Bridgeport narcotics unit sidelined during ‘untimely death’ probe
BRIDGEPORT — In a move the police department union called “unfounded and inappropriate,” Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia has sidelined the Tactical Narcotics Unit as state authorities probe a civilian death that occurred during the team’s search of an apartment.
When the drug enforcement unit will return to work — and what happens to its cases in the meantime — remains unclear.
“The Bridgeport Police Department cannot comment any further as this is an active investigation, but looks forward to a swift conclusion,” Terron Jones, a spokesman for Garcia, said in a statement Tuesday in response to a Hearst Connecticut Media request for comment.
“We are confident the investigation will show that these officers did nothing wrong,” Sgt. Brad Seely, the police union’s president, told Hearst Connecticut. “Administrative leave for the whole team is unfounded and inappropriate.”
The union was expected to file a labor grievance this week.
Last Thursday Garcia issued an internal memorandum placing the narcotics unit’s seven members “on administrative status with pay” following an incident the prior day.
Around 10:30 p.m. last Wednesday the unit served a search warrant in the 100 block of Chestnut Street.
According to State Police, Bridgeport police “entered the apartment and were inside for a short period of time with a female occupant before an officer looked out an open window and discovered a male lying on the ground, having apparently jumped out of the window from an elevated height.”
That individual — identified as 49-yearold Wilfredo Alvarado — was transported to the hospital and died.
Bridgeport made no announcement about Alvarado’s death. The state police issued its press release on its website last Friday, titled: “Western District Major Crime Squad Detectives Investigate Suspicious Death.”
According to that release, Thursday morning just before 3 a.m. Bridgeport State’s Attorney Joseph Corradino requested the state police “investigate the circumstance surrounding” Alvarado’s “untimely death.”
John DeCarlo, a former Branford police
chief who runs the University of New Haven’s master’s program in criminal justice, said placing an entire team within a department on administrative status is “highly unusual.”
DeCarlo said it is likely Garcia would temporarily assign some of the narcotics unit’s ongoing work to other officers: “They (Bridgeport) have a pretty sizable detective division.”
That was City Councilwoman Jeanette Herron’s biggest concern.
“Is the work getting done?” said Herron, a member of the council’s public safety committee. She said the force’s various special units “are doing a tremendous job in our city and are a much-needed part of this department.”
But Herron did not challenge Garcia’s decision sidelining the narcotics officers. “I think during an investigation it might be a good move,” she said.
Council President Aidee Nieves agreed, saying the acting chief followed “standard operating procedure” whenever there is a fatality involving police.
“I’d rather them (the narcotics unit) be away from the department to allow objectivity to happen and a clear, investigatory process,” Nieves said. “I respect her (Garcia’s) decision.”
Garcia was promoted from assistant to acting top cop last September following the arrest of then-Chief Armando Perez on federal charges he cheated to obtain his position. Perez was sentenced to a year and one day in prison Monday.
Meanwhile tensions have mounted between Garcia and some of her officers, resulting in the union voting “no confidence” in Garcia last month.