During Monday’s Council Meeting, Bridgeport Deputy Police Chief Mark Rogers gave an annual department report that focused on past successes, future goals and things he and his officers deal with on a daily basis.

 

He began his presentation by reading the Department’s mission statement and stated that it is one they take a lot of pride in upholding.

“I truly believe every man and woman in our department adheres to that and proves that daily,” Rogers said.

 

Three new officers were added to the Bridgeport Police Department in 2021 in Officer Connor Ryan, Officer Zach Davisson and Officer Tyler McHenry.

 

There was one promotion as Todd Collins went from detective to Sergeant and there were two new assignments with Officer Rebecca Morrison and Officer Jason Carey becoming detectives in the Investigation Division.

 

“This is the first time in several years (since 2017) that our Investigation Division has been fully staffed,” Rogers said.

 

In 2021 there were 9,876 call for service and more than 3,000 of those required more than one officer to assist with maintaining public safety. The current estimated population of Bridgeport is 9,370 so that equates to more than one call by each resident of the city or approximately 27 calls for service per day.

 

There were nearly 500 criminal reports taken with 302 arrests.

 

The total of calls for service for 2021 was up 9.5 percent from 2020 and of that 9.5 percent, there was an increase in reportable crimes by nearly 21 percent from 2020.

 

“We believe this is a direct correlation with lockdowns being relaxed, people getting back to work and generally moving around much more,” Rogers said.

 

Rogers also said that nearly 500 vehicle crashes were investigated and 100 of those reporting injuries in addition to two traffic crash fatalities.

 

The Police Department conducted 2,945 traffic stops, with nearly 800 citations being issued and the balance provided either verbal or written warnings.

 

The Investigative Division handled 75 cases with a 79 percent successful closure rate with the balance being closed because of it being a noncriminal act, the victim withdrew original complain or lack of evidence.

 

“Cases of note last year, we started last year out with a pretty horrendous murder suicide,” Rogers said. “There was a large catalytic converter case that everybody in Harrison County and surrounding counties knew there was a large group of people cutting those off for profit. We were able with our officers to assist and we successfully prosecuted upwards of a dozen people.”

 

The presence of Bridgeport Police at United Hospital Center has been successful and well-received according to Rogers.

 

In 2021, Bridgeport Police maintained officers for 80 hours a week with UHC selecting the preferred duty hours. Those officers responded to 390 calls on the UHC campus ranging from accidental 911 calls to disorderly conduct by patients or visitors to staff being assaulted. As far as 2022 goes there has been a Bridgeport officer on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

Rogers added that they have seen a decrease in calls for service at UHC since the agreement started in September of 2020.

 

“I’ve heard nothing but praise from the UHC staff and I would anticipate another agreement being signed for a longer time,” Rogers said. “They have been very receptive of the job we’ve done.”

 

Rogers had nothing but praise for the Department’s two most popular “Officers” in K9 Connor and K9 Chole as well as Prevention Resource Officer Jamie Hamrick for the work they do in the schools.

 

“This program is probably one of the best things our department has done in a long time and so much so I believe that’s what inspired the state to start their program (Friends With Paws),” Rogers said.

 

Rogers brought with him some visual aids to help describe what the City’s officers deal with on a daily basis when it comes to drugs on the street. He had bags of rock salt to represent how much methamphetamine officers collected in 2021 and used pennies to help show Council the amount of fentanyl collected.

 

“On your desk in front of you, you’ll find a penny and there is a slight representation what would be a lethal dose that’s the best I can do given the instrumentation I have here available to me,” Rogers said. “That is 1,000 micrograms and there are one million micrograms in each gram of fentanyl. This represents one kilogram of fentanyl seized by our officers. Technically, with the proper dosages there is enough here to kill more than half of West Virginia’s people. This is one of the main problems we have not just in Harrison County but all of West Virginia and surrounding states. This is what our officers see every day."

 

Rogers added that a new issue that officers have to combat in the fight against drugs is that people now possess pill presses that they use to take fentanyl and pressing it into what looks like prescription pills.

 

In regard to the department’s Special Response Team, Rogers said it was activated four times in 2021. Two incidents involved barricaded suspects and two occasions in conjunction with the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force in securing search warrant scenes or arrest warrant round-ups.

 

Rogers also provided Council with a Municipal Court update stating that out of 527 court cases, 81 were paid in full ($19,497.00), 42 cases were dismissed. There were 79 payment plans arranged with eight being paid in full, 90 suspensions and 235 no shows.

 

“It’s still a problem with people being issued a citation and not showing up,” he said.

 

The Urban Deer Hunt that ran from Sept. 11, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2021 resulted in the issuing of 46 hunting permits. A total of 30 deer were harvested.

 

Rogers discussed the many community outreach programs the Police Department was involved in from the FOP Junior Police Academy to National Night Out, which drew a crowd of more than 4,000 people and a Christmas Food Drive for Shepard’s Corner that yielded more than $3,600 in donations to go along with all the food they collected.

 

He also mentioned the Department’s role in events like Summer Kick Off, Light Up Night, and the Fallen Stars 5K.

 

Other achievements that Rogers was proud of his Department for from 2021 include the implementation of the Body-Worn Camera program, implementation of county-wide reporting software, the Vekada Camera System being installed in city-owned buildings and parks and the amount of training the Department takes part in.

 

“One of the things we are really proud of, the state mandates that each officer under the rank of sergeant has 16 hours of training per yer,” Rogers said. “Over the rank of sergeant it is 16 hours plus eight hours of supervisory services. Our officers, generally speaking, met that and exceeded it by five fold.

 

“I want our officers to be able to come to your families and mine and perform flawlessly.”

 

Goals for the Police Department include the hiring of additional staff, expanding active shooter training and preparedness and continue to have best trained and equipped personnel possible.

 

Editor's Note: Photos of Rogers as well as photos of the graphics showing the amount of drugs, firearms, etc, seized during 2021 by Bridgeport Police Officers taken during Monday's City Council meeting.