Enforcement Team Puts Pressure on Bridgeport Crime

By CINDY SIMONEAU, Correspondent

It was a rainy, quiet night on Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport, and the Police Department’s newly formed Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) was taking a parole officer on his first ride-along. Warned to be prepared for anything, the officers suddenly found bullets flying over their heads. The shots, not aimed at anyone, were a sort of acknowledgment from the streets that “they” knew the new squad was on their turf.

“We said to be prepared for anything and everything,” explained the unit’s commanding officer, Sgt. Paul Grech. “After only a short time they know we’re out there, although they don’t always know which neighborhood we’ll be in.”

Parole Officer Edgar Nunez, who rides along with the unit one night a week, said despite the gunfire on his first ride-along, he thinks the NET has the upper hand when it comes to enforcement issues. This is the first time the Corrections Department has had a parole officer working side by side with the police to monitor the activities of parolees.

While it is the parole violators and criminals the group is targeting, the most important part of their mission is to clean up the streets for the neighborhood residents.

“We connect the public to the police at a very personal level,” said Sgt.Grech, during an interview in the State Street precinct office. “Every officer is getting calls from the public. We know to make this work we need to sell it to the public. We hope to heighten awareness about our activities.”

Earlier this year, Bridgeport Police Chief Brian Norwood established the Neighborhood Enforcement Team with six officers from various divisions and Sgt. Grech. Two officers were later added. So far, neighborhood efforts have focused on Stratford and Connecticut avenues and the Hollow section of the city.

While a sign of success may be the opening of better communication lines with the public, it is also evident in the many arrests and enforcement efforts launched by NET. Among them, Sgt. Grech describes arrests for weapons, armed robbery, rape, drugs, as well as liquor violations, gang activities, and prostitution.

Sgt. Grech noted they have already had over 40 arrests on warrants, 65 felony arrests, 170 misdemeanor arrests, and 300 tickets issued. They have also seized cocaine, marijuana, and cash from drug dealers.

“We’re mostly talking about quality of life issues. People want to live in neighborhoods where they don’t have to deal with crime all around them,” he said.

Sgt. Grech describes the unit’s enforcement policy as one of “zero tolerance,” where residents know the unit is there to enforce the laws. When they enter a neighborhood on their afternoon and evening patrols, they do so as a group, fanning out to talk to residents, business owners, church leaders, and others. They have collected folders of information of contact information and have circulated their own cell phone numbers.

“We get calls at all hours of the day or night, whether we’re on duty or not. We encourage them to contact us. We want people to know they can reach us any time,” said Sgt. Grech.

Thus far, the two-way street of communication has paid off with crime tips NET has or is pursuing. Sgt. Grech also said the level of awareness about the group’s efforts within the police department has helped. “Everyone, from the chief down, has been extremely supportive of us. They want to see us succeed.We’re helping every level of the department do their jobs, and they’re helping us.”

As a result of this access, Sgt. Grech said the officers are constantly operating at a high level of activity. “It takes a special kind of officer who will make this job their highest priority. They’ve set aside their own families and activities to make this work.”

Sgt. Grech said some 75 department officers applied for the positions when Norwood announced the plan. “I think we’ve put together an extremely dedicated team of officers who really care about what they do. Each of them brings a background of special enforcement talent to the team.”

“Satisfaction for the job comes from the arrests we make, and the people we help in the neighborhoods…If you give a lot you’ll get a lot back, and we’re proving that every day,” said Sgt. Grech.

(Contact Cindy at c.simoneau@thejusticejournal.com)