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

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.

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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.

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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.

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Voting is just days away with a majority of regular Bridgeport voting precincts powerless. If power is not restored within the next day or so, don’t be surprised if you end up voting at a new location. While Mayor Bill Finch pushes United Illuminating to turn on the lights, city elections officials are assessing options so they can notify electors of new polling places, if necessary. This could get messy.

Meanwhile federal and state law enforcement officials today announced a hotline for reporting election and rights abuses. News release below from Connecticut U.S. Attorney David Fein.

FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS PROMOTE TELEPHONE HOTLINE FOR REPORTING ELECTION FRAUD AND VOTING RIGHTS ABUSES

In an effort to ensure that the November 6, 2012 elections are administered fairly in every city and town in Connecticut, David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Kimberly K. Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Michael J. Brandi, Executive Director of the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission, Denise Merrill, Connecticut Secretary of the State, and Kevin T. Kane, Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney, today announced that a telephone hotline will be available for use by anyone who witnesses or experiences voting irregularities on Election Day.

The hotline will be staffed by the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) during polling hours on Election Day. Anyone with knowledge of election fraud or voting rights abuses is encouraged to call 1-866-733-2463 (1-866-SEEC-INFO) to report suspected violations. The number is toll-free statewide. Individuals also can call the SEEC at 860-256-2940. The SEEC staff will answer questions, advise on complaint procedures and, if appropriate, request the assistance of state criminal or federal law enforcement authorities in the investigation and possible prosecution of the matter.

Citizens can also send an email to elections@ct.gov to communicate with the SEEC and the Secretary of the State’s office on Election Day.

The SEEC is the primary elections investigative and civil enforcement authority in Connecticut, and the Secretary of the State’s office is charged with overseeing all elections in Connecticut, which includes advising and assisting local Registrars of Voters and Town Clerks on their statutory responsibilities regarding administration of elections.

Federal law protects against crimes such as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.

On Election Day, representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI will be in direct contact with the SEEC in order to receive any complaints of electoral corruption or civil rights violations. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher M. Mattei has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the District of Connecticut. In that capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

The FBI in Connecticut and across the country will have special agents available to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI field office in New Haven can be reached by the public at 203-777-6311. In addition, complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767

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The ballot for the September 4 Board of Education special election.

Next Tuesday September 4 nine candidates will appear on the ballot for the special election to fill four Board of Education seats per order of the Connecticut Supreme Court that invalidated state control of city schools. City electors may vote for any three of the candidates.  The day after Labor Day is not exactly the greatest calendar spot for an election so a number of campaign operatives are working the absentee ballot process. Why wait until the last minute? This is Bridgeport, the place that never disappoints when it comes to election news. So, are you voting?

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Bill Finch had the job before he became mayor of Bridgeport and now Donald Eversley will attempt to breathe life into the Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation, the former quasi-public agency. Finch has decided Eversley wasn’t the best fit as development director for four years. Maybe he’ll do better working under the authority of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. Finch is expected to announce Eversley’s replacement within the next day or so. News release from the mayor:

Mayor Bill Finch today announced that Donald Eversley, who has helmed the City’s Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) since July 2008, will help reinvigorate BEDCO – the Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation.

“One of my long-standing goals since taking office was to re-form and reinvigorate BEDCO to provide greater support and incentive for private sector development in Bridgeport,” said Mayor Finch. “Don’s wide-ranging knowledge of economic development, city, state and federal development programs, and his extensive contacts in the public and private sector make him the right person to breathe new life into this public/private venture.”

BEDCO counts among its successes the Read’s ArtSpace project and the renovation of the Arcade Mall and Hotel as a mixed-use commercial/residential project in downtown Bridgeport.

Paul Timpanelli, CEO of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council said, “It is our hope that this will add to our toolbox of public/private resources in pursuit of continued economic development for Bridgeport”.

During his tenure at OPED, Eversley successfully led the City’s support of a number of prominent projects including, the revitalization of Bijou Square, the Mechanics & Farmers building, 333 State Street and the five-block area at the north end of Main Street, which was recently awarded to developers. On Steel Point, he is credited with dividing the project into phases with ownership remaining with the City until the developer is ready to proceed with each parcel. Implementing the City’s new Master Plan and Zoning Code, the Bridgeport Arts Fest, Downtown Thursdays and a storefront improvement program were other key initiatives.

In this new position, Eversley will initially be focusing on the Eco-Industrial Park in the City’s South End, one of Mayor Finch’s top sustainability and economic development goals. He also will be working with the Bridgeport Port Authority to re-position the Bridgeport Shipyard, and a new minority contractor bond assistance program, which was recently authorized and funded through the state Legislature. Plans for the Eco-Industrial Park include a solar array to be placed on the Seaside Park landfill in conjunction with United Illuminating, and an anaerobic digester facility, among other projects.

(Check out my daily webzine at www.onlyinbridgeport.com)

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This is a shameless self promotion. Join us. From the Barnum Museum:

Learn more about Bridgeport ’s History during The Word on Bridgeport : Author Panel on June 5

On Tuesday, June 5 at 7 p.m., The Barnum Museum will present a lively panel discussion featuring three prominent Bridgeport authors and historians: Michael Bielawa, Lennie Grimaldi and Eric Lehman. Each has spent their lifetime dedicated to researching, writing and speaking about Bridgeport ’s rich history.

The panel discussion, The Word on Bridgeport: Author Panel will be moderated by Mr. Bielawa and focus on each person’s Bridgeport related works, why the Park City should be celebrated and the craft of writing. The topics will range from sewing machines to helicopters and architecture to public parks. You will learn remarkable stories of struggles and triumphs from each of these specialists and explore how Bridgeport stands as a testament to the American dream.

Historian Michael J. Bielawa’s diverse writings have focused on Bridgeport and early baseball history and his essays have addressed such topics as the mysterious creature of Lake Champlain, Bridgeport ’s crying stone statue and the bizarre disappearance of a Hartford minor league baseball manager. He has also addressed baseball symbolism in James Joyce’s, Ulysses. Bielawa has lectured on behalf of the National Endowment for the Arts in Louisiana and is a moderator for the Connecticut Humanities Council’s Literature for a Lifetime discussion series. Since the mid-1970s Bielawa has conducted research, interviews and journeyed extensively throughout the northeast in search of the unexplained. He has served as a guest curator to the Barnum Museum and as a special consultant to the Fairfield Museum and History Center . His latest books, Wicked Bridgeport (where true crime meets the paranormal) and Baseball Pioneers 1850 to 1870, have just been published and are available at major bookstores and at Amazon.com.

Lennie Grimaldi is host of the daily webzine Only In Bridgeport Dot Com and an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in hundreds of newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, TV Guide, Yankee Magazine and Connecticut Magazine. His books include Only In Bridgeport: An Illustrated History of The Park City; Chased, The Life of Mob Infiltrator Billy Chase; Bow Tie Banker, a biography of David Carson, retired CEO of People’s Bank; and Connecticut Whistle Stops: Greenwich to New Haven. He has won awards for journalistic excellence from the Associated Press, United Press International and the Society of Professional Journalists, Connecticut chapter. Grimaldi has also written dozens of radio campaigns and corporate-crafted history programs for companies such as Louis Rich HBO, Tropicana, Excedrin, Nivea, SNET, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Campbell Soup and Apple.

Eric D. Lehman is Director of Creative Writing at the University of Bridgeport where he has taught for over fifteen years. He is the editor of the student literary magazine, Groundswell, and the faculty essay series, The Commons. His essays, reviews, poems, and stories have been published in dozens of journals and magazines, from the New Haven Review to the International Henry Miller Journal. He has written five books about Connecticut : Bridgeport: Tales from the Park City; Hamden: Tales from the Sleeping Giant; A History of Connecticut Wine; Insiders’ Guide to Connecticut; and A History of Connecticut Food.

What: The Word on Bridgeport : Author Panel

Where: The Barnum Museum , 820 Main Street , Bridgeport , CT 06604

Visitors are asked to enter through the double glass doors at the back of the historic building, where it is connected to People’s United Bank. The front doors are closed.

Learn more at: barnum-museum.org or call 203-331-1104

When: Tuesday, June 5 at 7 p.m.

Cost: No charge, however donations are always welcome

The original Barnum Institute building, designed by the architectural firm Longstaff and Hurd, was completed in1893. It is owned by the City of Bridgeport and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

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Former State Senator Ernie Newton won the Democratic endorsement on Monday for his old seat. It continues Newton’s quest for “redemption” following corruption charges that sent him to prison and a declaration that he was the Moses of his people. He says he’s remorseful for his past conduct and once again wants to represent Bridgeport and a portion of Stratford in Hartford.

The endorsement does not mean Newton is a lock to win the Aug. 14 primary. He is being challenged by incumbent Ed Gomes and State Rep. Andres Ayala? But the endorsement provides an unlikely campaign launch for Newton in his quest.

What’s your take on Newton’s new journey?

(Check out my daily webzine at www.onlyinbridgeport.com)