Members of the police union in Bridgeport, Connecticut, have voted “no confidence” in the city’s first Latina chief — 54% of union members in attendance Wednesday voted against Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia.
Garcia was appointed acting chief after her predecessor was arrested by the FBI in a job rigging scandal. He pleaded guilty.
Bridgeport city officials claimed in a statement that only about 25% of total union members voted against Acting Chief Garcia, due to low turnout at the union meeting.
Union President and Police Sgt. Brad Seely said the city needs to take concerns about the acting chief and low morale seriously. He said he did not give city officials information about turnout. Seely said a “significant” number of union members voted, but did not confirm numbers for WSHU.
Acting Chief Garcia said in a statement, “My dedication to move the department forward in the right direction for the right reasons will not change.”