Only in Bridgeport

Award-winning journalist Lennie Grimaldi cracks open the juicy stuff in Connecticut's largest city

Archive for 2013

Deputy Chief Honis, After Two Years, Returns To Bridgeport Cop House Monday

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honis

Jimmy Honis during his civilian leave. Kid Rock would be proud.

Deputy Chief Honis will return to uniform duty on Monday.

Deputy Chief Honis will return to uniform duty on Monday.

Two years ago Deputy Chief Jimmy Honis was placed on administrative leave with pay pending a federal investigation into the death of a prostitute 35 years ago. Police officers under investigation are placed on administrative leave with pay as required by the Police Union contract. No formal charges have been brought against Honis in connection with his department leave. Police Chief Joe Gaudett has ordered Honis back to work starting Monday. Honis’ leave, including pay and benefits, has cost city taxpayers roughly $250,000.

Friday afternoon Bridgeport Police spokesman Bill Kaempffer issued this statement:

“Based on the circumstances, we thought it appropriate to put him on administrative leave. He’s been restored to full duty. We have no comment with regard to any investigation.”

In May of 2011 Police Chief Joe Gaudett released this statement.

Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr. announced today that Bridgeport Police Deputy Chief James Honis has been placed on administrative leave with pay, effective immediately, while an investigation is conducted into an allegation of a serious criminal nature made against him.

“In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, and the Department, it is necessary to place Deputy Chief Honis on administrative leave,” said Gaudett.

Police officers under investigation are placed on administrative leave with pay as required by the Police Union contract.

In his absence, Deputy Chief Adam Radzimirski, who is in charge of Investigative Services, also will assume responsibilities for Uniformed Services.

There will be no further comment on the pending investigation.

As policy the feds generally don’t announce when they’ve stopped looking at someone, but Honis’ return suggests that local officials think the case isn’t solid enough to continue to keep him off the job.

Two years ago Chief Gaudett thought it appropriate to place his name on a statement involving Honis’ administrative leave. Two years ago news cameras all across the state were alerted to Honis’ departure when he was ordered out of the cop house. Honis’ return to the police department on Monday, dare say, will likely be much quieter than his exit two years ago. One way or another we’ve not heard the last of this case.

‘Men In Kilts’ Fighting, A Police Report Worth Reading

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The son of a Bridgeport city councilman lifted his kilt the other day and paid the price. Robert Curwen Jr. was charged with interfering with police and breach of peace.

Police report from Police Officer Christine Burns:

I was dispatched to 909 Main Street, McLevy Green, on a report of two men in kilts assaulting each other. I observed both men who fit the description and were later identified as (Robert) Curwen and (Raymond) Collette, on the corner of Main and Bank Streets in front of the McLevy Green, upon my arrival. Curwen was standing next to Collette, who was seated on a bench. I, along with officer P.O.  Jarrett, approached the men and asked if everything was okay. Curwen stated they were related and that everything was fine. I detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from both Curwen and Collette. I informed the men that I was sent there on a reported assault. Both stated that they were cousins and insisted they hadn’t been fighting. I observed Collette bleeding from his left ear and I observed a cut on Curwen’s left hand and a welt and some blood on the left side of his face. I immediately called for the medics via Channel 1. Curwen stated that the injuries occurred when Collette had fallen in front of a bar on State Street and he was unable to catch him on time.

Curwen stated that they did not need medical attention and were just going to leave. He stated that they were going to go to the Holiday Inn to meet his wife who would then drive them home from there. I informed Curwen that he’d have to wait for the medics as he and Collette appeared to be highly intoxicated and had apparent physical injuries. I told him that if the medics cleared them, they’d be free to leave.

Curwen stated that he was politically connected and that his father was Bob Curwen. Curwen began to appear agitated and I told him to take a seat on a nearby bench to await the medics. Curwen squared off on me, assumed a fighting stance and stated, “LETS NOT ESCALATE THIS, I’M NOT GOING TO SIT, I DON’T HAVE TO!” Curwen is approximately 6’2″, 240lbs and had the advantage of both height and weight over me. Fearing Curwen was about to become combative, I again insisted that he sit on the bench or the stone wall behind it. I repeated this command six or seven times. A crowd of pedestrians, who had been on Main and Bank Streets was beginning to form at this time. Curwen reached behind his back with his left hand and yelled, “YOU’RE AN ASSHOLE, OFFICER! MY FATHER IS BOB CURWEN, I’M CALLING THE MAYOR AND YOU’RE GOING TO BE GONE!” I immediately checked the area of Curwen’s low back, fearing he was reaching for a weapon. Curwen then yelled, “I’M NOT RESTRAINING!” I placed my handcuffs on Curwen’s left hand, which was already behind his back. A woman, later identified as Kasia Curwen, was approaching the scene while screaming and crying,”STOP!” as I was attempting to secure Curwen’s right hand with my handcuffs.

Curwen began to yell, “GET THIS ON VIDEO! RECORD THIS WHOLE THING!” Kasia, Curwen’s wife, began yelling, “SHUT UP! YOU FUCKING ASSHOLES, YOU DO THIS EVERY YEAR!” P.O. Jarrett calmed the visibly upset Mrs. Curwen who continued to state that Curwen and Collette are “assholes who get drunk and fight every year.” Collette then stated, “Well, maybe every other year.” ‘

Medics responded and were refused by both Curwen and Collette.

I called for additional cover units and a supervisor at this time due to the situation escalating and threats being made. I began to escort Curwen to one of the marked patrol cars on scene when he began to yell, “OH, YOU’RE PUSHING ME NOW?!” I informed Curwen that I was going to place him in rear of a patrol car and he began yelling to a crowd of people gathered on the corner of Main and Bank Streets, “RECORD THIS! GET THIS ALL ON VIDEO!”

Sgt. E. Golding responded to the scene and I made him aware of the situation. Curwen was placed in the rear of a patrol car and was transported to Booking by P.O. T. Kristy.

Yuck! The Salacious Monsignor Meth Story

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This Monsignor Kevin Wallin story keeps on getting better every day. For readers and scribes, at least, not so for the Diocese of Bridgeport.

CT Post reporter Dan Tepfer shares the provocative details http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Sources-Cross-dressing-meth-priest-liked-sex-in-4203841.php

So what’s your take on this? Another black eye for the Diocese? Yes, that’s probably the understatement of the short new year.