Gaudett Jr. named acting police chief

By AARON LEO
Staff Writer
ConnPost Article Launched: 10/15/2008 12:04:26 AM EDT

Joseph Gaudett Jr. heads a second family - Topix

BRIDGEPORT -- Deputy Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr., a married father of two, is now in charge of a second family: the Bridgeport Police Department.

Gaudett, 47, will be the acting police chief after he's sworn in this morning, replacing Bryan T. Norwood, who is expected to resign this morning, according to police officials and Mayor Bill Finch.

Gaudett's promotion was announced Tuesday night in City Hall at a special meeting of the city's Board of Police Commissioners. A search for a permanent replacement could take six to eight months, Finch said. Norwood was sworn in last week as police chief in Richmond, Va., after serving 2 1/2 years in Bridgeport.

Finch said Tuesday that serving in the interim as chief is just as challenging as being the permanent chief.

"When you're on duty 365 days, 24 hours, seven days [a week], there is no interim," he said.

Under Norwood, the police department reduced crime "dramatically," and Gaudett will carry that on, Finch said.

"He is a tremendous police officer and he will help keep us safe. His family has nearly a century of policework," Finch. His grandfather, father and sister were officers.

The mayor called Gaudett "a bright star, a professional, a policeman's policeman. We're getting a great leader," Finch added.

Gaudett, who started in 1983, thanked his colleagues, family and friends who gathered in the City Council Chambers.

"I appreciate all your support. I promise I won't let you down," he said.

The announcement ended a week of uncertainty started last Tuesday when Norwood became Richmond's chief.

At first his last day was to be at the end of the month, but officials said Norwood agreed to resign today.

The department and all city departments are suffering from cuts caused by a growing city budget deficit. Finch had ordered Norwood to cut overtime in half after the department overspent that budget by $1.3 million.

In August, the Bridgeport Police Union Local 1159 voted no confidence in both Finch and Norwood, and Finch laid off 15 officers.

But those gloomy issues seemed forgotten Tuesday night as Gaudett stood with his wife, Diane, to accept the job. They have been married for 22 years and have two daughters, Joceyln, 19, and Camryn, 10.

Camryn jumped into her father's arms for a big hug after her father finished speaking.

In February 2007, when Gaudett was promoted to deputy chief, she pinned his badge on him. On Sept. 9, 1969, an 8-year-old Gaudett pinned a sergeant's badge on his father.

Gaudett was born in Bridgeport, and attended St. Augustine's School. He now resides with his family in Newtown.

Officer Frank Cuccaro, police union president, called Gaudett "a fine choice."

"I look forward to working with him," Cuccaro said.

Gaudett, who was deputy chief of administrative services, has also been working on the radio system for a combination dispatch center for the police and fire departments that is being built on Housatonic Avenue.

"What's better than having the guy who helped design it be the chief now?" Finch said.

The mayor said that despite the city's problems, everything has had a silver lining. He said Gaudett will improve department morale.

A larger ceremony is planned for this week, officials said.