Michael Salemme, president of the police union local, shares in this commentary his grievances against Police Chief Roderick Porter.
Chief Porter counters with a response.
I write as the President of the Bridgeport Police Union, Local 1159, to address serious concerns regarding Chief Porter’s lack of leadership and the decrease of morale our officers face on a daily basis. Chief Porter is a disgruntled ex-employee who has personal vendettas against some of our officers from his tenure as a captain with the Bridgeport Police Department. He retired, opened a lawsuit against the City of Bridgeport, and was selected chief shortly after.
As the voice of our membership, it is important for me to inform the public that majority of our members are not happy under Chief Porter. Although social media may paint a picture that it is, I assure you that it is not. Last year, a vote of no confidence was brought up at a union meeting. The two members who motioned it and two additional officers who supported it, were all later targeted in either discipline coming forth, stopped on a promotional list, or not chosen for a specialized unit. Right now, most members want to do a “vote of no confidence” against Chief Porter, but are afraid of retaliation.
Chief Porter has teamed up with Labor Relations to attack the officers he does not like. He has Attorney Linda Cronin, from Labor Relations, as his personal lawyer who follows the script Porter puts together. Some of our officers go into discipline hearings with no chance of a fair outcome. The officers Porter likes get way less punishment and even charges removed from their discipline. Other officers have had unjust punishments and charges added that don’t apply. This inconsistency of discipline puts the union in a tough spot, which has been pitting officers against each other. Since Chief Porter started in December of 2022, complaints were filed against him with Labor Relations. Some complaints were investigated with no outcomes or had to be outsourced to a private company.
Chief Porter has completely decimated the chain of command by purposely not promoting officers due to who’s name was next on the list. Four Sergeants were recently stopped from being promoted to Lieutenants, two Lieutenants were cut short of being captains, and he eliminated 15 sergeant positions on his own doing. There are many openings in each supervisory rank and only the Chief of Police can promote. These positions are budgeted for and there should be no disparity involved. Our officers worked hard to be promoted and their career development was purposely stopped. Some officers are now looking to retire instead of staying past their 25 years.
The police department is not operating efficiently. Chief Porter has created unnecessary mandates by purposely changing our squad structure around. This has created tired officers and an uptick in book offs. He was repeatedly advised by the union and high-ranking command staff that this would not work, but still did it. Our computer based hiring system (Kronos) has tracked a 30% increase in mandates. It was finally changed for the start of 2025, thanks to John Cueto, who was the assistant chief for a short span.
I have been Union President since November of 2023 and have filed over 20 grievances, some leading to several MPP’s. Most of these grievances will not be heard for at least two years. I have tried working with Chief Porter, but he knows there is no discipline that will happen to him or a monetary figure for violating our contract. Our officers are forced to file lawsuits and CHRO complaints. The tax paying citizens of Bridgeport will face the brunt of paying these bills for grievances, reimbursement of attorney fees, and lawsuits. Every grievance filed cost the city $200 apiece.
I have plenty of documentation of violations of the contract and unjust treatment towards a lot of our officers. Mayor Ganim’s office is well aware of these incidents. Chief Porter has done nothing to move our police department forward. The union will be exercising every avenue to combat this unfair treatment and boost morale in the department.
Chief Porter responds to assertions:
These are baseless, factually inaccurate allegations that only serve to misinform the public and undermine the faith in the City’s public safety function of the Bridgeport Police Department. It is disheartening that a Union President would circumvent the tenants of labor relations and utilize mass media prior to bargaining in good faith as required by the Connecticut Municipal Employers Relations Act.
However, this misinformation campaign will not deter me from continuing to support the good work that my officers perform daily. This narrative continues to discredit the important relationship building that this Department continues to strive for, for the benefit of all residents in the City of Bridgeport. I once again, invite President Salemme and any members of the Union to have a productive discussion over these allegations rather than resorting to this medium, so that together we can reasonably resolve all grievances and address any misinformation .
Chief Porter is a disgrace to the badge. An outside attorney has been hired by the City Attorney to “VET” many of the same FACTUAL claims that are made in this very article. Coincidence?? I think not….. Claims that have been made to labor relations and City officials since Jan 2023!!!
There is tangible proof of you sweeping things under the rug for some while targeting others. Let’s face it you are weak and honestly quite stupid to think that you could abuse your power and be untouchable. You create a documented paper trail of disparity, malfeasance and conduct unbecoming that will now come crashing down on you.
You Chief Porter lack integrity and your actions over the course of the last 2 years will all come out and you will be held accountable. I look forward to my front row seat for you to finally get what you have deserved since 2008.
Jesus Christ people, or shit just went full circle. 🙃
John, what’s the probability on a Quantum level that you would of chimed in if the chief police was white in this current racism allegation/ investigation, was put forth by a black cop instead of a white cop accusing Chief Porter , who is black of racism and abusive power? 🤣
I did watch some of the Chiefs recent Porter’s corner. Not sure if there is some nonverbal coded language
or some straight up lying going on but the words didn’t match the reality when they characterized the department in 1993. It was racist, tribal, corrupted like Serpico, import crime was rampant. I mean did you read Lenny’s book, Chase or Bailey’s no black Heroes😀
Chief Porter, do you want to know the root cause of male domestic violence on women? Because it’s a serious topic and they say knowing is half the battle.
Let’s start with the causalities of the root cause, little penis, cheating, and those with big penises indulging in the root cause. The root cause, the inherent Gay Factor. Ladies think of it this way it’s hard enough for you on the mental psyche, how do you think it’s for the overly indulgent males. Even for the out outLet that sink in
https://youtu.be/7flKiJXm26E?si=0Ww-QkMenJB4TAIr
For ladies domestic violence to a male there’s probably more factors involved. Perhaps some swings both ways on the receiving and giving. I would say the root cause germinates after the mind melt that comes from Love, though ironically it can only be understood with lost or rejection, until then generally just a four letter word only then do they tend to go off the rails or perhaps viewed as physical enjoyment that tends to lead off the rails either way a different mind melt occurs, or not I really can’t speak for the vaginas or anybody really🤣
https://youtu.be/RBumgq5yVrA?si=jGSqe7ek8y70wTtE
Out of the closet never mind Tom Cruise’s and R Kelly’s John Travolta’s🙃
https://southpark.cc.com/video-clips/ecxr5h/south-park-r-kelly-sings-with-tc-jt
Either way I depart with some wisdom my absentee dad gave me. He said Son, you have a little penis you better learn how to lick a “cat” To be honest I didn’t know they really came in “sizes” until I seen Boogie Nights and realized the ” male actors” had to “audition” for the role 🤣
By then I was already following the Apostle Rufus, who was following Black Jesus. We could have been knee deep in Shepherd’s daughters😇
To be fair, there was some Magic Johnson/ Forrest Gump shit going on.
https://youtu.be/ecjDV526xIE?si=DSs7XfgcM0n9VR5z
I depart with the prophet, try to play nice people
https://youtu.be/qp6mXmHNPlg?si=L6nxlqXHf8nXGwCd
And on another note, look what your president has done in addition to all the other crap on his menu. Ex president thankfully. :
BRIDGEPORT – A man convicted of one of the most horrific crimes in the city was granted clemency by outgoing president Joe Biden.
Adrian Peeler, a city drug kingpin who with his brother Russell Peeler Jr. were accused of executing 8-year-old Leroy “BJ” Brown and his mother, Karen Clarke in 1999, will leave prison in July as part of an order granting pardons and clemency to hundreds of people.
“We’ve been blindsided, where is the justice for my family?” asked Karen Clarke’s brother, Oswald Clarke, on hearing of Peeler’s release. “It’s like we are hearing of BJ and Karen’s deaths all over again but this time their killer is going free.”
Three years ago a federal judge had turned down Adrian Peeler’s request for a sentence modification stating he had not shown any remorse for his crime.
“So how can this be?” Oswald Clarke asked Tuesday, “A judge found he had no remorse for killing BJ and Karen; it’s not likely that’s changed.”
Thank Biden for clarifying everything that the “conspiracy” theorists have been saying about him. The Supreme Court circa 1925 deemed that by accepting a pardon, equals admission of guilt.
Hey Lennie could you find out who placed the application in, to request Peelers blessing from the president ??
This highly inappropriate commutation involves its own story by Lenny and all major news outlets…. It is disgusting and beyond infuriating for all of us — especially those close to BJ Brown and his mother. Unbelievable!
I warned y’all! It’s revenge of the turd. Anyone who dares to express a desenting view from that of the Thief shall suffer the consequences.
“These are baseless, factually inaccurate allegations that only serve to misinform the public and undermine…”
What the thief is trying to say is: All is Peachy at the BPD, Not a single grievance has been filed against him, he’s been handing down promotions as they’re due. Only Lennie Grimaldi is falling for his bullshit.
“It is disheartening that a Union President would circumvent the tenants of labor relations and utilize mass media prior to bargaining in good faith as required by the Connecticut Municipal Employers Relations Act.”
It’s disgusting (ruled illegal) to try circumventing the Connecticut Municipal Employee Retirement Systems (CMERS) rules, policy and procedures to commit Pension Fraud. Thief Porter, in case you haven’t noticed, mass media works both ways. You expect us to wait for you to post something about this on your P.D. Facebook page?
April DelVecchio Gale, can you message me 0if possible:
gonzalezjoel636@gmail.com