‘None of them are ever going to learn’
BRIDGEPORT — Hours before being sworn in as the city’s permanent police chief in November 2018, Armando Perez in an interview asked critics of his promotion to that powerful position for a chance.
He also sought their understanding if and when he fell short: “I’m human and I make mistakes like everybody else.”
On Monday Perez was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for cheating to become
top cop. And some community leaders felt it was too lenient of a sentence.
“One year for someone who engaged in deceit? Someone who engaged in abuse of power?” said retired Superior Court judgeturned-activist Carmen Lopez. “We need to send a message to the leadership in the city that corruption is going to be taken seriously by the system . ... One year, one day? None of them are ever going to learn.”
Cass Shaw, the outgoing head of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, opposed Mayor Joe Ganim’s decision in 2018 to select his close friend Perez from among three finalists to run the police department. Shaw and others argued Perez was unqualified and too politically connected to be a good manager and to pursue reforms to clean up the force.
“Frankly, I’m glad he’s getting prison time,” Shaw said. “I’ve always liked him. He’s a nice guy . ... But so much damage has been done to the police department itself. And there’s been such an erosion of trust between the police and the community that, frankly, spending a year in jail — if it doesn’t come with some deep reflection on his part — seems perfunctory.”
“What took him down was his own ego and power trip,” said City Councilman Jorge Cruz. “Yes, go ahead and serve that year in jail. Absolutely.”
Rowena White, Ganim’s spokesperson, in an email said, “The city has no comment — except to say that this has been a difficult time.”
Former Mayor Bill Finch called it another “sad chapter” and corruption scandal for the city.
In 2015 Ganim, who had served as mayor from 1991 until he was sent to jail in 2003 for running a pay-toplay operation out of City Hall, ousted Finch during that year’s mayoral primary. Perez had been Ganim’s driver during his first tenure and campaigned for voters to grant him a second chance running Bridgeport.
Knowing of that relationship, Finch anticipated Ganim wanted Perez to be chief and on his way out of office — and against Ganim’s wishes — extended then-Police Chief Joseph Gaudett’s contract for five years. Ganim ultimately undid that maneuver, made Perez acting chief in 2016, then permanent top cop with his own five-year contract in 2018 following a national search.
Finch on Monday hoped Perez’s sentence would send a message to younger people: “This is an example of don’t cheat.”
“I think the court did what was necessary with the evidence that was given,” City Councilwoman Jeanette Herron, a close friend of Perez’s, said, adding she was also not surprised with the prison time because of Bridgeport’s reputation for corruption. “I think with so much publicity with all the things that have happened in the past with this city, I saw it coming.”
Lopez said as a Latino she was also upset because of what Perez’s success as a Cuban immigrant had represented, only for him to “abuse” his position.
The Rev. Simon Castillo, a long-time community leader and former member of the police commission, thought that Perez’s heart was in the right place when it came to trying to run and improve the police force.
“But, at the same time, the basis to really do something good, you have to be qualified,” Castillo said. “If you don’t qualify, you’re going to have problems in the future.” He said Perez’s cheating was unfair to other candidates for chief.
Still, Castillo thought perhaps a year in prison might be too tough of a sentence and would have preferred Perez be forced to pay back the salary he earned while chief.
Perez will also serve 24 months of supervised release, pay a $7,500 fine, nearly $150,000 in restitution to the city to cover the related costs of the chief search and federal probe, and perform 100 hours of community service. In addition the Connecticut attorney general is trying to seize or reduce Perez’s pension.
Several people interviewed Monday expressed sadness for Perez’s wife, children, brothers and elderly mother.
Former Police Sgt. Chuck Paris, who until his retirement in spring 2020 was president of Bridgeport’s union, had wanted Ganim to put Perez in charge. Paris and Perez have known each other for four decades.
“I’m sad for him and his family,” Paris said. “They’re a good family. Good people. Worked hard their entire life. It’s just too bad. It’s a sad situation.”
“There’s so much love in that family,” Herron said. “They'll take care of each other. They’ll get through this. It’s going to be difficult, but they’re strong. They’re united.”
Cruz said the state should abandon targeting Perez’s pension: “You can’t forget all the years he was of service to his community. And think about his family. He’s gonna live a life of shame and he’s got to deal with that himself.”