Bridgeport Names Francisco Rivera Director Of Emergency Operations Center

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim on Monday announced the appointment of Francisco Rivera as director of the city’s Emergency Operations Center, naming a longtime public safety employee to oversee emergency response coordination.

Rivera has nearly 16 years of service in the city’s emergency communications and management system, according to the announcement. He began his career with Bridgeport in August 2010 as a telecommunicator and later became a certified trainer. In 2012, he was promoted to ECC supervisor, where he oversaw daily operations and technological troubleshooting for the department.

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Most recently, Rivera served as acting deputy director of public safety communications, with direct supervisory and budgetary oversight of the 911 communications center, according to the city. The mayor’s office said Rivera was selected through a competitive civil service process that included several emergency response professionals from the region.

"Francisco Rivera represents the very best of Bridgeport’s dedicated workforce," Ganim said in a statement. "He has spent over a decade and a half on the front lines of our city’s emergency response, from fielding 911 calls to helping manage critical regional incidents. His deep institutional knowledge, combined with his proven leadership during high-stress emergencies, makes him the ideal person to lead our Emergency Operations Center into the future."

Rivera replaces Scott Appleby, who reportedly retired from the position last year. David Reyes has been serving in the role on an acting basis.

The city said Rivera has been involved in responses to major incidents including multi-alarm fires, severe weather emergencies, and the 2013 train derailment. His experience also includes administrative work involving NCIC/COLLECT and policy drafting, as well as triaging critical police and fire incidents.

"I am honored to accept this appointment and continue serving the residents of Bridgeport," Rivera said. "Having spent my entire career within this department, I understand the weight of our responsibility to our citizens and our first responders. My focus will be on ensuring effective communication and rapid response during emergencies, as well as mitigation and preparedness to ensure Bridgeport remains a safe and resilient community."