2-year police probe ends

4 more Bridgeport cops disciplined for roles at 2017 party

BRIDGEPORT — A city police officer was suspended without pay for 20 days on Wednesday as the Board of Police Commissioners concluded its investigation into the controversial breakup of a pre-Halloween party three years ago.

“We’re glad it has finally been finished,” said Police Commission Chairman Daniel Roach. He declined to make any comment on the board’s actions in the case because he said they are subject to appeal.

On Oct. 21, 2017, Wanda Mendez was hosting a pre-Halloween party at her Colorado Avenue home when police showed up in response to a no ise complaint. Forty-six cops ended up descending on the home.

During its Tuesday night meeting, the board suspended Officer Adam Szeps, who had been accused of using excessive force, for 20 days without pay starting Wednesday and ordered him to do eight hours of retraining.

Officer Michael Mazzacco was ordered to forfeit 12 holidays and do four hours of retraining, and officers Todd Sherback and Joseph Cruz received verbal warnings.

The commission dismissed charges against officers Joseph Pires and Stephen Silva.

The two-year investigation by the commission, delayed by a union court challenge and the coronavirus pandemic, has also resulted in the firing of one officer accused of using excessive force, Michael Stanitis, the forfeit of 30 paid holidays for Sgt. Paul Scillia, also accused of excessive force, and verbal warnings and counseling for three other officers.

But for Wanda Mendez’s bother, Carmelo, who

claimed he was punched and kicked by officers while handcuffed during the incident, it was a disappointing conclusion.

“I gave them all this evidence including video and all they did was basically give the officers involved a slap on the wrist,” Mendez said. “And they expect the citizens of Bridgeport to trust in the system.”

A lengthy Office of Internal Affairs report painted a chaotic scene and detailed instances of excessive force and various other police procedure violations after partygoers filed complaints about the actions of officers that night.

Seventeen officers were originally investigated for their actions. A senior officer, accused in the OIA report of looking the other way as officers used excessive force, agreed to retire.

Two officers cited for their actions during the incident died by suicide.

Ten officers were later found to have been untruthful about what happened that night, according to the city’s OIA report. The investigation also found that six officers had used excessive force.

The incident at the birthday party on Colorado Avenue has already cost the city nearly $400,000 in settlements for four lawsuits.

Carmelo Mendez received a settlement of $342,500 from the city. Others receiving settlements included Mendez’s sister, Wanda Mendez, and partygoer Jose Alvarado. Another lawsuit is pending in federal court.

Attorney Robert Berke, who brought the lawsuits against the city on behalf of the partygoers, declined to comment on the conclusion of the commission’s investigation.