There is good news for the City of Bridgeport and the Bridgeport Police Department. As of earlier this month, the city has moved a step closer to seeing its police department fully staffed.
Bridgeport Police Chief Mark Rogers, who is currently serving as the interim city manager, confirmed that it has added a 37th member. Doddridge County native Clayton Bee recently graduated from the West Virginia State Police Academy Class 195 and has begun field training this week.
“It’s a 16-week training program we put officers through when they arrive at our department after the academy. They come here and they are assigned with a seasoned officer to serve as a guide and a teacher to go over the curriculum of law enforcement activities,” said Rogers. “There is also a series of testing to make sure when the training is done, we put the best possible officer on the street.”
Bee, who started is training Monday, April 29, already has some knowledge of the profession beyond the academy. He is a graduate of Glenville State University with a degree in criminal justice with a field forensics focus. Bee also competed in track and cross country at GSU.
As for the reason why the 23-year-old wanted to go down this career path, it is a simple one.
“I’ve always been the type of person who wants to be able to help people and serve the public,” Bee, who is engaged, said. “This profession allows me to do that.”
Rogers said the arrival of Bee is hoped to be followed by another arrival this year. The chief said he hopes to do testing “mid-summer” to set the stage to fill the final opening.
“We’re confident that he’ll make a great addition to the City of Bridgeport Police Department,” said Rogers.
Patrol Officer Justin D. Manson has been assigned to work with Bee.
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