Carpenter Promoted to Lieutenant, Toothman is New Sergeant as Pair Take Oath during Council Meeting
By Jeff Toquinto on January 14, 2025
The Bridgeport Police Department had an official shakeup last night as a pair of long-serving members were promoted to new leadership positions.
Sgt. Scott Carpenter has been promoted to the position of lieutenant, while Patrol Officer Scott Toothman has been promoted to sergeant. /Council%201-13-25%20Carpenter.jpg)
The swearing of the pair was part of a busy City Council agenda at last night’s meeting.
The swearing of the pair was part of a busy City Council agenda at last night’s meeting.
The swearing in ceremony was just that – ceremonial. Police Chief Mark Rogers said the pair, who took the oath from Mayor Andy Lang, have already begun their duties in their new roles.
Carpenter fills the spot formally held by Lieutenant Detective Gary Weaver, who recently retired. Carpenter now oversees the patrol unit as commander of the C-Shift.
“Scott has been with the city for 23 years. I’ve got to work with him my entire career,” said Rogers. “He’s been a K-9 officer, a field training officer, and there are many different things that he takes care of for us. Now, he gets to lead the men and women daily on patrol. He’s a great asset to the department, a great officer, and a great friend.”
Toothman will then step into the post formerly held by Carpenter. Like Carpenter, he is a veteran of the staff./Council%201-13-25%20Toothman.jpg)
“He’s been with us for 14 years and he’s worn many different hats since he’s been here,” said Rogers. “He was a leader before he became a sergeant. In fact, so much so that I’ve asked him to take on some additional roles in our department. He’s going to be a great asset for the young officers as well as the seasoned officers.”
That was not the only item involving the Bridgeport Police. During the awards and presentation portion of the meeting Rebecca Morrison was given the Employee Service Award for 15 years with the city.
Another item that drew attention involved a new municipal fee that passed on first reading. Council gave an initial okay to creating a /Council%201-13-25%20IV%20Morrison.jpg)
transient occupancy fee. The transients in this case would be individuals staying in Bridgeport hotels and motels.
transient occupancy fee. The transients in this case would be individuals staying in Bridgeport hotels and motels.
The fee would be $6 per night for the use and occupancy of a hotel room. Although a public hearing would accompany the second, and final, reading of the ordinance that would make it official, one individual voiced concern about the proposed fee, or tax.
David Clayton, who said he represented the Bridgeport Courtyard by Marriott, spoke during the public forum portion of the meeting. Clayton said it will be detrimental to local businesses, and also could hurt local residents
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“It is no more than imposing a local tax,” he said.
City Manager Patrick Ford called the $6 charge a “reasonable fee.” He pointed to an average of nearly 1,300 transients staying in hotels nightly, or an increase to the population of 13.7 percent.
“It’s a user fee imposed on those transients without placing a burden on our existing residents,” said Ford, when pointing out the funds would help ensure first responders to provide the same prominent level of protection to the transients as it does the residents.
Clayton was hopeful during his comments it could be lowered. A luncheon will be had Jan. 23 at noon between the city and hotel and motel representatives. Mayor Andy Lang said a previous invitation from the city to the same group drew just one response, but that then Interim City Manager Mark Rogers had met with representatives from each hotel. They are hopeful for a strong turnout at this luncheon.
The ordinance could be approved, modified, tabled, or even eliminated, at the next meeting on Jan. 27 at the earliest. However, it could be held off until a future meeting after that./Council%201-13-25%20II%20Ford.jpg)
The future, and primarily the past year, was the focus of Bridgeport Finance Director Sharon Hinkle’s report to Council. As has been the standard for years, the start of the new calendar year sees the beginning of department head reports and Hinkle was first on the docket for 2025.
She spoke for just over 12 minutes with a power point presentation. In it, she covered multiple areas her staff oversees including water and sewage payment collections, permits and licensing, B&O tax collections, and more.
Some of the numbers addressed by the staff were large. For instance, during 2024, the department issued 77,223 receipts during the course of business.
Hinkle was also involved later in the meeting as Council approved a pair of budget revisions. The first was General Fund Budget Revision #5.
The revision involves the allocation of a $650,000 Cops Grant to the police department budget. The funding will be used to purchase cameras and provide training. It also included $17,425 added to the Bridgeport Fire Department for selling a boat, trailer, and air pack. There was also $139,570 added to the fire department and public works department budgets for FEMA reimbursements from the August 2023 storms and subsequent flooding./Council%201-13-25%20Hinkle.jpg)
A second revision was for The Bridge that Council approved. It moved funds from contracted services ($65,809) no longer needed to supplement the budget for an old vehicle sale in the amount of $6,000 that will allow the purchase of a new vehicle for the facility. It will also allow for the purchase of new flooring for the new workout area.
Council reappointed a trio of individuals to the Bridgeport Emergency Services Council. Pegi Bailey, Scott Burnside, and Dennis Klingensmith will now serve three-year terms that expire Dec. 31, 2027.
A reason Council had a large crowd at the start of the meeting was due to recognizing the Bridgeport Municipal Government Art Contest winners. The winners have their artwork displayed on the city’s annual calendar. Photos of the winners in the days ahead on Connect-Bridgeport.
The winners included Simpson Elementary students Everly Hathaway, Peter Nolte, and Isabel Boyce. Johson Elementary students Aria Shaffer, Aairah Hasan, Anaya Vasami, Naomi Barkley, Vayda Knight, Caden Carey, Annabel Francis, Alex Brosnihan, and Vance Wolfe. Heritage Christians’ Adelynn Spires was also a winner.
The meeting’s invocation was given by Father Walt Jagela of All Saints Catholic Church.
Editor's Note: Top two photos show Scott Toothman and Scott Carpenter, respectively, taking the oath for their promotions from Mayor Andy Lang, while the third photo shows Detective Rebecca Morrison being presented with her gift from the city for 15 years of service. In the fourth photo, a hotel representative David Clayton addresses Council, while City Manager Patrick Ford is shown after that. Bottom photo shows Finance Director Sharon Hinkle.
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