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Members of the police union in Bridgeport, Connecticut, have voted “no confidence” in the city’s first Latina chief 54% of union members in attendance Wednesday voted against Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia.
Garcia was appointed acting chief after her predecessor was arrested by the FBI in a job rigging scandal. He pleaded guilty.
Bridgeport city officials claimed in a statement that only about 25% of total union members voted against Acting Chief Garcia, due to low turnout at the union meeting.
Union President and Police Sgt. Brad Seely said the city needs to take concerns about the acting chief and low morale seriously. He said he did not give city officials information about turnout. Seely said a “significant” number of union members voted, but did not confirm numbers for WSHU.
A longtime police officer has been fired for using excessive force during an arrest.
Officer Richard Cretella, a 20-year veteran of the Bridgeport Police Department, was fired on Wednesday, Jan. 20 for an incident that took place on Wednesday, April 1, said Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia.
“After careful review of all evidence and rebuttal information provided during his Due Process Hearing, it is clear that Officer Cretella engaged in utilizing excessive force during an incident involving a City of Bridgeport resident, said Garcia.
During the incident in question, Cretella was allegedly trying to control a teenager, who was charged with interfering with police after being stopped for a curfew violation.