Report of a fire on the 1100 block of Kossuth Street in Bridgeport. Firefighters arrived on scene to a fire on the third floor that was quickly knocked down. One party was treated for smoke inhalation. There are no further details at this time.
Bridgeport, CT — January 6, 2026 — Mayor Joe Ganim and the Bridgeport Police Department announced a new partnership with Flock Safety on Tuesday that will introduce drones as first responders to emergency calls throughout the city, marking a significant expansion of Bridgeport’s public safety technology.
The Drone as First Responder (DFR) program will allow drones to be automatically deployed to 911 calls, ShotSpotter alerts, fires, and other emergencies, often arriving on scene before police officers or firefighters. The drones provide real-time aerial views to first responders, helping them assess situations more quickly, deploy resources more safely, and improve decision-making before personnel arrive on the ground.
“This program gives us eyes in the sky,” said Police Chief Roderick Porter. “It allows us to respond in a more intentional and informed way to crimes, missing persons, fires, and other emergencies, while also improving officer and public safety.”
The program will initially deploy two drones positioned strategically throughout the city and operated remotely from Bridgeport’s Fusion Center by trained city personnel. Unlike earlier drone usage, these drones are not launched from patrol cars; instead, they are remotely deployed and can reach emergency scenes within approximately 90 seconds.
Bridgeport Fire Chief Brian Edwards said the technology will significantly improve firefighter safety and response times. “Having an aerial view before crews arrive allows us to scale resources faster, make safer decisions, and better protect both our firefighters and residents,” Edwards said.
State funding totaling $575,000 was secured to support the program, with key backing from Senator Herron Gaston, who emphasized Bridgeport’s role as a leader in modern public safety. “This is what 21st-century policing and emergency response looks like,” Gaston said. “Technology like this saves time, resources, and lives.”
City officials repeatedly stressed that the drones are not used for general surveillance. According to Flock representatives, drones are deployed only in response to calls for service and are not continuously monitoring neighborhoods. Cameras do not record people until the drone reaches the specific emergency location, and all flights are logged in a public transparency portal. Video footage is encrypted and typically retained for 30 days unless needed for an active investigation.
“These drones are about responding to emergencies, not spying on residents,” Mayor Ganim said. “This is another step in making Bridgeport safer by using technology responsibly and transparently.”
Officials also noted that the drones can assist in situations such as vehicle pursuits, allowing officers to disengage from dangerous chases while maintaining aerial awareness, as well as search-and-rescue operations, large-scale incidents, and fire responses.
Following the press conference, attendees were invited to the rooftop of the Margaret E. Morton Government Center for a live demonstration of the drone system, with additional video footage made available for media use.
City leaders said community outreach and public education will continue as the program rolls out, including public meetings to explain how the technology works and how privacy safeguards are enforced.
“This is about evolving public safety,” Ganim said. “And making sure our residents are safer tomorrow than they were yesterday.”
Report of a part of a ceiling that collapsed at 111 Court D of Success Village in Bridgeport. Initial report is that an elderly female was injured by the collapse. First responders are on their way to the scene at this time.
The Bridgeport Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 300 block of Fairview Avenue. Fire units arrived to find fire from a 2-story residence. The fire was quickly knocked down with no reported injuries. The Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating, and the American Red Cross is assisting with the displacement of 3 adults and 1 child.
A shooting Monday night on East Main Street and Edna Ave has rattled nearby residents and comes amid a troubling series of gun-related incidents that unfolded within minutes of each other geographically over the weekend.
The most recent incident occurred Monday evening, January 5, 2026, near East Main Street and Edna Ave. According to the Bridgeport Police Department, multiple parties were involved in a verbal dispute outside when shots were fired. Police confirmed no injuries were reported and said the investigation remains ongoing.
Nearby resident Barbara Jimenez said the gunfire erupted just moments after she returned home to what is normally a quiet, dead-end street near Foster Square.
“I closed the door and then boom — next thing you know, there’s a guy on the ground and shots were fired,” Jimenez said. “I had just walked in the door. It was around 8:00 or 8:30 at night.” In reference to the Satuday night shooting which occurred on the same block.
Jimenez said emergency responders arrived quickly and transported someone by ambulance. While police later confirmed no injuries were reported, the incident left her shaken.
“It’s scary,” she said. “It really makes me think about whether it’s even safe to come outside with the dog anymore. Bridgeport’s come a long way and crime has gone down — to see something like this happening right where we live is really unsettling.”
The Monday night shooting follows another gun-related incident just two nights earlier, Saturday evening, also on the East Side. At approximately 8:00 p.m., officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation in the 2200 block of East Main Street. Upon arrival, police located one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
That victim was transported to St. Vincent’s Medical Center for treatment. Police have not released the victim’s condition, and no arrests have been announced.
Less than 24 hours later, a fatal shooting occurred early Sunday morning inside what police described as an illegal after-hours club on the East Side. Shortly after 3:00 a.m., officers responded to multiple 911 calls in the 900 block of Noble Avenue, where they found Jordan Thompson, 31, critically injured inside the location.
Thompson was transported to Bridgeport Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Authorities confirmed his next of kin has been notified, and the Major Crimes Unit processed the scene later that morning. The shooting marked Bridgeport’s first homicide of 2026.
Police confirmed the Noble Avenue homicide occurred roughly a three-minute drive from the Saturday and Monday shootings near the 2200 block of East Main Street, heightening concern among residents about the clustering of violence in the area.
Police continue to investigate all three incidents. Anyone with information related to the fatal shooting is urged to contact Detective Thomas Harper of the Bridgeport Police Homicide Unit at 203-581-5239.
Police are investigating a crash between a car and a 12-year-old girl at Park and Wade Street. Park Avenue is closed on both sides between Wade and Chalmers for the accident investigation. It did appear that the driver stopped and was cooperating with police. UPDATE: The road closure is now Park ave between Beach Place and Eaton Street
UPDATE: Park Avenue has reopened and the pedestrian is listed in critical, but stable condition.
Boats were launched to search for a report of a missing person in the Housatonic River, around Sikorsky Memorial Bridge. At this time there was a discovered overturned kayak, but it is unknown at this time if there is a person in the water.
Report of a box truck that crashed into Star Gas Station on Jennings Road in Fairfield. At this time it’s unknown if they are able to stay open and how this will effect their recent renovations.
NORWALK, CT — A Norwalk man has been arrested following an investigation into fraudulent credit card use tied to purchases made at Home Depot locations in several states, according to police.
On March 7, 2025, a victim reported fraud involving a company credit card, telling police that between February 27 and February 28, 2025, unauthorized purchases totaling more than $2,000 were attempted. The victim identified William Ayles, a former contractor, as the suspected individual based on receipts, notes, and other documentation. Surveillance video from the transactions was obtained, and investigators later determined the actual financial loss totaled $1,201.30.
An arrest warrant was issued for Ayles in connection with the fraud investigation. On December 24, 2025, a bail enforcement agent took Ayles into custody and transported him to Westport Police Headquarters. He was charged with Larceny in the Third Degree, Criminal Attempt to Commit Larceny in the Third Degree, and Payment of Less Than $500 Using a Revoked or Stolen Credit Card. Bond for those charges was set at $100,000.
Police said computer checks revealed Ayles was also the subject of seven additional arrest warrants for Failure to Appear stemming from cases brought by multiple agencies. He was charged with four counts of Failure to Appear in the First Degree and three counts of Failure to Appear in the Second Degree, carrying an additional $140,000 in court-set bonds.
Ayles was unable to post bond and was transported to Stamford Superior Court for arraignment on December 24, 2025.
