Bridgeport Police Department

06/02/2026

ERIC RIETTIE, also known as “Gambino” and “Lil E,” 27, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 46 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a southwestern Connecticut narcotics trafficking ring.

05/29/2026

A jury at Bridgeport Superior Court on Golden Hill Street on Friday found self-appointed community activist Joseph Thompson, 40, also known as Joe Grits, guilty of threatening Bridgeport Police officers last year.

The case against Thompson resulted primarily from numerous social media posts by him following the officer-involved shooting of Dyshan Best on Kossuth Street on March 31st, 2025. Those posts included:

"Somebody gotta die somebody should die with a badge on."

The shooting of Dyshan Best was found to be justified by the Connecticut Inspector General.

Thompson was arrested on April 7th, 2025, following the procurement of felony warrant by Detectives and Task Force Officers. He was charged with Inciting Injury and Threatening in the Second Degree.

Chief Roderick Porter said he was appreciative of the work of the detectives and officers who worked the case, as well as the prosecutors and the jurors. "This guilty verdict sends a message that it is not okay to threaten a member of our department, and those who do will be investigated, arrested and prosecuted."

Thompson defended himself at the day-and-a-half-long trial. The jury came down with the verdict shortly after it began deliberations. Thompson earlier rejected a plea deal offered by the State's Attorney.

Thompson's bond was increased to $100,000 on Friday. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27th, 2026.

The President of the Bridgeport Police Union, Officer Michael Salemme, also praised the verdict. "I am proud of the teamwork, and the result of the work put in. This Union will continue to advocate for the safety, dignity, and protection of every member and their family!"

05/29/2026

The private screening of "Us vs Them" is happening on June 11th at the Bijou Theatre! Scan the QR code to RSVP.

🎬 “Us vs Them” is more than a film — it’s a conversation. Join us for a powerful private screening of this award-winning short documentary exploring perspective, reality, and the human experience behind the divide.

📍 Bijou Theatre
📅 June 11th
🕕 6 PM

Following the screening, guests are invited to stay for a Q&A with the cast, director, and producers. Limited seating available — RSVP by May 30th.

05/28/2026

The Bridgeport Police Traffic Division will be conducting Click-It-or-Ticket Enforcement and DUI Enforcement on 5/28/26 and 5/30/26.

05/27/2026

The Bridgeport Police today arrested a 31-year-old man for a domestic assault that caused a large police response on Sanford Place on Tuesday afternoon. Bryan James Hernaiz, whose most recent address is New Rochelle, New York, but has also lived in Bridgeport, was taken into custody at his workplace in Fairfield on Wednesday morning.

At approximately 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, patrol officers were called to an apartment building on Sanford Place where a woman told them she had been punched by Hernaiz. Officers believed Hernaiz might be barricaded inside the woman's apartment armed with an assault rifle. A perimeter was established. A negotiator and members of the Emergency Services Unit were activated.

Emergency Service Officers eventually entered the apartment. They found nobody inside but located an AR-15-Style Assault Rifle in a closet. It was seized as evidence, along with two 30-round magazines and 92 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition.

The victim was treated for a minor head injury at the scene by medics.

Hernaiz was served with two felony warrants on Wednesday. One was for a domestic violence case from 2025. The other warrant was from Tuesday's incident. He will face the following charges when he is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.

Assault in the Third Degree
Violation of a Protective Order (four counts)
Criminal Possession of a Firearm (two counts)
Risk of Injury to a Child
Interfering with an Officer
Threatening in the Second Degree - Violence to Terrorize (two counts)
Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree
Illegal Sale/Purchase of a Large Capacity Magazine
Disorderly Conduct

The bonds for Hernaiz totaled $220,000.

The arrest of Byran James Hernaiz was an outstanding effort by the Patrol Division, the Detective Bureau, and the Emergency Services Unit.

Chief Roderick Porter commended the officers and the detectives for their work. "The officers and the detectives acted decisively to address the safety of the victim and the community as a whole," said Chief Porter. "Those same officers and detectives made it a priority to get this suspect into custody and charged appropriately."

05/27/2026

The Bridgeport Police Traffic Division will be conducting Click-It-or-Ticket Enforcement on 5/27/26.

05/26/2026

The Bridgeport Police Traffic Division will be conducting Click-It-or-Ticket Enforcement on 5/26/26.

05/26/2026

🎬 “Us vs Them” is more than a film — it’s a conversation. Join us for a powerful private screening of this award-winning short documentary exploring perspective, reality, and the human experience behind the divide.

📍 Bijou Theatre
📅 June 11th
🕕 6 PM

Following the screening, guests are invited to stay for a Q&A with the cast, director, and producers. Limited seating available — RSVP by May 30th.

05/25/2026

Today, we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their courage, dedication, and selflessness will never be forgotten.

On this Memorial Day, the Bridgeport Police Department stands with our community in reflecting on the true meaning of this day and paying tribute to our fallen heroes.

05/24/2026

The Bridgeport Police Traffic Division will be conducting Click-It-or-Ticket Enforcement on 5/24/26.