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Authorities say a 20-year veteran Bridgeport, Connecticut, police officer has been fired for using excessive force during an arrest last year.
Acting Bridgeport Police Chief Rebeca Garcia said that after careful review of all evidence it was clear that Officer Richard Cretella used excessive force on a city resident.
Details of the internal affairs report of the April 2020 incident were not released.
Sergeant Brad Seely is president of the Bridgeport police union. He said the union will file a grievance over the firing. He said Cretella s rights must be preserved.
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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.
Chief: Veteran Bridgeport police officer terminated for excessive force incident
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Bridgeport police investigate at the scene of a shooting at a home on Park Terrace in Bridgeport, Conn., on Friday June 29, 2018. A 14-year-old boy was shot in the face and chest Friday afternoon, Police Chief Armando Perez said. “(He) was shot multiple times,” Perez said around 5:30 p.m.Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
BRIDGEPORT A 20-year veteran of the city’s police force has been let go over an excessive force incident involving a local resident, officials announced Wednesday.
Officer Richard Cretella was terminated after an April 1, 2020, incident which prompted an internal affairs investigation.
Published January 20, 2021 •
Updated on January 20, 2021 at 3:38 pm
NBC Connecticut
A Bridgeport police officer was terminated Wednesday after an internal investigation into a use of force.
Bridgeport police officials said Officer Richard Cretella, who has been with the department for 20 years, used excessive force during an incident on April 1, 2020. Department officials did not provide many details of the incident. NBC Connecticut has requested additional information.
“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. Officer Cretella engaged in inappropriate behavior that is not reflective of the department and will not be condoned or tolerated. As of today, January 20, 2021, he has been officially terminated as a member of the Bridgeport Police Department, Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia sa