Bridgeport police officers have filed roughly 20 complaints with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and about six federal lawsuits against Police Chief Roderick Porter, alleging retaliation, discrimination, abuse of authority, and interference with promotions and assignments. Members of AFSCME Local 1159 and AFSCME Council 4 say the pattern is too widespread to be a handful of unrelated incidents.

"When there's a massive amount of complaints, it's not just an isolated incident," said Michael Salemme III, president of AFSCME Local 1159, according to CT Mirror.

Last year, the Bridgeport Police Union held a vote of no confidence in Porter. Of the roughly 180 members who cast a ballot, only 27 supported him.

Officers accused of misconduct are routinely placed on administrative leave while investigations proceed. Porter has not been, even as the city has hired an outside law firm to investigate the claims against him. The Bridgeport Guardians, a group representing minority officers, has also called for independent review, pointing to the department's history of federal oversight tied to past discrimination cases.

Mayor Joe Ganim has publicly backed Porter and has the authority to place him on leave during the investigation. Fairness means holding the same standard for the chief as for every other officer under review.

Sign the petition calling on Mayor Ganim to place Chief Porter on administrative leave until the investigation is complete, before more complaints pile up unresolved.