Note that the videos below are all raw (shot with my HTC Evo 5 via Cop Block’s Bambuser channel, my chest-mounted GoPro, and/or my Canon Vixia HF R10. At the conclusion of The Cop Block Tour I’ll make time to put-together some solid, over-arching videos using content from this stop.
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Saturday night, Jan. 19th, 2013, I had my first interactions with police employees of Bridgeport, Connecticut. I was in town as part of The Cop Block Tour. Let’s just say that I didn’t leave impressed.
In fact, I don’t recall ever having been exposed to such blatant hostility right out of the gates as was had on the streets of east Bridgeport from those who steal money from residents under the auspices of “serving” them.
How can such people sleep at night?
Bridgeport Police Department
I rolled into town and connected with Angel Martinez, who founded Connecticut Cop Block and we walked up and down E. Main Street doing outreach.
Connecticut Cop Block
As has always been the case in my experience, most everyone was receptive. Well, except for one guy who I think believed I was a cop (despite the fact that I was wearing a vest that had “CopBlock.org” stitched on the back) and some folks wearing badges.
The first interaction with the latter was early on – we saw vehicle with “Connecticut State Police” graphics idling on the corner:
Here’s another look from my GoPro:
We continued on doing outreach for a while, which inevitably included many conversations of area residents who shared with us their own stories of being mistreated at the hands of Bridgeport police employees, such as this man:
Later, when about to call it a night, we saw up the street some flashing blue lights. We hopped in my Tahoe, drove up the block, parked, and approached on foot. Immediately, the three vehicles with “Bridgeport Police Department” graphics grew to six or seven, with the occupants of the new vehicles on the scene spending their time threatening us (to steal our cameras as “evidence”) and just generally not being too transparent (following our every move with their pillar-mounted spotlight):
We left the scene and rather than return to my truck, which I thought would make it easier for our so-claimed “protectors” to harass us, we walked back to Angels. Those with “Bridgeport PD” badges must have really cared about us getting home safely as they followed us the whole way:
We went back to Angel’s place for a couple of hours and brainstormed (stay tuned for a new awesome addition to Cop Block being spearheaded by Angel!) and I interviewed Angel about his motivations, ideas and his own recent negative interaction with Bridgeport police employees.
Later, we hoofed it back to my truck only to discover a Bridgeport police employee idling in the middle of the street, about 50′ behind my truck. I also found a 50FRN ransom note on my truck for allegedly blocking the sidewalk, which was clearly not reality.
I attempted to have a civil conversation but it was demonstrated that such an effort was a one-way street.
Since I had a tour schedule to stick-to I decided to jump in my truck and chance getting out of Bridgeport without further harassment from members of the largest area gang. I was followed out of the neighborhood and down the interstate for a number of miles. If you were a Bridgeport resident is that the type of “service” you’d willingly pay for??
“Welcome to Bridgeport, that’ll be $50.00, have a nice day…”
Riveting.
Hello pete,
I am interested in what the city code on your ticket is? After doing a little research online I could only find one ordinance that closely relates to blocking a sidewalk which is….
12.16.040 Obstructing travel on public ways.
No person shall loiter or idle upon any highway, sidewalk or bridge, or upon any fence or structure adjacent thereto, so as to hinder travel thereon.
(Prior code § 27-14)
If this is the code listed on your ticket they would have to produce evidence or person that had their travel hindered due to where you parked to find you guilty. Even if you were blocking a sidewalk it does not prove that you hindered the travel of anyone. Hope this helps.
Info on the above city ordinance was retrieved from http://www.bridgeportct.gov/content/89019/89933/89976/89997.aspx
I see CB is now selling ‘memberships’ I wonder if this is a ‘non-profit’ or ‘for-profit’ entity. I bet the IRS would really be interesting to know as well.
Can I please get back the 5 minutes I wasted reading this fine example of “journalism” please?
Pete,
Nice job. Saw the videos on Bamnbuser, Bridgeport was a hoot, LEO – “You must stand 25 Feet away from my parked car”. Pete: “Is that the law?”…LEO as he drives away, “Look it up”. Angel has got his hands full.
As for Philly, I enjoyed the “hypocrisy” of the Parking Enforcement officer, whom wouldn’t ticket a Parking Enforcement Vehicle, illegally parked, unattended in a Disabled Spot. Then claiming “Sanctuary” in a Domino’s Pizza… Sanctuary and Bread Sticks…Yum…
Nice job with the Philly LEO, once you got past her obnoxious partner, the officer seemed quite open to discussion.
Keep up the good work, as we’ve discussed without dialogue, there is no change.
I’ve put the word out to some buddies in W-S, hopefully they’ll join you for a Cerveza on Friday.
BTJ…you can go scratch for all we care….no need to ask from now on..
I like to visit the dead cop website. http://www.odmp.org/
Makes me feel GREAT to hear about dead cops whenever I see the way they abuse people.
The FBI/Department of Justice needs that Bridgeport video.
Pete: I don’t get it. You wanted to talk with him…and he said OK, and then you wouldn’t talk to him. Your absolute idiot buddy though, what a fool. He walks up to the officer, wanting to talk to him, and then asks “am. I being detained”….he stops the officer and wonders if he is detained…what an idiot. And I want to point out….right at about 29:30 mark, the retard buddy says to Pete “they’ve heard all of our bullshit”. How true.
@t,
Pete wanted to have a cordial discussion with the LEO, and made several attempts to do so. However, the LEO, as can be seen, wasn’t open to a cordial discussion. The blinding light, actions, etc… showed that this LEO and his Sgt. wanted to promote an air of authority. Pete stayed at it a bit to long, should have just moved on after 5 minutes of this going nowhere.
What this does show, is some LEO’s in Bridgeport, lack of community policing. An invested LEO would have had no issue with having a 5 minute conversation with a Citizen. Dialogue, even dissenting viewpoints, is a good thing.
The final comment from the LEO regarding a 22 and a Mobile Phone shows the hypocrisy of it all.