In July 2006, just three months after he was named Bridgeport, Conn.'s new police chief, Bryan T. Norwood put to the test his belief in the power of community policing.

As the city's Puerto Rican Day Parade wound down, a stabbing left a 17-year-old bleeding from his stomach.

Norwood was nearby and helped run down the assailants with patrol officers.

Norwood mentioned the incident to his parents only after another officer spilled the beans months later.

"He's never wanted to worry his mother about what happens on the job," said Norwood's father, Alexander, a retired assistant school superintendent in Bridgeport.

He retired to Hampton with his wife, Shirley, 10 years ago, near the couple's only daughter and much closer now to their only son.

The incident helped bring home to his family a police career that Norwood's father said got its formative beginnings when his son was only eight.

A Bridgeport police officer who "was like the Pied Piper of the neighborhood for the kids" befriended Bryan, even letting him ride in his police cruiser.

The 42-year-old career law-enforcement officer and 1988 Hampton University graduate is leaving a $43 million police department in Connecticut for one with almost twice that budget.

In Connecticut he was pushed on one side by political leaders to cut police ranks and overtime for supervisors. On the other side, the department's powerful police union has vehemently challenged every cutback.

"He was targeting some of our longest-serving people," said union President Frank Cuccaro, especially those who helped picket a golfing event attended by city leaders and police.

"Frankly, his leaving will be a boost to morale," Cuccaro said yesterday.

Of the city's 432 officers, Norwood was the only nonunion member.

"He was caught in the middle of all of it," said Norwood's father, who conferred with his son daily in recent weeks about the possible move to Richmond.

Jeff Neal, one of the committee members in Richmond who helped pare the candidates from 15 to 3, said Norwood will win over Richmond "because of his deep commitment to people and his genuine concern for the public's safety."

Neal predicted that Norwood will resemble departed Chief Rodney Monroe in that regard. The committee left the final choice of chief to Mayor L. Douglas Wilder.

Leaders in Bridgeport bemoaned Norwood's loss.

Paul S. Timpanelli, president and chief executive officer of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, said the business community didn't have enough time to work closely with Norwood but was impressed with him nonetheless.

"Good quality people are given good quality opportunities," he said of Norwood's quick departure.

Timpanelli said the recent police-budget controversies and a union vote in August of no confidence in Norwood were byproducts of tough economic times and tough decisions.

"He's an admirable performer, and he's a quality guy," he said.

Bridgeport City Councilman Warren Blunt said Norwood upset some officers by pushing to reward them based on qualifications rather than seniority.

"He's young. He's energetic. He connects with the community. He's got good people skills."

Blunt said Norwood was responsive to a recent spike in nighttime drug activity in Blunt's district. After a community meeting, Norwood laid out a plan to deploy extra officers to the area.

"They did what they had to do," Blunt said. "He's a man of action. . . . He's not one who sits behind a desk. He's a person who leads by example."

Divorced after a brief marriage, Norwood begins his Richmond tenure Nov. 3, the day before Election Day and as Richmond and other localities throughout Virginia continue grappling with the realities of severe revenue shortfalls.

Norwood may be one of the few city officials enjoying the prospect of newfound wealth.

He moves from an annual salary of $102,800 to $140,000.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.

Contact Bill McKelway at (804) 649-6601 or bmckelway@timesdispatch.com.