Bridgeport Seeks Public Input On Hiring Of New Police Chief

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The city has set up a dedicated email address, and will hold community and other forums, to receive feedback from the public and elected officials regarding who should be chosen as the next Chief of Police in Bridgeport.

Mayor Joseph Ganim announced the timeline on Wednesday for soliciting feedback, which includes two public hearings that "will allow Bridgeport residents and stakeholders the opportunity to ask questions of the top 3 candidates."

Those three candidates are either current or former members of the Bridgeport Force, Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia, Captain Lonnie Blackwell, and recently retired Captain Roderick Porter.

The person selected will replace former Acting Chief Armando Perez, who was sentenced in 2021 to a year and a day in prison after he pleaded guilty to a test-rigging scheme.

Ganim hopes to announce his choice for the new chief by the middle of November.

Before then, community forums will be held in October at Central High School and Harding High School, and both of these public hearings will be lived streamed on Facebook live.

Additionally, Ganim will call a Special Meeting of the City Council next month to interview the three candidates in the City Council Chamber. The meeting will be chaired by the Council President. While the public will be invited to attend, only members of the Council will be able to ask questions.

The city has also scheduled a meeting for City Department Heads and members of the Bridgeport State Legislative Delegation to interview the candidates.

An email address (policechiefsearch@bridgeportct.gov) has also been set up to allow elected officials and the public to provide feedback to Ganim on the three candidates. People may also submit feedback in writing by sending it to:

Office of the Mayor
999 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604

Feedback will be accepted until Oct. 28.

Ganim will subsequently interview the three candidates and announce his decision by mid-November.

"Public safety is vital to the quality of life for our residents," Ganim said in a statement. "It is important that community members, elected officials, and stakeholders have the opportunity to vet these three candidates, including the backgrounds and experiences that they might bring to the role of Police Chief. I encourage people to please attend these forums and provide constructive feedback as I consider these three candidates."

Police Chief Selection Timeline:

• October 11: Community Forum at Central High School @ 6pm

• October 13: City Council Forum at City Council Chambers @ 6pm

• October 18: Community Forum at Harding High School @ 6pm

• October 20: Meeting with City Department Heads and Members of the Bridgeport Legislative Delegation at City Hall Annex (Time TBD)

• Late October/Early November: Mayor will interview the top 3 candidates.

• By Mid-November: Mayor will announce his choice for Chief of Police.

For more information, visit the city's website: www.bridgeportct.gov/BPDChief2022.