FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
from Av Harris, Director of Communications, City of Bridgeport, av.harris@bridgeportct.gov
(Aug. 8, 2016) — Bridgeport – Bridgeport Police Chief Armando “AJ” Perez issued the following statement on the officer-involved shooting that took place yesterday, August 7, 2016 in which a Bridgeport Police Officer discharged a weapon, injuring a civilian.
“The Bridgeport Police Department has very strict guidelines on the use of force and the use of deadly force. An officer is justified to use deadly force only under the following circumstances:
1) To defend the officer or another person from what the officer reasonably believes to be the use of imminent use of deadly physical force.
2) To effect an arrest or prevent the escape from custody of a person whom the officer reasonably believes a) has committed or attempted to commit a felony that involved the infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical injury; AND,
b) The officer reasonably believes that the person still poses an immediate threat to the officer of third party through the use of deadly physical force to the officer or a third party.
Using those guidelines, I stand firmly behind the actions of the Bridgeport police officers involved in this incident last night. As is our protocol, we refer any incident in which a person is struck by the discharge of a service weapon fired by a Bridgeport for investigation by the local State Attorney and the Connecticut State Police. This matter is now under investigation by the office of Bridgeport State Attorney John Smirga and the Connecticut State Police. As such, we can have no further comment on any details related to this matter, pending the outcome of the state investigation.”
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Av Harris
Director of Communications
Senior Advisor for Public Policy
City of Bridgeport
203-814-7992
av.harris@bridgeportct.gov