From Dan Tepfer, CT Post
For nearly 40 years the Guardians, an organization of minority city police officers, have fought for racial equality in the Police Department.
But now the venerable organization is fighting among themselves as its president, Police Lt. Lonnie Blackwell, awaits possible disciplinary action as a result of allegations that he ordered another officer to write a phony racist letter that after several years of relative calm has sparked racial unease in the department.
A former president of the Guardians who is a witness against Blackwell recently filed a complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s Office claiming he is being retaliated against by Blackwell and Dennis Bradley, the president of the Board of Education and a board member of the NAACP.
Full story here.
John Marshall Lee, what’s going on here with the NAACP and Police Lt. Lonnie Blackwell?
Ron Mackey and BOE Chair Mr. Bradley?
And your point is?
Gary, Ron Mackey has nothing to do with this!
I received a copy of the ethics complaint Bailey filed against Bradley. It alleges Bradley was going around with a photo of Bailey on his cellphone trying to find out negative information about Bailey to discredit his testimony against Blackwell.
“This week, propelled by reports that Blackwell and a few close members of the Guardian’s board approved a $10,000 donation–the largest ever made by the organization–to a division of the Cape Verdean Club, the Cape Verdean Women’s Social Club.
“Several Guardians contend that Blackwell is using the Guardians treasury for his defense and that the $10,000 donation was made to win the influence of the city’s administrative officer John Gomes, who heads the Cape Verdean Club.”
The CAO would have been wise to avoid being implicated in anything that even remotely smells Like “Pay to Play.”
But does he avoid it? No. Why? Because he is John Gomes. Too-self absorbed to see past his own reflection in the mirror. Can the taxpayers please have some decent, qualified officers in the Mayor’s office? Don’t we deserve that?
Let’s get things straight here. Blackwell is an out-and-out racist looking to cause trouble between white and black cops. I dare say if this were a white officer this would have been already handled by the powers that be.
The NAACP is still out of touch and clueless. They are giving Blackwell a civil rights award. That’s just great and shows how out of touch the NAACP is.
The powers that be should have ruled on this incident long ago. BTW, anything involving John Gomes should be looked at closely.
This is a complete failure on behalf of the NAACP and it’s honoring Blackwell even though two other blacks list him as the chief culprit in all of this. I’ve known Ronnie Bailey for decades and his character and integrity are beyond reproach.
What could the NAACP and its president be thinking about with this honor and if they were looking to come to the aid of a black person they could have chosen a better recipient than this fool. Out of all the black folk in Bridgeport who are doing positive things for the uplift of this community, how in hell was he chosen and who in hell thought he was a good choice? Time will prove the new NAACP President is as much of a fool as Blackwell.
Don, the Bridgeport branch of the NAACP recently announced it is giving Blackwell a civil rights award. I don’t know Lonnie Blackwell, I’ve met him but that’s it. What I don’t understand is why the NAACP is giving Blackwell this award while his case is still going forward. The NAACP could have waited until next year to give him the award. Police Lt. Lonnie Blackwell awaits possible disciplinary action as a result of allegations he ordered another officer to write a phony racist letter, well let’s say if it’s found Blackwell is guilty, the NAACP will look stupid. I understand they want to support Blackwell but to give him an award, no. What has Blackwell done to receive the civil rights award?
Don, this action is more than just the NAACP President George Mintz, it includes committee and board members of the NAACP.
As for Ron Bailey, I too have known him for decades and as you said his character and integrity are beyond reproach.
Don, I’m still waiting for John Marshall Lee who is a board member of the NAACP to answer my question, what’s going on here with the NAACP and Police Lt. Lonnie Blackwell?
Just returned from several days away from OIB and technology. For 18 months I have served as Communications Director of Greater Bridgeport NAACP Branch, attending meetings and keeping minutes at some of them, writing press releases,
and initiating a quarterly newsletter in June, 2016. Second issue came out last week of September, 2016.
NAACP branch received a complaint about the Blackwell suspension and asking a question about PD timeliness of a decision. The State Police and State Attorney reviewed the initial data and more than nine months ago closed their inquiry. With the Department history, the NAACP has been patiently awaiting a decision. The City process apparently is subject to special handling in a racial situation, purportedly under something termed a Barros Decree, from a case nearly fifteen years ago. Although it seems the facts have been investigated and that phase has been complete for some time, the legal, political or other factors that are or may be a part of the end product are not yet complete. So Blackwell remains suspended, without his teaching position at Housatonic though with City of Bridgeport basic pay, while some wonder why he gets a “paid vacation” and others continue to be concerned about what the facts are and what racial justice in Bridgeport in 2016 looks like. Time will tell.
But a white cop who used a racial slur when on patrol gets just a suspension. Smh, double standard much? If you suspend one cop you should just suspend Blackwell.
I would like to know what is the role of the City Attorney in all of this. Do they sign off on all disciplinary actions now?
If Perez is ready to rule then let’s hear the ruling. The City Attorney should have no participation in any of this.
Bob, it’s normally the chief and Labor Relation who review the case and make a decision. Well this case has gone on way too long. If he’s guilty I think they won’t fire him but probably demote him for six months, suspension and a fine.
CT Post–“Fire captain punished for racially charged e-mail”
Noelle Frampton, STAFF WRITER | April 6, 2010
m.ctpost.com/news/article/Fire-captain-punished-for-racially-charged-e-mail-437668.php
Ron, what does this mean? Are you saying this incident should foretell what should happen to Blackwell? I think the two cases are different.
Andy, let me say this about Gary Baker. I was shocked to hear Gary had any involvement with the email. I had a good working relationship with Gary from the time he joined the department until I retired, we both were firefighters in the U.S. Air Force at different times so we had that in common.
The two cases are different but they both had created a bad environment and Chief Rooney made it worse with Rooney putting out an apology for Gary.
JML, you wrote the following. “Others continue to be concerned about what the facts are and what racial justice in Bridgeport in 2016 looks like.” What about racial justice? We had the head of a minority fraternal organization soliciting other members of the black organization to write a racial piece and make it look like it was written by a white person. They had two black officers testify to this fact. I don’t know why it’s taken so long. JML, the NAACP shows its prejudice by giving Blackwell a civil rights award. Amazing.
Andy,
I am not on an awards committee and I certainly do not know the background history as some other writers do, however just as some have experienced, Bridgeport has a history of racial division profound enough to require the presence of Federal oversight for long periods of time as well as certain features that were supposed to mitigate the racism uncovered.
I have not met Blackwell and do not know him otherwise. However there seem to be those in the community who remember “back in the day” as the phrase goes, he was a stand-up person for respect and rights. Where things are today? Aren’t we waiting to see if Chief Armando Perez is “stand-up” in his Chief’s role? Gaudett had a chance, maybe, but that time has passed.
We are waiting. But I am writing still about the kids who need better policy decisions and funding decisions from the older folks who hold the community hostage for their own personal reasons and needs.
A lot of money is being spent on the Police Department these days. According to Ken Flatto, Finance Director, he has readjusted the budget by projecting Police Department expenses to be 7% greater than approved budget for the year for a total over $109.5 Million. Is there any connection in the way the Police Department has adjusted so poorly to replacing manpower needs for the past six years? For the way both internal overtime and external overtime have had negative variances for years at year end? For the change of local officers to a State plan that credits them for retirement income based on base plus overtime earnings but leaves the City paying the costs? For the quiet control the City has exercised year-in and year-out relative to paying the “called-for” contributions to pension plans, by going to the State and asking permission to change the payment schedule routinely? And by neglecting to share with taxpayers, or thoroughly with the Council they are no longer receiving the full cost including Pension Contribution for the TOTAL EXPENSE of External Overtime as listed in the Police Contract? When will the fair compensation for the Police Department allow the Board of Education to receive FAIR taxpayer contribution? And when will Joe Ganim, and the go-to Employment Interviewer of public employees, Mario Testa, comment on this absurd situation? Silence questions? SQ? Status quo. Time will tell.
JML, thanks for the update. I must say it’s ridiculous how long it’s taking the City to come down with a decision. If he’s disciplined it will be appealed to the State Labor Board so they need to make a decision yesterday.
Ron,
I agree with you on this one. Perhaps there are a number of “good people” involved in this one. Perhaps there are some who have seen a need to gather and identify racially because we often accomplish more together, than apart. Perhaps some kind of reward came to some folks early on but time moved on and rewards flowed elsewhere. Perhaps that upset the status quo and made some people upset. But the overall unfairness and injustice track continued in the larger population that was no longer of interest to the few. Losing sight of the larger war and losing rewards in a current battle perhaps called for acting against newer power. And others may have taken shortcuts to show bias. And would you call it a mess? And what if leaders were looking for a way to look like Solomon (and a best friend) to everybody? Still a mess, and unrealistic too. Just speculation. A story for OIB? Fiction? Time will tell.