November 14, 2017
BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut -State Rep. Christopher Rosario, D-Bridgeport, has joined community members in urging the city to equip its police cars with dash cameras in light of an incident Friday night where a police officer is seen on video beating a teenager.
“We had a meeting with Police Chief Armando Perez and other community leaders to discuss these events and are calling for a swift and thorough investigation and public release of the findings,” Rosario said. “If the Internal Affairs investigation finds that there was wrong doing, we are asking that the officer(s) involved be immediately separated from the Bridgeport Police Department and that charges be filed against them.”
On the video Officer Christina Arroyo is shown beating 18-year-old Aaron Kearney repeatedly in the face as other officers hold Kearney against the hood of a police car. The incident was sparked by a minor car crash on Seaview Avenue.
Rosario said he and the Bridgeport state legislative delegation met with Perez and reiterated that state funds are available to acquire and install dash cameras. They asked that they apply for these dollars and to immediately outfit every cruiser.
“While we are still learning the details about the incident, we renew our call to expand the use of non-lethal force and other de-escalation tactics by the Bridgeport Police Department,” Rosario said. “We look forward to working with Chief Perez and his staff to help bridge the gap between the community and his department, but acts of police brutality will not be tolerated.”