This summer, on June 6, my friend and colleague Chris Johnson made a tweet that set the stage for this blog. I’ll get to the Tweet’s words shortly.

 

Basically, it had to do with the most popular thing in Bridgeport. Six months after the post, not only are Johnson’s words spot on, but they have also been amplified 100 times over. I have seen it with my own eyes and chances are good yours have seen it too.

 

As for the polling for this, it is officially unofficial by me. And more than anytime ever, I am certain I am right.

 

As for the Tweet, it simply read, “Pretty sure Connor is more popular in Bridgeport than Dante Bonamico, Twin Oaks pizza and Light Up Night ... combined.”

 

For those asking who Connor is, understand this is not a popularity contest among humans – although I am fairly certain Connor does in fact believe he belongs to our species (even though we do not deserve him). For those who know exactly who Connor is, you know right away Connor is the unquestionable winner of Bridgeport’s most popular.

 

Heck, go ahead and throw in Oliverio’s breadsticks, Almost Heaven Cheesecake, and Jason Young impersonating Lindy Bennett and Connor still crosses the popularity finish line ahead of the pack. And, yes, even if you combine them all.

 

As a quick reminder, or introduction, Connor is the Bridgeport School system’s therapy dog. The 7-year-old Golden Retriever has been a gift to the school system and the entire community since his human momma, who happens to be Bridgeport Police Prevention Resource Officer (PRO) Jamie Hamrick saw a commercial that put everything into motion.

 

“There was this commercial (a Pedigree dog food commercial) with a little girl in the hospital and the doctor tells her they’re going to do some different therapy with her, and they bring a dog into the room and the child just lights up,” said Hamrick. “The dog was so gentle, and it made me think of Connor.

 

“That was where the initial thought formed with Connor and therapy work,” she continued. “Golden Retrievers are very docile, and they want you to like them, and the thought just formed because of that. At that point, I had no idea where the thought would take me.”

 

It has taken Hamrick, Connor, and an entire community – and even beyond – on a fun-filled love fest that has no end in sight.

 

“I’m fairly certain there was another school in Harrison County that had, or has, a therapy dog so I made the pitch to do it,” said Hamrick.

 

The pitch included getting several levels of approval along with the required training. Hamrick said the Harrison County School system was on board, but needed the paperwork, which included the city’s involvement. The city’s involvement included picking up the insurance for liability, and then – of course – making sure the BHS administration was good with it.

 

Everything got a thumbs up. It is the best upward thumb in the history of upward thumbs.

 

“We started this two months before COVID; we kind of started wading into the pool. This year, when the students came back and a lot of them, particularly the younger ones needing an added level of comfort, you could see the importance,” said Hamrick. “Even with that, what has transpired is amazing.”

 

Connor’s presence sometimes is enough to turn anyone’s day around. Hamrick said she is astounded daily by how him walking into any room, even with those who see him daily, solicits smiles.

 

“It never dawned on me that this could be this good … the level of popularity, I could have never imagined,” said Hamrick. “The popularity and the fun we have with Connor is really the bonus. He does his job on the therapy front and even more.”

 

Hamrick has served in her role for years as the PRO. She deals with students, many of whom are dealing with issues they may not want to talk about. While she’s earned trust in the past, having Connor by her side has made that daunting task a little less challenging.

 

“I don’t want to say it is always a kid in crisis, but you deal a lot of times with kids having a bad day at home or at school,” said Hamrick. “You approach that child, because when you’re in this environment you can often see an issue in a child’s face, with Connor and they start petting him. A lot of times they just relax, open up, and we can get to a problem.

 

“It’s an icebreaker because you always don’t want to pry,” she continued. “Connor’s presence allows a student to tell me things that are problematic they may not have told me otherwise. The thing is the impact goes from the little ones all the way to the kids in high school.”

 

If there is not a problem, the students still want to see Connor. Hamrick said that is the case with kids from pre-K through high school.

 

“Quite frankly, I think the staff would tell you he’s good therapy for them. In the public, it is the youngest to the senior citizens that warm up to him,” she said. “The best part is Connor enjoys the attention. He kind of understands that people love him, and he eats it up.”

 

Connor’s popularity is no local secret. In fact, Hamrick said she said officers she knows from other departments and networking have contacted her.

 

“They want to know about the program and how it works and if I think it would be okay,” said Hamrick. “Every situation is different, but I think people would tell you it’s worked a little more than okay here.”

 

Now the question is how much longer? In January, it will be two years on the job for Connor.

 

“As long as he’s physically able and as long as his demeanor stays the same, Connor will be here. I don’t ever want to get into a situation worrying about how he acts with kids, but that is not a concern on the horizon,” said Hamrick.

 

At the same time, there is one concern. While there are no complaints and plenty of belly rubs, treats, and even a recent birthday party, Hamrick is concerned about Connor’s workload. To help, she has turned to Connor’s unofficial bride and mother of his children – Chloe.

 

“I’m working Chloe in to help to take the load off of him. She’s only two and if the time comes where Connor is unable to handle it, she will come in,” said Hamrick. “At the same time, if Connor stays healthy and calm, we may finish our careers together.”

 

If that happens for Hamrick, there could be worse things than leaving your profession walking side by side with the one thing that is the most popular thing in Bridgeport. And even better is part of her impressive legacy will be that she’s responsible for it happening.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Connor getting some love from Santa himself, while he is shown getting appreciation with Officer Jamie Hamrick in the second photo at Johnson Elementary (photo by Heather Holbert). In the third photo, Hamrick takes Connor and Chole in the BHS Homecoming Parade (photo by Michelle Duez). Bottom photo shows Connor enjoying his birthday with Simpson Elementary students. The first photo is courtesy of and taken by Hamrick. The last was courtesy of and taken by Chris Johnson.