Bridgeport, CT – The Bridgeport Police Department has been increasing efforts to maintain public safety for Bridgeport residents. With the challenge of increasing the number of officers within the department, officers have been proactive with their initiative to get ahead of some of the most common complaints received by residents. 

So far, the department has seen a slight decrease in ATV calls and incidents; a significant issue that has been brought to the attention of the Police Department since the start of 2023. The department has reported that ATVs are larger than a local issue but are a state and federal issue as well. However, the Bridgeport Police Department has confirmed that the Park City is doing better with ATV issues than other cities.

A large part of the department’s initiative to increase safety for residents has been the recent commitment to building engagement between the community and the department. With biweekly Facebook Live videos and numerous community events, the Bridgeport Police Department has effectively begun to bridge the gap by providing more transparency to residents of the City.

“It’s been a pleasure to see our officers build community relations between the department and our residents,” stated Mayor Ganim. “Public Safety remains at the forefront of the priorities I have for making Bridgeport a thriving city. I believe that community engagement is a great foundation to have to help build trust within our neighborhoods. Everyone should feel safe, no matter where you are in the City; and everyone should feel comfortable enough to rely on our officers to always serve and protect them.” 

Recently, the department’s primary focus has been to focus on the downtown area of Bridgeport. As downtown has risen to be a hot-spot for many residents and visitors of Bridgeport, the Police Department is working diligently with the number of officers that are within the department to ensure that police presence remains in proximity to maintain night-life traffic and safety. However, the Bridgeport Police Department has been encouraging all to always be aware of their surroundings, whether downtown or traveling through any other neighborhoods of the City.

Chief Porter stated, “As a department, we still have a lot of work to do in terms of increasing the number of officers we have. However, considering what we have, I’m very proud that our officers have continue to work diligently to maintain the safety of our City. As our numbers increase within our department, I’m positive that we will have the manpower we need to efficiently reduce our crime statistics and continue strengthening our community engagement.” 

Other safety tips that the Bridgeport Police Department has provided include not being distracted while driving and for drivers, as well as pedestrians, to be always alert while traveling throughout Bridgeport. The department encourages residents to follow all ordinances, such as the noise ordinance the prohibits loud music after a certain time.