Bridgeport cop Steven Figueroa fired

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BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Police Officer Steven Figueroa, who has been arrested six times in less than two years, was fired from the Bridgeport Police Department on Wednesday.

“After consideration of all information available through an investigation, it is clear that Steven Figueroa is wholly unfit to serve as a police officer,” said a statement from Chief Armando Perez. “This officer violated his oath of office and the public trust. As of this afternoon, Steven Figueroa has been terminated as a member of the Bridgeport Police Department.”

The firing comes after the Office of Internal Affairs completed its investigation into Figueroa’s off-duty actions linked to recent domestic violence-related arrests and charges.

Larry Dorman, communications coordinator for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that encompasses the Bridgeport police local union, declined comment “while we review our options.”

Figueroa’s firing comes nearly one month after he was suspended without pay from the Bridgeport Police Department on July 22.

In less than two years, Figueroa was arrested and charged by various police departments six times — three of those arrests took place this year between June 29 and July 29.

Figueroa was sworn in on Sept. 20, 2016, and officially joined the Bridgeport police ranks on Feb. 29, 2016, according to Bridgeport police documents provided to Hearst Connecticut Media.

More Information Timeline of arrests: November 2017: Arrested by Stratford police for an incident involving Victim 1. Charges: Third-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. The charges were dropped when the victim opted not to pursue the case further. April 8, 2018: Arrested by Bridgeport police for an incident involving Victim 1. Charge: breach of peace. In court, he was entered into a probation-type program. June 22, 2018: Arrested by Milford police. Victim unclear. Charges: second-degree breach of peace and violation of a protective order. He pleaded nolo contendere on the charges, meaning he did not either admit to or deny them. June 29, 2019: Arrested by Shelton police for incident involving Victim 2. Charges: third-degree assault, unlawful restraint, threatening and risk of injury to a child. July 20, 2019: Arrested by Shelton police for same incident involving Victim 2. Charge: first-degree sexual assault. July 29, 2019: Arrested by Bridgeport police. Charge: violating conditions of release.

Prior incidents

Figueroa’s first arrest came in November 2017 when he was charged with third-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after an incident in Stratford. The charges were dropped when the victim opted not to pursue the case.

His second arrest was April 8, 2018, when he was arrested by Bridgeport police and charged with second-degree stalking, second-degree breach of peace and second-degree harassment after an incident involving the same victim from the Stratford incident. Figueroa was entered into a probation-type program in court, which he still completing at the time of his recent arrest by Shelton police.

On June 22, 2018, Milford police charged Figueroa with second-degree breach of peace and violation of a protective order, although it’s unclear whether this was the same victim from the previous incidents. Figueroa pleaded no contest to the charges, meaning he did not either admit to or deny them.

Figueroa was arrested by Shelton police on June 29, 2019, and charged with third-degree assault, unlawful restraint, threatening and risk of injury to a child. The risk of injury charge is a felony. This incident involved a different victim from the prior incidents. Figueroa was put on desk duty following this arrest.

After the June 29 charges against Figueroa, state Sen. Marilyn Moore, who is running against incumbent Joe Ganim in a September primary election for mayor, urged city and police officials to have the officer suspended without pay.

On July 20, Figueroa was again arrested and charged by Shelton police for the same incident that led to his June 29 arrest. He was charged with first-degree sexual assault, another felony charge.

An arrest affidavit for the sexual assault charge indicated that he threatened to kill the victim if he lost his job as a result of her reporting the assault.

On July 22, he was suspended without pay by Bridgeport police. On July 29, he turned himself in to Bridgeport police on an active warrant for violating the conditions of his release from the April 2018 incident.

In early August, Ganim issued a statement — and a video — pushing for some kind of action in Figueroa’s case.