| There are a lot of biased opinions here, and most probably very few facts. Just because someone can name names does not mean these are facts or truths. |
| Any updates on this? It looks like due process was not given to the inspectors from what i read, ah, who needs that, this is Bridgeport! |
| One of the fire inspectors owns about 10 homes. |
| Who has all the real estate then? |
| It is not the chief with the real estate empire..... |
| B- bias R- racist I- incompetent D- disparate G- greed E- erroneus P- paranoia O- obnoxius R- revengeful T- trash This may describe some of the town officials and "leaders" who screw with peoples lives without doing proper due process and cost the taxpayers thousands while they keep getting raises to they end up in jail. |
| Does the chief have a gps tracking on his vehicle? How did he try and correct this alleged issue? How many times are the taxpayers going to pay for these people to screw with lives of workers because of their ego and politics? |
| In this world there are leaders and then there are followers, and if you aren't willing to follow the ego chasing mental midget then you are labeled as being (hard to manage) These inspectors were targeted because they have the ability to do there job well and won't give there lunch money to the high school bully |
| Why does the chief have an unmarked new suburban loaded with tools is it to oversee his real estate empire or just for weekend getaways? |
| Who hired these inspectors who do little work and hard to manage according to chief and a few writers here? So 5 out of 9 are "bad apples" , who is responsible for allowing the taxpayers pay for these people? Or is it posible this is another political scam? The taxpayers are paying them to sit home, makes no sense. What does the chief care if he pays people to stay home and losing the town money in lawsuits? He is not paying for it, THE TAXPAYERS ARE! Something is fishy, why have we not heard the "other" side? The town officials should be held RESPONSIBLE for their decsions to take 5 people off their jobs if it turns out he did not do it properly. The taxpayers will get screwed once again and probly less safe,. |
| Anyone who knows what was going on in that` office is familiar with the problems with the inspectors, doing little work, and never doing what was expected of them. How do you manage that? |
| It's amazing that hard working dedicated individuals in the Bridgeport FMD are subject to the the lack of leadership that is currently in place. BFD FMD employees are handcuffed by the Chief, where is the Fire Marshal in this? Is he so inept and weak that he allows the Chief to micromange his divison. The problem is that persons in charge are not able to manage in a manner that is conducive to productivity. Fire Inspectors in Bridgeport have to work under conditions that are ineffective and inefficient. They are treated like second class citizens. A major city such as Bridgeport should be ashamed of the leadership of this department. The problems in Bridgeport are numerous, and the lack of conducting a thorough investigation prior to taking these extreme measure is another example of the the departments inefficiency. The taxpayers now have to pay employees who are not at work performing essential duties. The Chief of the Bridgeport Fire Department ability to lead has to be called into question. The City Fire Marshal is also responsible for his lack of effective management skills. Good Luck to the citizens of Bridgeport with the current leadership you need it |
| With lunches and probably break times and it seems no set route the firefighters have there can be many logical reasons for this. In fact if a proper investigation was done it could of been resolved. With giving out vehicles and a new policy there would seem to be issues to be worked out. I wopuld assume any firefighter who asked risked his life to save people in burning buildings would be intelligent enough not to be trapped by gps. In fact i THOUGHT THE DEVICE WAS TO HELP THE TAXPAYERS, WHAT A JOKE. I think Bridgeport is the most corupt town in CT. and maybe the country, yeah I question the chiefs accuracy and intentions, it would not be the first time a town official screwed us, my money is with the firefighters, most of the taxpayers APPRECIATE YOU! |
| " The city would not do something that would risk a lawsuit", what a joke that is. The creditbility of town is officials is a joke. The "chief" could of taken away the vehicles, discussed the alleged "problem" etc. If the town did their homework it would be the first time. If the chief is :right" what the hell are they doing hiring 5 out of 9 bad apples? The citizens should sue for this imcompetence, who replaced the 5 inspectors? I would guess they may never lose a days pay, and the chief will get a raise. Or if he is right, people should be FIRED for hiring them! Class action lawsuit, my guess and the taxpayers will get SCREWED ONCE AGAIN! |
| Don't be jealous because the BOYZ are taking hits. |
| One of them should spend more time doing his job properly instead of overseeing his real estate empire. |
| Evidently these individuals were not doing the job. I'm sure the City of Bridgeport has done it's homework, and wouldn't have risked losing the lawsuits, that are sure to come,if it hadn't. I am sure most of the comments here are very biased, and the Fire Department probably will not deign to blog here. So, time will tell. |
| Unfortunately in any job where an employee is "on the road" so to speak, there is very little accountabilty and prevalent abuse. It's the nature of the beast, always has been, always will be. It's part of the reason people take those kinds of jobs. You can post all the names you want in order to get retribution and no one will do anything about it. Seems like you are getting a thrill out of it, the rest of us are just laughing. All of you should get a real job and punch a time clock. |
| What about officers leaving their jobs while they are supposed to be working and getting estimates for work on their homes or hiding their vehicles while they are doing anything and everything except earning their salaries? I say put GPS on all of them. |
| Why is James Grace using a FD vehicle for personal use? Its been seen at the parking lot of Wal-Mart in Startford. His part time employer. Where's the GPS Rooney? Why is Charles Dimbo using a FD vehicle for personal use? Its been seen throughout West Haven, Orange, etc... Where's the GPS Rooney? |
| WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| “investigation”: to study, examine, search, inquire, explore, analyze. What exactly needs to be investigated here? You give employees city vehicles WITH GPS, track them and then act surprised? There may be a job for you with Homeland Security………… Signed, A Fire Department Fan. |
| Now we find out that the new Dodge Caravans that the FMD uses aren't equipped with BFD radios. So the FI have no way of contacting the 911 Center in the event of an emergency or if they become injured. They are to carry their portable radios. What happens when they fail or there in an area that will not allow the radios to send/recieve. Oh yeah, your worried about your GPS. Why didn't the supervisors Collins, Cosgrove and Bonaventura make an issue regarding the vehicle radios. Oh, forgot again you guys knew about the GPS and your one of the boyz. Appears Rooney should be charged with NEGLIGENCE. Remeber 9/11; communications and radios were a major issue and played a role in FF deaths. Rooney probably never read the report (HS Grad), your in way over your head. The FFs union and their health and safety committee should be all over this and bring Rooney and his boyz to task. Rooney could find the money to buy GPS, but couldn't find the money for a health and safety item. Your awful and should be ashamed of yourself. So do all the other new vehicles, trucks and Divisions have GPS? Including your second vehicle that new Suburban. You know, the one you use for your long weekends. Appears like selective targeting. Hey Fabs hear the rumble, thats the lawyers coming to get their clients money. Rooney, what is this we hear now, you transfered a Latina rookie FF to the Maintenance Division because she'll make a good secretary. Appears you've done nothing, but set the BFD back 30 years. Take a look at the BPD police chief, you may learn something. We know, he's African American, educated and a decent human being. He's respected because he respects his police officers. Scares you right. |
| Is Chief Rooney investigating why Batt-2-B was in trumbull near the Monroe line while on duty and missed a box or is that ok cuz he's Rooneys boy. |
| Mr. Rooney How could you have these men escorted out like criminals? The officers who you called in to do this were very remorseful also there are plenty of other problems in the city and nobody has time to stroke your ego or waste tax payers hard earned dollars. I dont't think HQ is big enough for your ego!!!!! |
| Corruption at all levels, civil servants are just servants with pensions!!!!! |
| I want to know who is investigating Chief rooney and Chief conners for sitting on there a**es in a trumbull restaurant with there radio's off stuffing there faces on duty during the spring st fire. They stayed there even after they were told there was a major fire in there city. I bet the Trumbull Fire Marshal could shed some light on this issue.Or how about Batt-2-B the Italian Battalian |
| Keep us updated! |
| Good post, and good info, what else? |
| Hi all, lets get some facts straight. Frist off the Fire Inspectors are on administrative leave with pay, not suspended. Rooney (mental midget) stooped to a new all time low. Labor Relations Officers David Dunn (Consultant) Acting Labor Relations Director Larry Osborn (Dem. Town Committee Member) and at least 2 Bpt. Police Officers were called to the FMD Office at old City Hall. The FI were then called starting at 3:30 by P/SI,FI Leonard Bonaventura and told there was a special meeting taking place at the office. FI Bonaventura your a lying kissa***. Just like the gutless metal midget. Bonaventura you left the office and couldn't even look 3 of FI in the eye. One FI was off duty, so Chief Grace went to his home and gave him the letter at his house in front of his family and requested all FD gear and IDs. Some of these FI have wives, children and grandchildren. Grace and Uncle Tom one in the same. After each FI got to the FMD office they were told by David Dunn to get their stuff and hurry up and get out. The police offiers involved felt terrible and appoligized to each FI as they escorted them out of the FMD office or drove them to BFDHQ so they could pick up their personal vehicles. They were treated like criminals and embarressed in front of other city hall employees. These FI all have 19 or more years on the BFD. Two are on the current Captains list waiting to be promoted. Think there's motive, they placed higher than Rooney's boys. Were's the citzens complaints that these individuals never came to their places of business and didn't do their job. Rooney, David Dunn and Larry Osborn had no regard for how the office secretary felt. She was visibly shaken. She works and knows these men and felt awful. So, what does the letter say, not much, it doesn't even state what the investigation involves. In fact, the slanderous and libel interview Rooney gave the CT Post contained more information then given to the 4 FIs. Why was R. Morales in the article, he had nothing to do with this issue. I smell a lawsuit. Oh yeah, he has a federal lawsuit filed against the City, Rooney, Grace, FI/Acting Fire Marshal Collins, FI/Acting Deputy Fire Marshal Cosgrove, Labor Relations etc...already. City taxpayers, did you know when Righteous Rooney was a Deputy Chief for 7/8 years that he and other Deputy Chiefs would submit for holiday pay and not come to work in order to earn the holiday pay. That's 14 holidays times 7/8 years of taxpayer monies. The practice still exsist. They (Grace, Conners, Petrucelli) submit for holiday pay after it occurs in order to hid their practice. Righteous Rooney did the same thing and has allowed the practice to continue with these 3 Deputy Chiefs. City taxpayers, did you know that Righteous Rooney had an accident during Thanksgiving with his city issued vehicle (prior vehicle) to the current one at a NYC airport and never reported it with a non-fire department member in the vehicle. Brought the vehicle to the FD Maintenance Div. had them repair it as if nothing happened. The members of the Maintenance Div. refused to say what happened when asked by members of the BFD. So, who wasn't placed on administrative leave in the FMD? Collins, Cosgrove, Bonaventura, Novia and Balestrieri. Who wasn't at work on Friday Collins, Cosgrove and Novia. All are members of Bridgeport Firefighters for Merit Employment (BFME). The same organization which is opposed to the hiring and promoting of Blacks, Latinos and women within the BFD. Of which Righteous Rooney was a member till he became the chief. LOL Taxpayers did you know that David Dunn runs his own consulting business in Stratford, David Dunn Consulting Inc. 3380 Main Street, Stratford, CT 203-378-6857. Lets see he works for Bpt. Labor Relations, is paid by the city, gets health benfits paid by the city, will get a pension paid by the taxpayer and runs his own consulting company. Wow, how many hours does he work for each. I guess it pays to contribute to city elected officials campaigns. Not bad David. To bad for the city taxpayer, if a lawsuit is filed and they win, guess who pays the bill you. The FBI and the U.S. Justice Dept. need to investgate the BFD and its consultant. They need to dig deep for what is hidden within the bowels of the BFD and the disparate treatment of its employees. It's just getting started! |
| I think the inspectors had the highest test scores to get the jobs, how did the chief get his job? Who is his boss, does he feel the chief is hard to manage? The credibility of town officials is a joke. |
| Leave him out.....you don't know what you are talking about......I am related to him, I should know..... |
| bpt sucks |
| the police officer with the last name has nothing to do with incident so leave him out. Also he is not a member of the BPD but is a member or the BOE School police and is very competent at his job. |
| Before passing judgment on the Chief's motives and judgment let's wait to see if the issue is "where were the suspended employees during regular working hours - i.e. off the jobsite - versus whether we are simply talking about misuse during off duty time." I suspect that the lack of work productivity together with the GPS records will demonstrate whether the problem these emoployees face is that they were away from their assigned duties while they should have been on the job. |
| There is no such thing as the bad five or the good four it's about working together and if your not the number 1 kiss-ass you won't get very far. As for you Mr. Rooney are you "Difficult to Manage" or just have dificulty managing? |
| Not passing judgement, its a well known fact within the police dept. |
| Just because you have two men with the same name doesen't mean anything they are still two different people yield caution when passing judgement!!!! |
| WHO ARE YOU TO MANDATE WHAT IS CONSIDERED MINOR AND CHEAP....SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY SHOULD BE SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE, NOT BEING BIGGER CROOKS THAN THE CRIMINALS THEY GO AFTER!!!!! |
| Bout time, You say other employees abused the vehicle policy. You mention camping trips etc. So what happened there? I never heard any suspensions. Right there you have disparte treatment, why these 4? Minorities? Does not sound like this policy was admisinstrated fairly, it sounds like if "they" like you they tuen their heads and if not, you are suspended. What is the firemmens response, I am sure they had a chance to tell their side, not another kaneroo court, I hope which the taxpayers will pay again. |
| THESE MINOR AND RELATIVELY CHEAP INDISGRESSIONS GRAB THE LIONS SHARE OF THE HEADLINES, AND BRING OUT THE IRE OF THE TAX PAYER. NOW----> IT'S A BUT A FEW DROPS OF WATER IN THE OCEAN COMPARED WITH THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OWED TO THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT BY THEIR TAX DELINQUENT CITIZENS !!!! AND NOBODY IS UPSET ABOUT IT !!!! GET SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THESE MUNICIPAL MONETARY ISSUES. -------------------------------------- |
| The good 4 were carrying the bad 5. And the hard workers will get a pat on the back and the abusers will get a promotion. Thats haow it works in the city. They'll make a big stink and then get promoted to shut them up!!! |
| I think they went a little farther than the donut shops or the cleaners in the next town over. Maybe a LOT farther. I think the vehicle use policy is issued to the user before he/she is issued the vehicle. And, it must be signed. They are also notified that the monitoring of city vehicles is in place( same with the cell phones and landline phones too). They don't feel that stopping on the way home at the store or the like that it is vehicle abuse. But when someone takes the vehicle on a camping trip, or takes his family to PA. for a funeral on the weekend(Rumored to be a couple of former dept heads), THAT is abuse. AND, there are a lot of office workers who have take home vehicles, and they shouldn't even be leaving the office!!! One Sunday night on the milford connector I saw a city vehcle out at about 7:30, and it was Not the Mayor, a police or fire dept. vehicle. City vehicles shouldn't be leaving the city at all. Unless its Government business. But since they allow take home vehicles out of town there should be a radius as to how far a vehicle goes, maybe 10-15 miles at the most. I heard a former Police chief had an administrator taking a police vehicle home to L.I on the ferry!!! They definitely need to scrutinize who needs to take home a vehicle. Think about all that gas at $3.00 a gal. Thats Bridgeport Taxpayer Money. |
| 5 out of 9, ok that leaves 4 left. What does the gps tracking system say for these 4 during the same time period? Bottom line, the taxpayers will get screwed, either a lawsuit or untrained political "pals" will be installed as inspectors to protect the taxpayers. |
| The fire inspector and the cop have the same name, Steve Vitka..... |
| Do the police have gps on their vehicles? If not, why? What about other town employees? What is the name? |
| One of these fire inspectors has a nephew who is a Bridgeport cop and he is one of the biggest abusers around. Why not put a GPS on his car when it is sitting in his driveway during working hours..... |
| He probalbly can run for mayor now. It is still over 50% of the inspectors, if they were so bad how did they get the jobs? I want to hear the other side. I have a feeling the policy may not be so black and white as we may think. There has to be just cause , I assume to get fired. He presides over hispanic groups, how is that related? Anybody know how the chief got his job? |
| This is not the first time that Morales, whom I believe presides over a few hispanic fireman groups, has been in trouble, or in the news. How many times do you have to be expelled before you get fired in Bridgeport? |
| Chief, Where is your gps device during the same time during this investigation? Where is the policy ? Instead of spending months of tax payer money investigating this , you should of been more concerned with the taxpayers SAFETY! Why months investigation, if they were doing something wrong why was'nt is stopped RIGHT THEN! |
| Chief, Are there any politics involved with your decision to suspend 5 firemen? Who payed for this months long investigation? Why are they being paid now if they did what you say? What are the details/ What is the policy? Who is replacing these guys? Are you hard to manage? So more then 50% of your inspectors are out on suspension, did you hire them? If the town loses another lawsuit over this, will you get a raise? |
| Chief Rooney what exactly are your credentials and qualifications for your position anyway? You seem like your in it for the glory or perhaps your own personal satisfaction of attacking human beings. |
| The chief says they were " difficult to manage", so the town of bridgeport hired 5 out of 9 inspectors to protect the residents who are "difficult to manage" ? Nice move chief. It would not be the first time or the LAST time a bridgeport official was not accurate. Where is the rest of the story? If the chief is accurate about 5 out of nine the town should be held liable for hiring these hard to manage fireman. Is going to dunkin donuts on lunch or brake " personal buisness" if so I do not think there will be many town employees left. What is the policy? Is it used fairly and to all town employees with cars? |
| First these are alleged incidents, have not heard the other side yet. Second it makes no sense to me that the chief is blasting over 50% of the inspectors, 5 out of 9. If they were so bad, how were they hired or why? Third, why was'nt it brought to their attention IMMIDATELY that they may be abusing the cars and if it continues they will be disciplined? Why not correct it at the start if indeed there was a issue? What are the guidlines for car use? Looks to me it can be another class action lawsuit against the city, or the city hired over 50% bad inspectors and be sued by the residents. |
| Thanks Chief Rooney.... this is a good thing for Morale on the Job. Finally the guilty are punished as they should be. Keep up the good work! |
| Hooray for chief rooney! Lets get all the druggies out of the dept also |
| Who is tracking you Chief Rooney? Your slanderous remarks were both unprofessional and unethical you should be ashamed of yourself for such a vicious attack on some hard working educated men. |
| i guess smashing 9 cars that were fixed at taxpayer expense is o.k, Orbi or new pd whichever you like. |
| Hey Orbi. you forgot comm. services...oops! |
| I'm sure these individuals will cry foul and call this racial profiling. Some people just don't get it. A jerk is a jerk, an abuser is an abuser, a beater is a beater, regardless of sex or race. |
| BRAVO CHIEF ROONEY!!!!! Keep up the good work. Most of the Fireman on your department are hard working brave men. A few bad apples should not spoil the bunch! |
| Is there a tracking device on Chief Rooney's department vehicle? And who's tracking him, Fabrizi? Yeah, that seems logical and fair... |
| what about the police deputy chief that took his city vehicle on vacation? |
| I agree with new pd. I have always thought it to be a perk just like a state trooper is assigned a vehicle. So if one of these officers have to run to the fire house to get their car to respond to a drowning the time lost would lead to a lawsuit on the city. These officers are on duty all the time. I say give the a break. |
| use this tool to keep track of all city vehicles 24/7 |
| they should secretly put gps in fabriziz's vehicle to see where he goes. |
| Now check out the cops and the misuse of take home cars. The chief promised he would clear this up, he lied. The chief and those officers should be held legaly responsible. Good job Rooney. Garage Sft Dept Clerk OIA DB Chiefs aid/horse guy/k9 guy/esu guy |
| absolutely. is this why there are so many tragic fires in bpt and elsewhere? if these charges are in fact true, these guys should be ashamed of themseles and FIRED. thank god for gps. it should be on all gov't vehicles in the country. good work, chief rooney! |
| Well it is about time something was done! |