NAACP Blasts Bridgeport Police After Officer-Involved Shooting

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The Greater Bridgeport NAACP released a statement calling on police officers to be equipped with body cams and blasting police leadership. This comes following news that a Bridgeport police officer assigned to the federal Safe Streets task force was involved in a shooting Tuesday night.

The shooting happened in the area of Main and Catherine streets in Bridgeport at 10:12 p.m. The victim was transported to the hospital, treated for non life-threatening injuries, and released.

"Weapons in the hands of police officers not wearing camera equipment leave the community guessing and wondering what took place," the NAACP's statement reads. "Last night’s officer-involved shooting incident is a case in point. Why is equipment that has been issued, not used, for this Task Force? The murder of George Floyd witnessed on less than 10 minutes of video, and attended by police officers, is mute testimony to what is happening in the streets.

"The Bridgeport Police Department leadership and agency direction are so disconnected from the community at large that cooperation, respect, and/or authority is not observed...

"Bridgeport needs to be looking for the alternatives and solutions that are at work in other large communities, that can be adapted and made accountable in our City. We need a Police Department that respect, all of its Officers, show respect to community and grassroots organizations."

See related: Bridgeport Police Officer Involved In Shooting