On May 28, 2024, members of the Special Services Division, assisted by the Patrol Division, executed search warrants on Keith Johnson and his residence at The Waypointe Apartment complex. After a lengthy investigation into Johnson for illegal narcotics trafficking, search warrants were obtained through Stamford Superior Court. Surveillance was conducted outside the apartment complex, and when Johnson was observed walking in the area, he was taken into custody without incident.
A search warrant was immediately executed at Johnson’s apartment, resulting in the seizure of a large amount of narcotics. The following items were seized: 1,167 folds of fentanyl weighing 292 grams, loose powdered fentanyl weighing 84 grams, loose MDMA/fentanyl powder weighing 7 grams, loose crack cocaine weighing 15 grams, 739 ecstasy pills containing fentanyl weighing 330 grams, and numerous items used to facilitate a drug factory, including four scales, a cutting agent, stamps, and a blender. Additionally, $1,103 in US currency was confiscated.
Keith Johnson, 33, of Norwalk, CT, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance (first offense), sale of 1 oz or more of heroin/methadone, operation of a drug factory, use of drug paraphernalia, and risk of injury to a child. His bond was set at $350,000, and his court date is scheduled for June 11, 2024.
2024-05-29@4:11pm–#Fairfield CT– Firefighters quickly extinguished a house fire on Oakwood Drive. The fire marshal, police, and the building department was called to the scene as well.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed legislation approved by the Connecticut General Assembly this session strengthening the state’s laws regarding paid sick days protections by expanding them to ensure that more workers are covered and have access to them.
Connecticut’s existing paid sick days laws require employers with more than 50 employees that are mostly in specific retail and service occupations (such as food service workers, health care workers, and others) to provide their employees with up to 40 hours of paid sick leave annually.
This legislation signed by Governor Lamont expands this coverage to include more workers in two ways:
Beginning January 1, 2025, these laws will apply to workers of nearly every occupation, not just those in retail and service jobs. (Seasonal employees and other certain temporary workers are exempt.)
The threshold for coverage will be lowered in three phases, beginning with employers that have at least 25 employees on January 1, 2025; those with at least 11 employees beginning January 1, 2026; and those with at least one employee beginning January 1, 2027.
Additionally, the legislation broadens the definition of who qualifies as a family member when a worker wants to use their paid sick days to care for a loved one to also include those other than that person’s own minor children, as limited under the current law. It also expands the reasons why an employee may use paid sick leave to include instances related to the declaration of a public health emergency.
“Our existing paid sick days laws include important protections for certain workers, however there are broad categories left unprotected, and this update will expand this coverage to help ensure that people do not have to choose between going to work sick and sacrificing a day’s wage,” Governor Lamont said. “Given what we just experienced during the recent outbreak of a viral pandemic, it’s appropriate that we take a look at our paid sick days laws and evaluate how they are working and how they can be strengthened. I applaud the General Assembly for sending this bill to my desk so that I could sign it into law, and in particular I want to recognize the advocacy of Senate President Looney, Senator Kushner, and Representative Sanchez.”
“Our state has been proud to lead the way with one of the most comprehensive paid leave programs in the country that’s creating a working environment where everyone can succeed,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “But before our paid medical family leave program, in 2011, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to require certain employers to provide employees with 40 hours of paid sick time per year – but since that time, we’ve fallen behind. By updating these statutes, we are allowing more workers the opportunity to care for themselves or a family member without the fear that it’ll negatively impact their career. This is legislation that truly supports our workers, their families, and their communities.”
“The private-sector workplace is rapidly evolving, with salaries and benefits becoming more and more competitive as unemployment rates drop and our economy continues to expand,” Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney said (D-New Haven). “The expansion of paid sick days to more workers makes sense, both from an economic and a societal standpoint. For low and moderate-income people, the loss of even a couple of day’s pay is a real hardship; it could mean the difference between having the rent that month or not. Connecticut’s pro-employee policies are also bringing more young workers into the state, and keeping them here, for the quality of life they can experience. That’s also a boon to employers to have a broader pool of prospective employees and a happier, healthier, more productive workforce.”
“One of the true highlights of the 2024 legislative session was the expansion of paid sick days. This was my top priority,” State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), co-chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, said. “More than a decade ago, Connecticut was a national leader in requiring certain service sectors to provide paid sick days to their employees – but only a fraction of Connecticut’s workforce was covered. Since 2011, we’ve stood still while other cities and states have exceeded what we started. In the daily race to attract new residents and new jobs, standing still is not an option. With the signing of this bill, every worker in Connecticut is on their way to earning paid sick days. I want to thank the governor and my fellow Democrats in the General Assembly for recognizing the value of human labor in our economy, and for recognizing the needs of employees and their families to stay well in the never-ending demands of business for more productivity and more profits. There has been a new-found respect for working people since the pandemic, and offering paid sick days to everyone by 2027 is one way we can show our appreciation and grow our workforce.”
“Workers should never have to choose between their health and their jobs,” State Representative Manny Sanchez (D-New Britain), co-chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, said. “This legislation marks a significant advancement toward healthier workplaces, increased productivity, and better employee retention. I am grateful to Governor Lamont for signing this life changing initiative.”
The Westport Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Scholarship Foundation is proud to announce that it has awarded scholarships to twenty-two students attending college in the fall semester. The WPBA Scholarship Foundation is forever indebted to the organization’s founders and principal donors, Joan Poster and the late Dennis Poster. Joan Poster’s continued support and generosity is the reason the Foundation continues to flourish. The Wilbur scholarship is awarded to Westport officer’s children.
The college applicants must complete community service and have an average grade point average of 3.0. All this year’s applicants successfully met the criteria. The Wilbur Scholarship was granted to the following students: Zoe Koskinas, Samuel and Jonathan Wolf, Madison Hayes and Gabrielle Hayes, Brandon Smith, Ava Wooldridge, Olivia and Grace Biagiotti, Sara Sabin, Samantha Sabin, and Joseph Sabin, Meghan Velky, Jaden Aliberti, Emma and Jacqueline Kelley, Alexis Broderick, April Nowinski and Edward Nowinski and Zachary Benson. In addition, the Foundation awards the Deputy Chief John Anastasia and the Chief Bill Stefan Scholarships to a Staples senior who is entering college in the fall with focused studies on law or a law enforcement related field. The scholarships acknowledge both community relations and athletic accomplishments. This year, Kervin Joseph, was awarded the Deputy Chief John Anastasia Scholarship and Juan Nieves, Jr., was awarded the Chief Bill Stefan Scholarship.
All recipients received a scholarship in the amount of $2,000.00. The Westport PBA Scholarship Foundation wishes to congratulate and commend these students for their dedication to community engagement and their academic accomplishments.
The press conference addressed a series of shootings in Bridgeport over the weekend, with community leaders and officials coming together to condemn the violence and pledge support for public safety. The police department is working on the investigation and implementing strategies to prevent further incidents.
Highlights
💔 Community leaders and officials gathered to address a series of shootings in Bridgeport.
📢 The community is standing together to send a strong message that gun violence will not be tolerated.
🔒 The police department is committed to public safety and transparency in their efforts to reduce gun violence.
🤝 Partnerships with organizations like RASAP and JANA are crucial in preventing gun violence and supporting affected families.
🚔 The police department is increasing patrols and using strategic measures to target individuals prone to violence.
💡 The state delegation is working to provide resources and enact common-sense gun laws to prevent gun violence.
🙌 The governor showed support by attending the press conference and emphasizing the importance of hope, opportunity, and community engagement.
Key Insights
🚀 Community support and collaboration are essential in addressing and preventing gun violence. Organizations like RASAP and JANA play a crucial role in providing support to affected families and working with at-risk youth.
💪 The police department’s proactive approach, including increased patrols and targeting individuals prone to violence, has contributed to a significant reduction in gun violence in Bridgeport over the past 18 months.
📚 Education and opportunities are vital in preventing gun violence. By providing hope and alternative paths to at-risk individuals, we can break the cycle of violence and create a safer community.
🌟 Public safety measures should not only focus on reactive enforcement but also emphasize preventive measures such as investing in the community, addressing poverty, and providing resources for education and job training.
💔 Each shooting incident has a profound impact not only on the victims but also on their families and the community as a whole. Support services and counseling should be readily available to help individuals and families affected by gun violence.
🔒 Collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies is crucial in effectively addressing gun violence. By working together, sharing resources, and implementing joint initiatives, we can improve public safety and bring perpetrators to justice.
🙏 The community’s engagement and involvement are vital in preventing and solving gun violence incidents. Building trust between law enforcement and the community, encouraging reporting of information, and creating safe spaces for dialogue are essential steps in reducing gun violence.
Report of a fire at 550 Main Street in Stratford potentially due to a transformer malfunction. Firefighters on scene have extinguished the fire on the roof, and are currently looking for extensions.
The Stratford Library returns with its popular film series through 2024. The series offers free showings of recent, popular films shown uncut and on widescreen each month.
LOVELL ROOM 12 PM INFORMATION: 203.385.4162
MAESTRO June 10 Bradley Cooper directs, co-writes and stars as Leonard Bernstein in this powerful biopic about the legendary conductor’s complicated relationship with his wife, Felicia (Carey Mulligan). R, 129 minutes DUNE, PART 2 June 24 Visually thrilling and narratively epic, Dune: Part Two continues Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the beloved sci-fi series in spectacular form. PG-13, 166 minutes
THE COLOR PURPLE July 15 A story of love and resilience based on the novel and the Broadway musical, THE COLOR PURPLE is a decades- spanning tale of one woman’s journey to independence. Celie faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. PG-13, 141 minutes CIVIL WAR July 29 A stunning journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House. R, 109 minutes GODZILLA X KONG August 12 This latest entry in the Monsterverse franchise follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla. PG-13, 115 minutes MEAN GIRLS August 26 Preserving the essence of the original while adding a few new wrinkles — not to mention musical numbers — Mean Girls is a sweet (if slight) update with an outstanding cast. PG-13, 112 minutes.
2024-05-26@2:44am–#Bridgeport News: Another person has been shot at PT Barnum Housing, this time at building 11 inside an apartment. The person was shot in the leg.
