A Bridgeport Police Officer calle that someone struck their vehicle. Shortly after, the Officer requested assistance. The incident location is Seaview Ave and Deacon St. Multiple units and Supervisors responded to the area. It is unknown what transpired or prompted the initial incident, however one person is currently in custody. The officer went to the hospital with unknown non-life threatening injuries. Police said once more information becomes available we will update accordingly.
2021-03-04@6:18pm–#Bridgeport CT– An Uber driver had his white 2012 Honda Civic. No weapon was displayed. The car was last seen on Chopsey Hill.
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FAIRFIELD — Chief Robert Kalamaras and the Fairfield Police Department would like
warn community members about common scams and remind them to never give out
their personal or financial information to a person they do not know or whose identity
cannot be verified.
Recently, Fairfield Police received a report regarding an elaborate scam that began on
a dating app in which a resident was tricked into sending money to an individual who
stated they were in financial distress.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing. However, the money the resident sent to
the scammer most likely cannot be recovered.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), many individuals fall victim to
scammers on dating apps who try to trick them into sending money. These romance
scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps to strike up a relationship with
their targets to build their trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day.
Once this relationship is established, they make up a story and ask for money. Often
these scammers say they’re living or traveling outside of the United States and are:
working on an oil rig
in the military
a doctor with an international organization
“We encourage residents to take the time to verify where and to whom their money is
being sent,” Chief Kalamaras said. “We encourage any resident who is contacted by an
unknown individual and is asked for money to contact the Fairfield Police Department if
they are concerned or in doubt about the legitimacy of the call. Odds are, the call is a
scam with the purpose of extorting individuals for money.”
Residents should NEVER give personal information, social security numbers, money or
credit card numbers to people they don’t know.
If a victim gives the scammer a pre-paid debit card number, sends a money order
or makes a wire transfer, the money is very likely gone. There is usually no way
to recover those funds.
To prevent similar scams, the FTC recommends the following:
Do not take calls from unknown numbers.
Caller ID is not always accurate. A call from a “local” number might not be coming
from a local person or organization.
Do not share personal, identifying information like your Social Security Number,
account numbers, or your mother’s maiden name.
If a caller claims to represent an organization and you are doubtful, hang up and
contact that agency to verify whether the call was truly from a representative.
Never pay a caller with a gift card.
Telemarketers are required by law to state that they are making a sales call. They
are mandated to say the name of the seller and the product before pitching their
sale. If this does not happen, hang up.
Be wary of callers who talk quickly and pressure you to make a decision quickly.
Do not buy a product or service because of a “free gift.”
Get all information in writing before making a purchase.
Verify the legitimacy of a charity before donating.
Before making an investment that a caller or emailer is offering, check with your
state securities regulator to make sure the offer is properly registered.
Do not send cash by messenger, overnight mail, or money transfer. If you pay for
a product or service with cash or a money transfer, you run the risk of losing the
right to dispute fraudulent charges.
Do not accept an offer that requires a registration or shipping fee to get a prize or
gift.
Beware of offers to “help” recover money that you already have lost. Scammers
sometimes pose as law enforcement officers who will help get money back for a
fee.
Report rude or abusive callers, even if you already sent them money, by calling 1-
877-FTC-HELP or by visiting ftc.gov/complaint.
If you are ever unsure about a potential scam, contact the Fairfield Police Department
at 203-254-4800
2021-03-04@5:55pm–#Westrport CT–#cttraffic– A multi-car crash on I-95 northbound near exit 17 for your commuting pleasure. No word on any injuries.
Rebeca Garcia was appointed acting chief of police by Mayor Ganim on September 10, 2020
after the resignation of Chief Armando Perez, who was indicted by the United States Attorney’s Office,
charged with rigging the police chief examination in his favor. Perez and Mayor Ganim had previously
appointed Garcia to the role of assistant chief.
Since being appointed acting chief, Garcia has failed to lead the Bridgeport Police Department,
and has engaged in conduct that is contrary to effective leadership.
● The acting chief has ignored the manpower shortage in the department that has had a drastic
effect on the crime rate puts the public at a higher risk and creates serious officer safety
concerns
● The acting chief has failed to address the attrition rate in the department that has seen dozens
of experienced officers leave the agency. These officers cite poor leadership, lack of career
advancement and soaring health insurance costs as the reasons for their departure
● The acting chief has been ineffective at supplementing the current manpower shortage with
overtime backfill and special details to combat crime and quality of life issues, while continuing
to cut overtime in the midst of a soaring crime wave and pandemic that has stretched resources
The above issues negatively impact the membership by forcing well trained professional police officers
to leave the agency to work for other police departments with better working conditions and stronger
leadership. Bridgeport police officers are tasked daily with increased responsibility and scarce
manpower resources that lack support from the acting chief. Officers are reminded on a regular
basis through the issuance of mundane department memorandums that they will be subject to
discipline. These constant reminders have a negative effect on officer morale and contribute to a further
loss of confidence in the acting chief’s ability to protect them and effectively lead.
The inability of the Acting Chief Garcia to effectively lead the Bridgeport Police Department has
a negative impact on the citizens and business owners of Bridgeport by reducing the overall quality of
life of residents by not deploying manpower and resources in an effective way to keep residents safe.
The acting chief has ignored the recommendations of the police department command staff and union
that are necessary to protect Bridgeport.
Bridgeport Police Union Local 1159 expects that the mayor will appoint a chief of police that is
an effective, empathetic, and caring leader who is fair and impartial. The chief of police will have vast
experience in all facets of police operations and administration and will be perceived by officers and
citizens as legitimate. The union believes that the chief of police should have the higher education and
training and command experience that mirrors national best standards for medium-sized city police
chiefs in the United States as established by The International Association of Chiefs of Police and The
Police Executive Research Forum.
Bridgeport Police Local 1159 in a vote of no confidence in Acting Chief Garcia’s ability to
effectively lead, ask that a new acting chief be appointed immediately, and the city begin the process of
a nation-wide search to select the most qualified permanent police chief to lead the agency into the
future.
2021-03-04@1:00pm–#Bridgeport CT– A seven year old boy had a door close on his fingers with partial amputation according to radio reports at Barnum School, 495 Waterview Avenue. First responders on the way.
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HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Mohegan Tribe Chairman James Gessner Jr. today announced an agreement that would allow the State of Connecticut to modernize gaming options available to state residents, including allowing for sports wagering and online gaming. The agreement would generate tens of millions of dollars in new revenue for the state, while keeping Connecticut competitive with gaming changes currently being offered or considered in neighboring states. The agreement also provides the inclusion of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation as a partner in the effort to modernize the state’s gaming landscape.
Key components of the agreement include:
“This agreement represents months of hard work and dedication to getting a deal that’s best for the residents of Connecticut and moves our state forward when it comes to the future of gaming,” Governor Lamont said. “We are incredibly fortunate to have such a devoted partner in these efforts like the Mohegan Tribe, as they have been open to negotiation, honest discussion, and a positive path forward that is beneficial for both their tribe and the State of Connecticut.”
“The Mohegan Tribe is proud to have reached this agreement with Governor Lamont and the State of Connecticut,” Chairman Gessner said. “This path will allow Connecticut to generate tax revenues from sports and online gaming that are competitive with other states, and help keep Connecticut with those states when it comes to growing our economy and benefiting the state budget. We’re thankful to Governor Lamont and his team, and we look forward to continued work with the General Assembly as this process continues.”
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WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and U.S. Representatives Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA) and Mark Green (R-TN) introduced the bicameral, bipartisan K2 Veterans Care Act. This legislation would establish a “presumption of service connection” for the veterans who served at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (K2) in Uzbekistan and who have since been diagnosed with toxic exposure-related illnesses and diseases, requiring the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care and benefits.
“This bill will be a lifeline for the veterans who were exposed to dangerous toxins in the glowing ponds and black goo reported at K2,” said Blumenthal. “We must honor the commitment we make to our servicemembers when we send them to war and ensure these deserving veterans get the treatment they urgently need. The strong evidence of K2 veterans suffering from cancers and other illnesses at high rates is a moral mandate to act. The lives of hundreds—and potentially thousands—of veterans are at stake and the VA cannot waste any more time to make good on its promise to treat our nation’s bravest. I’m proud to lead this important effort alongside Senator Baldwin and Representatives Lynch and Green.”
“The Pentagon has known for years that our U.S. troops were exposed to cancer-causing toxins while serving in Uzbekistan and it’s simply wrong for the VA to deny them health care and disability benefits. The VA has taken a similar approach in the past, delaying recognition and compensation for American veterans exposed to toxic substances like Agent Orange in Vietnam, and with military burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, while veterans became sick and died. We can’t let that happen again,” said Baldwin. “Our legislation does right by those who served at K2 and were exposed to health risks. We have a commitment to these troops and we need to keep it.”
“Almost two decades ago, our K2 heroes and their families risked everything to defend our country following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,” said Lynch, Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security whose Subcommittee investigation led to the release of declassified DOD documents detailing K2 veterans’ exposure to toxins. “Despite clear evidence uncovered by the National Security Subcommittee that K2 veterans were exposed to cancer-causing hazards, the VA continues to reject their claims for service-connected disability benefits. Our veterans and their families deserve better. Today’s bill is an important step toward rectifying this injustice. I thank Congressman Mark Green and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Tammy Baldwin for their leadership on this critical issue.”
“It is shameful that the Department of Veterans Affairs has not yet acknowledged a service connection between deployment to K2 Air Base and toxic-exposure related illnesses,” said Green. “Our K2 veterans fought for us, now it’s time to fight for them. Our bill requires the VA to acknowledge a causal relationship between deployment to the base and the rare cancers and other serious illnesses our veterans are facing nearly two decades later. This is a significant step forward in the fight for justice and ensures that those who served at the base can receive the treatment they need. America’s K2 veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. It’s long past time we do what’s right and give them the respect and medical care they deserve.”
As many as 15,000 U.S. servicemembers deployed to K2 Air Base—an old Soviet military site leased to the U.S. from the Uzbek government between 2001 and 2005—to support military operations into northern Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Recent media reports and declassified Department of Defense (DOD) documents released by the House Oversight and Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security indicate that K2 servicemembers were exposed to multiple cancer-causing toxic chemicals and radiological hazards during their deployments. These toxins include hazardous petrochemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), depleted uranium, burn pits, and elevated levels of tetrachloroethylene.
According to a September 2004 health assessment, the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine found that, “the potential for daily contact with radiation exists for up to 100% of the assigned units” at the K2 base. In April 2020, the VA announced that it would study illnesses among K2 veterans including cancers, but results from the study are not expected for at least 18 months.
The K2 Veterans Care Act would create a “presumption of service connection” for illnesses associated with toxic exposures at K2. This presumption of service connection would require the VA to provide health care and disability benefits to any K2 veterans who presents diseases associated with jet fuel, VOCs, particulate matter, depleted uranium, asbestos, and lead-based paint—all of which were toxins found at K2.
The legislation has been endorsed by Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled Veterans of America (DAV), and the Stronghold Freedom Foundation.
“Many veterans who served at the Karshi Khanabad (K2) base have developed serious health issues due to exposure to toxicants,” said Wounded Warrior Project Vice President of Government Affairs Jose Ramos. “The K2 Veterans Care Act of 2020 will provide these veterans the hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care they need and deserve. We thank Senators Blumenthal and Baldwin for introducing this bill and look forward to working with them to ensure its passage in the Senate.”
“The veterans who deployed to Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (K2) were exposed to dangerous substances while serving our country,” said Director of VFW’s National Legislative Service Pat Murray. “Thousands of troops worked and slept in dangerous conditions every day and they are suffering illnesses because of their service. The VFW supports this proposal and looks forward to its swift passage so our K2 veterans can begin to receive the care and benefits they rightfully deserve.”
“We know that the thousands of veterans who served at Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan were exposed to toxins, burn pits and depleted uranium; however, many have been denied health care and benefits for diseases or conditions related to those exposures,” said DAV Deputy National Legislative Director for Benefits Shane Liermann. “DAV fully supports the K2 Veterans Care Act, as it would provide health care eligibility and establish a framework for presumptive diseases that could lead to benefits for these veterans. We thank Senator Blumenthal for his leadership and his commitment to the men and women who served, especially those whose service has led to such serious disabilities.”
“The Stronghold Freedom Foundation gladly endorses and supports the introduction of the K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the very first US servicemembers arriving at that far-flung and toxic base. This legislation will finally provide K2 veterans, their families, and their survivors with the recognition and care they earned those many years ago. We are grateful for Senator Blumenthal’s leadership on K2 and look forward to working with lawmakers as this bill becomes law.”
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#Fairfield CT– On Sunday 02/28/21 at 10:27 am, a Jackman Avenue resident observed a black 4 door vehicle pull up in front of her neighbor’s residence and then observed a passenger exit the black vehicle and walk down the neighbor’s driveway to pull on the door handle to a grey Jeep Cherokee that was running via remote start. When the door did not open, the subject walked back to the black 4 door vehicle reentering it. The vehicle fled the scene towards Stratfield Road. The complainant described this individual as a short teenager wearing black jogging pants and a camo hoodie. Please are investigating the connection between this incident and the stolen vehicle from the parking lot of the Dogwood Green Condominium that same morning.
On Sunday 02/28/21 at 10:34 am, the Fairfield Police Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call reporting that a vehicle was just stolen from the 1400 block of Melville Avenue. Police responded and radioed nearby patrols to lookout for a black 2017 Audi Q3 that was stolen from the parking lot of the Dogwood Green Condos. The Audi was last seen by its owner driving away onto Melville Avenue. There was no description on the suspect(s) provided to police. The vehicle was unlocked with the keys inside and left running when it was stolen. Police are investigating.
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#Norwalk CT–The Norwalk Police Emerald Society regrettably announces the postponement of the 2021 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Parade Committee made this decision
with safety of all participants and attendees in mind.
“It’s disappointing not to have the parade, but now is not the time to relax guidelines,” said Mayor
Harry Rilling. “We will make sure the shamrocks are painted green for residents to enjoy. Please
celebrate St. Patrick’s Day safely and let’s hope next year we can have the parade once again.”
The Norwalk Police Emerald Society is a 501c3 charitable organization.
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