New Bridgeport Police Chief Vows To Cut Down On Crime

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- A new police chief has taken over the helm in Bridgeport.

Armando Perez, a 32-year veteran and commander of detectives spoke to WCBS 880's FranSchneidau during his first full day on the job on Friday. Perez was named chief of the Bridgeport Police Department earlier this week.

Last year, 108 shootings and 17 homicides took place in the city of Bridgeport -- Perez said numbers like that won't be seen in the city again and that restructuring the entire department will be key.

"The hardest thing in the world is to tell somebody's mom that, hey, your son is not coming home anymore or your son has been shot and he's in the hospital, he's critical," Perez said.

According to Perez, police manpower is down by about 100 officers, though 29 new recruits will be ready to serve by early summer.