Bridgeport to increase community policing efforts

Bridgeport officials announced Monday a new community policing initiative to help make neighborhoods safer. The new task force will have two sergeants and 16 police officers dedicated to patrolling

News 12 Staff

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Mar 15, 2016, 3:22 AM

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Updated 3,186 days ago

Bridgeport officials announced Monday a new community policing initiative to help make neighborhoods safer.

The new task force will have two sergeants and 16 police officers dedicated to patrolling housing complexes like Trumbull Gardens, according to Mayor Joe Ganim.

Nine people were shot at the housing complex last June.

Officials say the funds for the initiative will come from the city of Bridgeport and the public housing authority.

Ganim made public safety a major component of his campaign last year. He says that the initiative is a big step to fulfilling that promise.

"It makes a huge difference, as opposed to officers running and chasing calls so to speak," Ganim says. "You have the officers interacting with the community ahead of time."

News 12 is told another part of the initiative was officially opening the police substation on Reservoir Avenue near Trumbull Gardens.