Retired cop sues state officials to get his gun permit back

The Federal Courthouse in Bridgeport. The Federal Courthouse in Bridgeport. Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Retired cop sues state officials to get his gun permit back 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

BRIDGEPORT — A retired city police officer claims state officials are depriving him of a gun permit at a time — the COVID-19 pandemic — when he needs to carry a gun the most.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, John Brenner claims James Rovella, the commissioner of the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and members of the state licensing and Board of Firearms Permit Examiners units are depriving him of his constitutional right to bear arms.

“The deprivation of the plaintiff’s Second Amendment rights is occurring at a time when law enforcement is only arresting for the most serious crimes and prisoners are being released due to COVID-19 health concerns,” the lawsuit states.

A nurse, Brenner states in the suit that as a major part of his medical practice, he provides in-home treatment for medically underserved inner-city communities and frequently travels into areas in Bridgeport which are plagued by extreme violence. He states that when traveling to these areas, he has carried a concealed sidearm.

The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Brenner’s lawyer, Robert Berke, declined comment on the lawsuit.

DESPP officials did not immediately return emails for comment.

Brenner, who retired as a lieutenant from the Bridgeport Police Department in 2013, did have a gun permit and a concealed carry permit. However, his permit was revoked in June 2019 after he was charged by Shelton police following an incident in May 2019 at a Walgreen store.

Brenner got into a dispute with a store security guard after the guard accused him of shoplifting, according to a police report. Brenner was charged with second-degree breach of peace and impersonating a police officer but the charges were dismissed on July 23, 2019, by a judge. He is now suing Shelton police for false arrest.

In the lawsuit filed Thursday, Brenner states he appealed the revocation of his gun permit after his criminal case was dismissed but was told his appeal would be subject to a review by the firearms licensing unit and would not be heard until May 2021. The hearing has since been moved to July 9 of this year.

Brenner, in his suit, claims his permit should immediately returned to him.