Bridgeport's mayor is reappoint the city's police chief to the post of top law enforcement official.
Gaudett Jr., appointed for a five-year term in December 2010 under a contract the Bridgeport City Council approved, was nearing the end of his contract, so Mayor Bill Finch decided to appoint him to a second term.
Finch is granted the authority to reappoint the city's police chief under Bridgeport's charter, which states, “The person so appointed shall hold office for a term of five (5) years from the effective date of his appointment but may be removed for just cause. A person holding the position of Chief of police may, only within 150 days of the end of each term, be reappointed by the mayor for one additional term of five (5) years, effective upon the expiration of the chief’s current term, without the need for further examination or testing.”
Finch said he trusts Gaudett's leadership and said in a news release he has proven the ability "to keep our streets safe" and a "devotion to working with the re-entry community."
“Police Chief Gaudett has proven himself to be a trustworthy leader as Bridgeport’s top law enforcement official,” said Mayor Finch. “He’s made tough decisions that have resulted in a stronger department. He’s earned the trust of our community by serving as a strong voice for fair and honest law enforcement practices. He’s led-the-charge in cracking down on crime in the state’s largest city, which has resulted in some of the lowest crime rates the city has experienced in nearly a half-century. And, through his work with Project Longevity, he’s successfully brought officers, community partners, and the state to the table in order to ensure that those re-entering our community after serving time are set up for future success. For these reasons and many others, I’m honored to reappoint Police Chief Gaudett to a second five-year term.”
The renewed appointment means that Gaudett Jr. will serve as police chief until 2020.
