Going Out The Door, Garcia Whines The Sour Grapes Of “Politics”

Outgoing Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia cites “politics” as the reason she was passed over for the permanent position. She’s right, but not in the manner she thinks. The internal racial politics Garcia created in the police department, including the marginalizing of Captain Lonnie Blackwell and the retirement of Captain Roderick Porter whom Mayor Joe Ganim announced on Thursday as the new chief, were factors in Ganim’s decision.

Keeping her in command would be more of the same.

“When the times got tough, I didn’t resort to litigation,” she said during a public forum, clearly a swipe at both Blackwell and Porter.

Now that she’s retiring let’s see if she has a different perspective.

From CT Post:

Rebeca Garcia, who has served as acting police chief for just over two years, has decided to retire from the department after being passed over by Mayor Joe Ganim for the permanent job.

In her statement announcing her retirement, Garcia called Ganim’s decision to instead choose recently retired Capt. Roderick Porter and give him a five year contract a result of “politics.”

“I was offered the position of Assistant Chief however, I have gracefully declined the position,” Garcia said in a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media late Friday afternoon. “I would like to thank all of the members of the Bridgeport Police Department who not only supported me but also made a difference for our community during these tasking times.

“Unfortunately, ‘politics’ got in the path of the decision making therefore, I am retiring from the department with 32 years experience,” she said. “I truly wish Roderick Porter the very best with taking the leadership helm of the department. To the Members of the Bridgeport Police Department who joined together on effectuating positive change and impact–thank you!”

“I want to thank Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia for stepping up during a challenging period for the department,” (Ganim) said. “She has put in numerous hours over the past two years and has always supported the Police department. I wish her the best of luck on her future endeavors.”

Full story here.

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23 comments

  1. Lennie, “Going Out The Door, Garcia Whines The Sour Grapes Of “Politics”

    “Outgoing Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia cites “politics” as the reason she was passed over for the permanent position. She’s right, but not in the manner she thinks. The internal racial politics Garcia created in the police department, including the marginalizing of Captain Lonnie Blackwell and the retirement of Captain Roderick..”

    “Keeping her in command would be more of the same.”

    Perhaps, keeping her in command would be more of the same, but let’s backtrack a bit. Garcia was being marginalized and pushed out from the get-go. When she was first offered and accepted the position of Assistant Chief before any marginalization of Porter or Blackwell could even take place.

    So it is pretty rich to read that Porter would like her to say and can work with her as an Assistant Chief. Considering Porter (I believe) was one of the officers who filed suit against her appointment to the assistant chief.

    It’s funny who they offered her to stay on as aAssistant Chief even though a judge decided in their favor. However, since Garcia is not taking the position G2/Porter is not going to fill it. Well, depending on how G2’s re-election shapes up, being white in all, come around PR Day, being a betting man, I’ll bet G2/Porter fills that seat with a Latino to try to mend some fences. A quick stop a Home Depot is not going to cut.

    http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/more-ganim-chutzpah-patches-fence-near-trumbull-gardens-after-neighbors-complain-about-crime/

    This all seems about right. Racial politics here? No. Nothing to see here, people.

    Do you know what’s the real problem here? It’s not lawsuits, not perspectives, be it, internal racial politics of marginalization, or external politics, either black person will do. As long as it’s not the Latino woman, “anybody but Garcia”.

    It’s the internet, specifically the comment section people.

    Talk about chutzpah. Sorry, not sorry. Good luck people. I’m out of here. Try to play nice.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ_x5HhFLpE&t=153s

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    1. “When the times got tough, I didn’t resort to litigation” said Garcia .
      What did she resort to, since she must have suffered through some tough times? Did she retreat to silence and put some distance between her and whatever or whoever was aggravating? Did any of this build up a learning or memory that later showed itself in what consequences were meted out to those under her command? Perhaps we will never know.
      But there are other employee development, human oriented, labor relations practices and processes that create a better more progressive interaction environment especially where there may be and actually are high stress human interactions. Why are annual employee meeting work supervisors regularly and officially not part of Bridgeport’s system? Do unions fight against this seeming “civil right” by which the progress of an employee towards the current task and future goal is noted on paper, with comments from each party, and available to all parties in the future as a sign of development? Would the presence of such a system raise goals, expose opportunities, and indicate complaints or dissatisfaction long before legal action seems like the only course? Time will tell.

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      1. “Unfortunately, ‘politics’ got in the path of the decision making therefore, I am retiring from the department with 32 years experience,” she said.

        She left out ‘most important’ before “decision”.

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  2. Lennie, the whinning was coming from Blackwell. Rebecca Rolled her eyes at him? She stood up to the good old boys club, period! The first indication I got was when Porter drop the suit against the city. The mayor’s mind was made up already. This thing about him having three difficult to choose from choices is simply political bull shit. Lennie Stop throwing shade for Joe. He has his re-election locked in no need for this. Did you get the news that Barajas has put in for retirement? Oh, yea, it’s about the female. Is Porter a good choice? He sure is and much better than Blackwell. Politics has played a role in just about every aspect of not just city government, but world government. I’m not retiring just yet, I got my 25 going on to 26 years. I’m not concerned about Porter, I’m concerned of how most people lend themselves to petty bull shit to gain some favors. I can imagine the fair coverage Rebbeca Garcia would get on this blog if she was to run for mayor of Bridgeport. It can’t happen? Waterbury, Ct.

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        1. BTW, Lennie! Did you notice the commentary about Ganim introducing Chief Porter got just 4 comments?
          That would be Porter, Blackwell, Augustabitch, and Benjamin Alverez.

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  3. “The internal racial politics Garcia created in the police department, including the marginalizing of Captain Lonnie Blackwell and the retirement of Captain Roderick Porter whom Mayor Joe Ganim announced on Thursday as the new chief, were factors in Ganim’s decision.”

    Let me get this straight. Rebbeca Garcia created the internal racial politics of the Bridgeport Police Department. Porter retired because of Rebbeca Garcia. She asked for his resignation? Mayor Joe Ganim appointed an acting chief who did what you mentioned above and it’s all her fault? Where’s the blame on the mayor? Take your meds Lennie. Call me.

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    1. The first indication for the plebs Porter was going to be tapped was when Lennie threw some shade on it with his article, Porter being the logical choice.

      http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/why-roderick-porter-is-logical-choice-for-police-chief/

      Porter, I believe found out he was going to be tapped somewhere between the first public forum at Central and the one at city hall. He had swagger, confidence, probably, Garcia and Blackwell on some level.

      Depending on the level, in hindsight, there were probably clues as this played out. For the most part, most people thought it would be Garcia, Considering Porter didn’t even make the list until Reene dropped out.

      That was probably an indicator on a high level. On the higher, who knows, probably before AJ was appointed as permanent Chief and Garcia was appointed Assistant chief, considering, you didn’t need Donnie Brasco to crack the cheating gate case wide open.

      On the highest level, Fuggedaboutit. JMO

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et8gJnVluBE

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  4. Good luck Rod!
    You know you’re going to need it.
    Remember how you were inspired to be a police officer when that guy, (you know who!), picked you up to go to grade school when you missed that school bus as a child. Remember how he conducted himself as both a cop & a human being. It’s a recipe for success. You have lots of work to do and I wish you nothing but the best.
    Cheers brother! 👍 👍 👍

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    1. Sure, after AJ and Garcia did all the heavy lifting in the new world of policing with bodycams. 🙂

      AJ exposed the racism with the Guardians/blacks’ help with letter gate. Garcia’s disciplinary actions on officers, and Proter with financial action of fraud, waste and abuse. TRIFECTA 🤣

      But then again, taking the hands out of the city/taxpayer pocket could be challenging. 🙂

      TRIFECTA 🤣

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFSC92_Ik1Y

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  5. Police Chief Rod Porter,
    On behalf of the many in the community whom I know and have seen since the official notice of your return to duty from retirement, let me congratulate you and wish you full support in your major work of the next five years. Good health and Godspeed!!
    Gathering the women and men of the current force together and using such a forum of stakeholders, (recently enunciated by G2 but obviously new to his executive style) of looking and listening to explore the extent and depth of knowledge and feeling before more formal changes that are publicly contemplated is good strategy for the changes that must take place for the benefit of citizens, taxpayers and public safety employees themselves.
    Many (though they are not consulting OIB as regularly as in the past) support you as a fellow resident, willing to step up to do what is necessary, believing that you will be professional, purposeful, and public. Rich says, “Cheers!” and I celebrate his enthusiasm. But as I most often close. Time will tell.

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  6. “Police Chief Rod Porter,
    On behalf of the many in the community whom I know and have seen since the official notice of your return to duty from retirement, let me congratulate…”

    The usual folks just sucking-up. Don’t count me in your community of Black Rock. I’m absolutely 100% sure you have not seen enough people in the community in such a short time. I can count them with my left hand and still have at least one more finger to count. Porter and everyone in the entire state law enforcement community are simply clueless.
    Time? Try 21 fucking years for time. Shit, people who are not consulting OIB? I hope they’re at least reading and separating the bull-shit from what is real. Joe Ganim would have been better off appointing this Police Department Janitor. Lennie, call me again and let’s set this up.

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  7. Well well well of course Garcia is sour. How sour can she be? Let us go back. She received her Assistant Chief job illegally and against “the charter provisions” of not having a process. Therefore, Judge Stevens’s ruling was against her and the city. She was then promoted to “Acting Chief” following the arrest of former Chief Aj Perez. She laughed at those who challenged her in the lawsuit knowing that the city would appeal and delay everything. Such as the city has done forever.

    Funny how she is not laughing now, is she? I would not think so.
    I hear she is so mad that she was passed over for Porter that she cannot get over it.

    What did you honestly expect? She never listened to anyone, not even JG2. That behavior is okay for someone who does not give a crap and is looking to leave.

    Garcia would have been a shoe in had she taken the past three years, engaged with the community, and gotten involved. However, she refused to do so. Have you realized that Garcia only was out in the public eye after she “officially applied” for the Chief position? How in the world do you want anyone to back you when you have ghosted them for over three years?

    Bridgeport Politics was too much for Garcia to handle.

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