Bridgeport PD Launches 'Informational Sessions' To Recruit Officers

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The Bridgeport Police Department is launching "informational sessions" to recruit prospective officer candidates, the first such initiative under recently hired Chief Roderick Porter.

One of Porter's goals is to get police staffing in Bridgeport "back to its full strength and capacity," as he said during a recent live stream on Facebook.

"Our intent is to help candidates get through this process to become police officers," Porter said. "Our goal isn't to eliminate anyone, it's to offer tips on how to be successful during the process."

From the Bridgeport Police Department announcement:

The informational sessions that are being offered will cover an array of topics. Subjects include details about the agility exam, academy academics, opportunities within the department, possible start dates at the police academy, and other information highlighting the specifics of the process. The first session, which took place on December 21, 2022, was at capacity. It is hoped that the session on January 5, 2023 will follow suit.

Mayor Ganim stated: “The future of the Bridgeport Police Department looks bright, knowing that the department has already received a positive response from the first informational session. I’m hopeful that the next session is just as receptive and will help to accelerate the process of finding new recruits to join the police force.”

Lieutenant Angelo Collazo, who is the Commander of the training academy, has been appointed as the person of contact for those who are interested in attending the January informational session. The next session will be held at the Bridgeport Police Academy on 405 Newfield Ave, located within the city’s East End.