Family of Black woman found dead questions police response

The family of a Black woman who was found dead last month in her Bridgeport apartment has accused city police of showing a lack of responsiveness and racial insensitivity in their handling of the investigation.

Lauren Smith-Fields, 23, died after a man she had met recently online called police on Dec. 12 to say he awoke to find Smith-Fields unresponsive. Smith-Field’s family said police never notified them of her death, which they learned about more than a day later through a note left on her apartment door by her landlord.

The family said police told them the man who called authorities was not a suspect in her death, but have not told them why. The detective eventually asked them to stop calling, they said. The family's attorney, Darnell Crosland, has notified the city of his intent to file a lawsuit accusing police of failing to properly investigate.

“The police department has been racially insensitive to this family and has treated this family with no respect and has violated their civil rights,” Crosland wrote.

The city said in a statement that they are awaiting the result of toxicology tests to determine the cause of Smith-Fields death and that the investigation is continuing.

Mayor Joe Ganim said Monday that sensitivity and respect toward family members are important and the handling of the case has been referred to the Office of Internal Affairs for an investigation. He said he would work with the police chief to make changes to department practices for notifying family members of a death.

“I support and add my voice to the family, community, and elected officials who are calling for state legislation on this issue,” he said.

About 100 people held a rally in Bridgeport on Sunday, on what would have been Smith-Field's 24th birthday, asking the state take over...