Month: September 2013

Man Charged After Bringing BB Gun on School Grounds

(Bridgeport, CT – Sept. 19, 2013) – A 63-year-old  man faces charges after he approached a city schoolWednesday afternoon in military-style clothing and claimed to be a police officer.

The incident happened at Waltersville School on Hallett Street. School security and the principal stopped the man, who had what appeared to be a firearm in his waistband, before he could enter the facility.

The man was at the school to pick up a family member, who attends the Pre K-8 school. After he was confronted, he stated he was a police officer. Police later recovered a BB gun in the suspect’s vehicle.

“The Board of Education and police department work closely to keep our schools safe,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “School security will continue to put the safety of our children first, as they do every day.”

“In today’s world and particularly in our city schools, we have to take every potential threat seriously, and yesterday our educators, security and police did just that.”

A parent approached the school staff Wednesday shortly after 3 p.m. and reported that a man with a gun was standing outside the school. Principal Carmen Ortiz alerted a security guard, who approached the man and told him he can’t be on school grounds with a weapon.

He produced paperwork that indicated he was a police officer. He is not. The suspect, John Teso, then put the weapon in his truck.

Meanwhile, school officials calmly cleared the area of any children.

Police arrived quickly and Teso, of Bridgeport, was detained, questioned and later charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, impersonating a police officer, possession of a weapon on school grounds and breach of peace. His bond was set at $50,000.

During the incident, the suspect did not make any threats or brandish the weapon. Police arrested him at the scene without incident.

School officials alerted parents of the incident.

Reverse 911 for Bridgeport residents

(Bridgeport, CT – Sept. 13, 2013) – Residents of Bridgeport now can register online for the City’s Reverse 911 system, making it easier for them to receive important information during emergencies.

“The system is an important resource in communicating with residents, particularly during emergency situations,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “We had a hurricane and an epic blizzard in the last 12 months, and it is so essential for people to get timely, accurate information.”

The online form now will make it easier for people to register.

Residents can register at http://www.bridgeportct.gov/rev911

According to Mayor Finch, the Reverse 911 form adds new features that will help the City assist its vulnerable populations during large weather events.

During the hurricane and blizzard, the Emergency Operations Center received calls from residents looking for assistance with medical needs. For example, oxygen condensers have a back-up battery but not enough to make it through an extended power outage. Dialysis patients received help making urgent appointments.

There now is a section in the Reverse 911 form where residents can list medical needs. That information will help Emergency Operation officials coordinate efforts to assist people during emergencies, said Scott Appleby, the City’s director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

As always, the City will continue to utilize its website, social media and work with news organizations and radio stations to get out key information to our communities.

 

REVERSE 911 can be used for many situations to include:

·        Emergency evacuations

·        Missing person alerts

·        Natural disaster alerts

·        Hazardous material leaks

·        Crime alerts and prevention information

·        Neighborhood emergency situations

·        Sexual predator notifications

·        Homeland security alerts

 

Bill Kaempffer

Public Safety Spokesman

Bridgeport Police Department

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