The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Bridgeport revives youth curfew after spike of violence
BRIDGEPORT — After a recent spike of gun violence involving youth in the city, officials announced Tuesday some changes to crack down on that — among them a bump in police patrols and a revived curfew for juveniles.
Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon that the department immediately increased patrols following a shooting Monday afternoon outside a city courthouse that landed four people in the hospital.
“We have increased patrols in all areas of the city,” he said.
Along with that patrol increase there will also be a 24/7 detail at Greene Homes and roving patrols in the Trumbull Gardens and P.T. Barnum housing complexes for the foreseeable future.
City Council President Aidee Nieves said the City Council has asked police to enforce a youth curfew — based on an ordinance passed and enforced in 2012 — for residents under the age of 18.
The age of Sunday’s homicide victim and the ages of those suspected to be involved in Monday’s shooting, and the times at which each happened, would not have fallen during the times of enforcement for the curfew.
The ordinance, shared with The Post by city officials, will be enforced between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Minors are permitted to be in the city in the company of a parent, or by a “duly authorized custodian.” There are some exceptions, the ordinance indicates, including “an emergency errand” or situation.
City Councilwoman Eneida Martinez said police can’t do the work alone when it comes to making sure youth follow the curfew.
“We will hold the Housing Authority responsible,” Martinez said.
Mayor Joe Ganim said the changes were decided after conversations with Gov. Ned Lamont, Connecticut State Police, court personnel, housing authority personnel and youth leaders.
The announcement came on the heels of a shooting outside the Golden Hill courthouse shortly after noon Monday. At least 20 bullets were fired at a vehicle, hitting four people.
Capt. Brain Fitzgerald, head of the Detective Bureau, said during a press conference Tuesday that the four victims were expected to survive — with two of them suffering graze wounds from the shooting and two others more seriously wounded.
One of those more seriously hurt will remain in intensive care for some time, Fitzgerald said. He said police arrested three persons of interest Monday on unrelated charges. He said by the Tuesday afternoon press conference that the three had bonded out, but were still considered persons of interests in the Monday shooting.
“We will not tolerate brazen acts of violence like we saw yesterday,” Ganim said Tuesday during the press conference.
Monday afternoon’s shooting was possible retaliation for a deadly shooting Sunday at the Greene Homes housing complex that killed 18year-old Myreke Kenion.
City Council members Denise Taylor-Moye and Ernie Newton stressed the importance that parents and guardians help police enforce the curfew.
“We can’t put a police (officer) on every corner,” Newton said.
But state police troopers will also be deployed in the city, at officials’ request, to aid Bridgeport police as available.
State Police Lt. Col. David Montini said troopers will support city police to “stop this violence ... and maintain order.”
City Councilwoman Michelle Lyons, one of the founders of the 2012 youth curfew, said the city has learned since its last enforcement of a youth curfew.
Lyons said during the 2012 enforcement, roughly 560 tickets were issued. Moye added that the enforcement wasn’t properly managed — that parents were concerned about needing to leave or take off work if their children were caught.
Steve Nelson, a community leader and housing authority board member who lives in the area of Trumbull Gardens, said the authority is “ready and willing” to help bring “peace and prosperity” to the city. He claimed a lot of the “problems” in the housing complexes are prompted by those not living in the complexes.
Officials said youth services organizations in the area are working with school officials on mentoring opportunities for Bridgeport’s students.
“The future is bright here in Bridgeport,” said Michael Testani, Bridgeport’s acting superintendent of schools.
The mayor said the curfew’s specifics are detailed in a city ordinance, which includes language that indicates it is up to the “discretion” of the police on whether they will issue a $50 fine or order community service. The fine, Ganim said, will be issued not to the juvenile but to a parent or guardian.
“The curfew is meant as a way to save lives,” Ganim said.
And officials stressed that the curfew is not meant to punish the city’s youth population, rather it is intended to serve as a precautionary measure and derail any possibly risky or criminal activity that could lead to harm.
“A lot of youth in Bridgeport are doing positive things,” said the Rev. Herron Gaston, of Summerfield United Methodist Church.