OIB reader Andy Fardy (town committee) is the victim of several recent tire-slashing incidents. He’s not happy with police response. See a letter to the editor he submitted to the Connecticut Post.
This is a quality of life issue that one Bridgeport family is dealing with.
My family is under assault from teenagers who have slashed my truck tires on 3 separate occasions in two weeks.
On 6/22 four of my truck tires were slashed, I called the police department and was given an incident number, no one came to the house.
On 6/23 two more of my tires were slashed, again I call the police department and again I was given an incident number, no one came to the house.
Did I expect the police department to catch these people? No, but it would have been nice to know if this was happening in other areas of my neighborhood or was my family and I being targeted.
On Wednesday night 6/29 my neighbor knocked on my door and told me he saw 3 kids running from my driveway unfortunately he could not get their plate number. He called the police as did I. I was told they would send a car. I waited for 2-1/2 hours, the house was lit up and no one came.
The next morning we called the police department and complained.. The police sent out a car and he stated that they did send a car and he found the incident “unfounded.” I don’t know how this could be as my house was lit up and the front of my truck was resting on the ground.
Yesterday I spoke to a number of police officers and the overriding theme was that the police officers and supervisors do not communicate with what went on during their shift hours. If this is true how do they know what the heck is happening in their district?
Last night my son talked to the police officer assigned to my neighborhood and explained what has happened. The officer knew nothing about these incidents.
My wife had gone to police headquarters and spoke to a sergeant who assured her their would be patrols checking the neighborhood, this did NOT happen.
We stayed outside for 3 hours and not one police car was ever seen.
So far these incidents have cost me over $2,000, not including what security upgrades are going to cost me.
I am lucky that I can afford to do this. What happens to people that can’t afford it?
It’s time for Chief Gaudett and his many supervisors to take a look at what they have been doing to fight crime. Whatever it is, it’s NOT working.
Quality of life issues are important.
These incidents have affected my health and the health of my wife. I have lived in this house for 42 years and have never experienced this kind of hell. It’s frustrating because there is nothing more I can do and the police department is not going to do anything. The police department is forcing me to take vigilante action so I can protect my family.
I suggest that chief Gaudett get the police off of their horses, off their segways and ATV’s and into patrol units.
Chief, your community policing is NOT working I am part of a community and get no help.
To mayor Finch I will take the $2,000 I have spent so far as a tax increase. People have a right to live peacefully and safely, this is not happening!!! Shame on you and shame on the police department.
Andrew C. Fardy
Bridgeport
Hey Andy, Get a Dog!
Good letter, tc.
We need scoreboards here in Bridgeport. Three incidents at one house, WOW, targeted or part of something broader. The only way you will know is if someone responsible is keeping a record. Look at the number of contacts Andy made with the PD and how many of them resulted in anything meaningful.
What’s the score? Who’s losing? A taxpayer who uses his voice … it is an election year.
There’s a hole in downtown Bridgeport. The police are looking into it.
tc:
I deal with the teenagers in the Park City frequently. I know they only bother people if they feel they got disrespected by you or a family member. This of course does not excuse any of their actions, I state this so you may ask yourself or some family members if they had problems, real or otherwise, with some kids. This not being the case go to radio shack and get a Nanny Cam.
Sounds like an admission of pedophilia.
charlie, thanks for the comment. I drove myself crazy thinking of which set of teenagers I pissed off and can’t think of one, in fact I can’t remember the last time I talked to any teenagers. My son had his car parked in the street each time and it was not touched.
This morning my 86-year-old friend on the next street over called and two of his tires had been slashed last night. There is no way of knowing how many others have had this happen.
*** Sounds like a job for “STREET JUSTICE!” ***