POLICE INCREASED AT TRUMBULL GARDENS

BRIDGEPORT -- Police officials are promising to step up patrols at the
Trumbull Gardens public housing complex and surrounding neighborhood
in response to residents' complaints about vandalism, loitering and
illegal dirt bikes.

Deputy Police Chief Anthony S. Armeno, flanked by other deputy chiefs,
captains, sergeants and officers, made the vow during an informal
meeting with Trumbull Gardens residents and nearby property owners
gathered Thursday at Reservoir and Trumbull avenues. Mayor John M.
Fabrizi also attended.

Despite the promise of more frequent patrols, residents still
disagreed on the best ways to eradicate the quality-of-life crimes.

Abu Malick, part owner of a nearby shopping plaza that houses a
beauty-supply store, pizza restaurant and barbershop, said a lot of
people regularly hang out in front of the stores.

"Sometimes, it's 20 deep," he said. "No one wants to come in to the
stores."

"Just extra patrols should help," he added.

June McClendon, vice president of the Trumbull Gardens Residents'
Association, agreed loitering in front of the stores is a problem, but
for different reasons.

"Those boys say awful things to the young ladies," she said,
suggesting that the property owners should be responsible for breaking
up the loiterers.

"Ask them to leave," she said.

"You don't think we do?" Malick responded.

But McClendon remained convinced that Malick could address the problem
himself.

speeding on neighborhood streets, and contended that drug deals are
transacted regularly on nearby Terrace Circle.

Meanwhile, vandalism is plaguing a neighborhood builder.

Vandals spray-painted and smashed windows in a house being constructed
by Mystic Builders, said company owner Paul Miller of Fairfield. No
one has been arrested yet for causing the damage, police said.

Miller estimated the damage at $7,500.

Other homes that Miller has built have also been vandalized while
under construction.

The builder complained that the vandalism is hindering his efforts to
help restore Bridgeport, where he has built 50 houses in the North End
area over the last 10 years.

"I need to have my investments protected," he said, or else he might
have to build elsewhere. "I have 25 building lots we're ready to roll
on, just in Bridgeport."

Miller added that he has hired private security to guard some of his
homes while they're being built.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home will sell for $350,000 on the
market once it's completed. His buyers are mostly people with
low-income or bad credit, and he offers low-interest financing, he
said.

Fabrizi applauded Miller's homebuilding projects.

"He's also created jobs and affordable housing. I don't want to see
this guy leave," the mayor said.

Miller also praised the police for trying to clean up the
neighborhood.

"It's cleaner than it was 10 years ago," he said. He also thanked the
mayor for responding to his complaints.

After everyone spoke, police officers distributed their work phone
numbers, and in some cases, personal cell phone numbers to give
residents easier access to report crimes.

But reporting crime is risky for residents of the housing complex,
said Barbie Ortiz, a tenant listening to the officials.

"People are afraid to speak because they're afraid" of retribution,
she said.