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Bridgeport Police Probe 'Racially Charged' Letters Left For Officers

BRIDGEPORT, Coon. -- Bridgeport police are investigating a “racially charged” letter that was found by an officer on the windshield of his personal car, a city spokesman said Friday.

Bridgeport Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr. says he has directed the Office of Internal Affairs to investigate the letter, which alleges certain current, and former, city officers were targeted because of their race.

Bridgeport Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr. says he has directed the Office of Internal Affairs to investigate the letter, which alleges certain current, and former, city officers were targeted because of their race.

Photo Credit: File
Bridgeport police are investigating after this "racially charged" letter was left Sunday, Sept. 27, on the windshield of a city police officer's car.

Bridgeport police are investigating after this "racially charged" letter was left Sunday, Sept. 27, on the windshield of a city police officer's car.

Photo Credit: Provided

The officer, who was parked in the police lot on Congress Street in downtown Bridgeport, found the letter in the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 27, according to Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr.

Police searched around the lot and found eight letters on other vehicles, including on police cars, Gaudett said.

The letters allege that certain current, and former, city police officers have been targeted because of their race, he said.

Gaudett said he has directed the Office of Internal Affairs to investigate the letters. The state attorney general’s office has also been notified, he said.

“The city and the Police Department have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination of any kind, especially that of a racial nature,” the police chief said.

The letter uses Gaudett’s letterhead and alleges to be signed by Assistant Police Chief James Nardozzi, police said.

Calling the allegations in the letter “ludicrous” and “sickening,” Nardozzi vehemently denied any connection to the letter.

“I am disgusted that someone would make such a hateful statement and falsify my signature to the document,” Nardozzi said. “I did not write or sign this letter nor have I made any statements that even remotely reflect the sentiments of this letter.”

Gaudett said the city’s police department is one of the “most diverse” in the state.

“That diversity is a great strength for our department,” he said.

“Any allegation of racial discrimination that seeks to divide our police department or our community will not be tolerated,” the chief added.

Gaudett further promised that “swift, fair, just and immediate action will be taken against those guilty of wrongdoing” if such wrongdoing is found.

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