Bridgeport police are rejecting mayoral candidate Joe Ganim's request for state police intervention.

Ganim called on Gov. Dannel Malloy earlier this week to authorize state troopers to supplement the city's police force. Ganim says citizens and police officers want the violence to stop, and outside help is needed.

Chief of Police Joe Gaudett says, "That's just politics." A spokesman for Malloy says, "State police already work cooperatively every day with the Bridgeport Police Department and that's the extent of our comment."

The last time state police stepped in to help the Bridgeport Police Department was in 1996. While Ganim was mayor, state police had to be brought in after 10 murders in two weeks.