The Bridgeport Housing Authority is partnering with the Bridgeport Police Department to make the city’s housing complexes safer this summer.
Through October, the Housing Authority committed funding to staff three housing complexes with two walking-beat police officers every day. The additional patrols will focus on Charles F. Greene Homes, Trumbull Gardens and the P.T. Barnum Apartments, although police and housing officials will maintain flexibility to shift the resources as needed.
“People need to feel safe where they live and this is a great additional layer of security for hundreds of families,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “I hope this partnership continues moving forward.”
This is one of the new initiatives introduced by Jim Miller, the interim executive director for Bridgeport’s housing authority.
Miller said a key to the program is that the officers will be on foot during their shifts and interacting with residents. The housing authority currently has security guards in complexes. Some are roving patrols and others, in high rises, are working in buildings’ lobbies.