Police: Bridgeport Crime Numbers Fall Sharply So Far In 2016

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Bridgeport's new mayor and police chief offered good news to residents Friday: New statistics show a steep drop in crime for the first four months of the year.

Bridgeport Police Chief A.J. Perez announced Friday that crime numbers are down sharply for the first four months of the year.
Photo Credit: *Meredith Guinness*

Bridgeport crime statistics are down sharply in the first four months of 2016.
Photo Credit: *Contributed image*

K Reakes

05/06/2016 11:00 p.m.

The statistics show reductions in multiple categories of crimes across the board compared with last year, said Mayor Joe Ganim and Bridgeport Police Chief Armando J. Perez.

Only one homicide has been reported in Bridgeport in 2016, which is an 83 percent drop compared with the same period last year. There were six murders by this date in 2015.

Other reported drops include:

Shootings, down 41 percent (16 in 2016 vs. 27 in 2015);
Sexual assaults, down 15 percent (17 in 2016 vs. 20 in 2015);
Burglaries, down nearly 30 percent (196 this year vs. 268 last year);
Felony larceny, down 6 percent (29 this year vs. 31 last year);
Shooting victims, down 33 percent (18 this year vs. 27 last year); and
Robbery, down nearly 11 (116 this year vs. 130 last year).

“Even though it is early in the year and early into our new administration, we are very pleased with these numbers,” said Ganim. “Since the appointment of A.J. Perez as chief, Bridgeport police have pursued an aggressive, proactive strategy to combat violent crime and property crime, targeting hot spots and ridding the streets of Bridgeport of dozens of illegal guns. Clearly, there is more work to be done, but I think it is clear to see that our new strategy is bearing some fruit and our neighborhoods are on their way to becoming safer.”

The only crime statistics showing increases in 2016 are felony assaults (up 42 percent, from 64 last year to 91 this year) and motor vehicle thefts (up 16 percent, from 159 last year to 185 this year).

However, those increases are due to spikes at the beginning of the year and have since declined significantly, Ganim said.

“I made a promise the day I was sworn in that we would not tolerate the lawlessness and reckless endangerment of our citizens’ lives that resulted in a spike of shootings and homicides last year," said Perez. "We are watching areas that have been criminal havens in the past and we are cracking down. I thank the community for all of your cooperation and I continue to ask for your help.

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