans name a school after him? Barack Obama would give the students a sense of pride. There are so many reasons but I think the President would actually come here for the dedication. I think having Obama honored in this city would be a real plus. Reagan may have been a good president but naming a school in his honor would serve no purpose. That is my take, anyway.
Police Chief Joe Gaudett, Bridgeport police spokesman Bill Kaempffer says “The chief said it is a matter of limited fiscal resources. Not only retrofitting a fleet of cars but also establishing the infrastructure to store and maintain all the data would be an expensive undertaking.” The taxpayers of Bridgeport are paying Chief Gaudett a quarter of a million (250,000) a year and this is the type of leadership we get? Where is the vision of Mayor Finch, but I forgot, we are talking about Bridgeport and paying off lawsuits is business as usual.
Maybe Finch will have tacos with East Haven’s mayor …
Could not let this one slide so I am breaking my rule of staying off the blog.
The police department had enough money to purchase an armored personnel carrier for $250,000 but now they don’t have enough money to purchase these cameras.
Chief, budget for the cameras and btw how much storage is needed for CD’s?
The real reason they don’t want cameras is they don’t want their activities recorded but based on the number of lawsuits and the money that is paid out these cameras would actually save the city money in the long run.
Do you really want to see how the BPD deals with the scum staining the streets of Bridgeport? The city is in the hole already; dashboard cams would only inspire every lowlife drug dealer, thief and crackhead to file a lawsuit against the police department every time they get arrested for breaking the law.
Andy, what is an armored personnel carrier for $250,000? What is it used for? Who approved this? Why?
Steve,
Because of failure to follow a City Ordinance enacted by the Council almost 10 years ago, we fail to see a regular report of all of the purchases made by the City in a given year, department by department.
Such a report, following Ordinance direction would have shown the City of Bridgeport Fire Department budget acquired an armored personnel carrier at an expense of $245,000. Have you seen it used by the Fire Department? Do you remember any discussion of purchase, receipt, or utilization? Andy Fardy and I reported it on OIB on numerous occasions. No one asks questions or is surprised until your query, Steve. Thanks for asking the questions we have continued for two years running.
Want to find the funds to accomplish this objective? Public safety is part of Core Operations in Bridgeport. But Sikorsky Airport is listed as Non Essential Services in annual budget documents, the lowest category taxpayer funds are applied.
When Bill Finch was elected, the Airport budget balanced between expense and revenue. Good deal, we can afford no subsidy for a non-essential service probably. However, over the past five years the Airport has been running BUDGETED DEFICITS!!! Why? Because no one is questioning the deficits. And last year the expenses were $100,000 greater (according to the CAFR 2012) than budgeted. What gives? Time will tell.
I must say I find the statement issued from the Greater Bridgeport NAACP just about the same as the statement from Police Chief Joe Gaudett. Where is the outrage and the demand for action?
To quote my brilliant brother, “I think Bridgeport cops should be retrofitted with New York cops.”
*** If you’re doing the job correctly then you have nothing to hide, no? There’s too much unneeded violent confrontation due to lack of patience and motivational behavioral training on the part of the P/D. ***