Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter, a 30-year veteran of the department, started his career patrolling Stratford Avenue on foot.
Now, as chief, he’s bringing that approach back by increasing foot patrols in the community. Currently, six officers are assigned to walking beats in four neighborhoods, with plans to expand. The department has 317 sworn officers and 27 recruits currently in training.
“These walking details are about getting officers back into the neighborhoods, not just driving through them,” said Porter. “When folks see the same officer on their block every day, it builds real relationships, and that goes a long way in preventing crime and improving the overall feel of the community.”
Particularly during the summer when traffic increases, he said, it’s important for drivers and walkers to be attentive. Children and teens are outside more, often using headphones and texting on their cellphones, which the chief urges kids to avoid.
“It’s simple,” said Porter. “When officers are walking the beat, they’re more approachable. They hear from residents directly, spot issues early and become part of the fabric of that neighborhood. That kind of connection makes a real difference in both safety and quality of life.”
One of those walking officers, Marilyn Diaz, said community-based police engagement is essential.
“It gets citizens comfortable speaking with us, we’re more approachable,” she said. “We even helped out with a bus. You know, not everyone has electronics. They wanted to know what time the bus was coming. One even asked, ‘How do I get officers to walk on my side of town?’ not knowing that they already do.”
In fact, said Diaz, on Thursday evening there were two walking officers on the east side, two on the west and two on the north. “We’ve been working with Resource Router, a new application that we are all using. It has collected data like hot spots, high-crime areas.”
Business owners are rolling out the welcome mats. Carlos Peña, president of Gala Foods Market, calls the walking officers “good for the community.”
With a partner, Diaz went into a few businesses and introduced themselves. “We interacted with people, a lot of them seemed pretty happy, there were a lot of smiles, a lot of engagement as well,” he said. “We all come together to make a positive impact on Bridgeport.”
From FCN partner Easton Courier.
