Armando Perez
Service Record
Bridgeport Connecticut Police Department
| Rank | Acting Chief (March 3, 2016)[1], Chief[2] |
| Dates of Service | Hired approximately 1980[3]. Ended September 10, 2020[4] |
| Salary | $149,036[3] |
| Last Known Status | Resigned[4] |
Incident Reports
2018 Hiring Conspiracy
In 2018, the City of Bridgeport began the process to hire a new police chief. Perez, who was acting chief at the time, had two officers prepare his resume and cover letter for the search process. The officers also completed the written examination on Perez's behalf and got the oral exam test questions in advance.[5]
The city's acting personnel director lowered the position's requirements to favor Perez, and sent non-public information about the status of the search process to Perez.[5]
One of the officers involved reported Perez to the FBI.[6]
On September 10, 2020, Perez resigned.[4]
Response Timeline
On September 9, 2020, Perez was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and making a false statement to the FBI.[7]
On October 5, 2020, Perez pleaded guilty.[8][5] Perez faced up to two years in prison under a plea deal.[2]
On November 4, 2020, the Connecticut Attorney General filed a lawsuit to reduce and/or revoke Perez's $102,072.36 municipal pension.[3]
On April 12, 2021, Perez was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison. He must also serve two years on supervised release, pay a fine of $7,500, and pay restitution of $299,407.[8] By being sentenced to more than one year, Perez can earn "good time" credit of up to 54 days and also receive credit for time incarcerated prior to sentencing.[5]
On November 18, 2021, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council revoked Perez's certification, making him ineligible to serve as a police officer in the state. Perez could reapply in the future.[9]
On May 24, 2021, Perez began his prison sentence.[10]
On January 20, 2022, Perez was released from prison.[11] The early release was due to his age and good behavior.[12]
A judge ruled that Perez should forfeit half of his pension due to his conviction as his "intentional conduct undermined the public trust in government".[13]
References
- ↑ Brian Lockhart, Few black cops in Bridgeport’s top ranks, ctpost, 2016-03-12
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rick Lessard, Former Bridgeport police chief Armando Perez reports to federal prison, FOX 61, 2021-05-25
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Daniel Tepfer, CT attorney general sues to revoke pensions of Perez, Dunn for ‘violating the public trust’, ctpost, 2020-11-04
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Dave Collins, Police chief accused of rigging his own hiring resigns, AP News, 2020-09-10
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Daniel Tepfer, Former Bridgeport police chief Armando Perez now behind bars, ctpost, 2021-05-25
- ↑ Edmund Mahony, Ex-Bridgeport police chief Armando Perez sent to prison for a year-and-a day in test-rigging conspiracy, Hartford Courant, 2021-04-12
- ↑ Unites States v Perez, U.S. District Court Complaint, 2020-09-09
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Former Bridgeport Police Chief Sentenced To Prison For Scheme To Rig City’s Police Chief Search, U.S. Attorney’s Office, 2021-04-12
- ↑ Daniel Tepfer, Former Bridgeport chief Armando Perez loses police certification, Fairfield Citizen, 2021-11-18
- ↑ Daniel Tepfer, Former Bridgeport police chief Armando Perez now behind bars, ctpost, 2021-05-25
- ↑ Daniel Tepfer, Former Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez released from prison, ctpost, 2022-01-21
- ↑ Brian Lockhart, Ex-Bridgeport Police Chief Perez recounts experience in federal prison: ‘It really scarred my soul’, ctpost, 2023-03-14
- ↑ Daniel Tepfer, Judge: Former Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez must give up half of pension, ctpost, 2023-07-19
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