'Gangland-Style Slaying' Remains Mystery
Bridgeport, Connecticut (United States):
When Arnold Plotkin retired from the Bridgeport Police Department in the mid-1980s, he wasn't looking ahead to a life of leisure.
Awaiting trial on a sexual assault charge, he was shot to death outside a North Washington Avenue nightspot in the middle of the afternoon on Sept. 22, 1987. The crime remains unsolved.
"We have no new information in the case," said Detective Heitor Teixeira of the department's cold case unit.
Still unclaimed is a state reward of $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of Plotkin's killer.
Plotkin, who retired from the police force after 10 years on a disability pension because of emotional problems, appeared to have a knack for making enemies — including members of organized crime. At the time, police described the crime as a "gangland-style slaying."
What police have managed to cull from the few witnesses who came forward is that Plotkin, 48, was parked in his car, a 1978 Ford Thunderbird, in front of the former Sergei's Restaurant when two men pulled alongside in a dark-colored car. The front passenger of the car pulled out a gun and fired four shots at Plotkin and the car then sped off.
Plotkin, hit once in the upper abdomen, managed to get out of his car and stumble into the restaurant, where a patron drove him to St. Vincent's Medical Center. He died at the hospital six hours later.
The only evidence at the shooting scene that investigators could link to the assailants were food wrappers from a local fast-food restaurant and cigarette butts.
Records in U.S. District Court show that at the time of his death, Plotkin, who lived in Trumbull, was working as an enforcer for the Vito Genovese crime family.
While Plotkin could have been the victim of a hit from a rival crime family, federal authorities believe it is more likely he was killed for sexually assaulting a female relative of one of his bosses in Trumbull.
Oct 03, 2005
Daniel Tepfer, Connecticut Post
Bridgeport, Connecticut (United States):
When Arnold Plotkin retired from the Bridgeport Police Department in the mid-1980s, he wasn't looking ahead to a life of leisure.
Awaiting trial on a sexual assault charge, he was shot to death outside a North Washington Avenue nightspot in the middle of the afternoon on Sept. 22, 1987. The crime remains unsolved.
"We have no new information in the case," said Detective Heitor Teixeira of the department's cold case unit.
Still unclaimed is a state reward of $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of Plotkin's killer.
Plotkin, who retired from the police force after 10 years on a disability pension because of emotional problems, appeared to have a knack for making enemies — including members of organized crime. At the time, police described the crime as a "gangland-style slaying."
What police have managed to cull from the few witnesses who came forward is that Plotkin, 48, was parked in his car, a 1978 Ford Thunderbird, in front of the former Sergei's Restaurant when two men pulled alongside in a dark-colored car. The front passenger of the car pulled out a gun and fired four shots at Plotkin and the car then sped off.
Plotkin, hit once in the upper abdomen, managed to get out of his car and stumble into the restaurant, where a patron drove him to St. Vincent's Medical Center. He died at the hospital six hours later.
The only evidence at the shooting scene that investigators could link to the assailants were food wrappers from a local fast-food restaurant and cigarette butts.
Records in U.S. District Court show that at the time of his death, Plotkin, who lived in Trumbull, was working as an enforcer for the Vito Genovese crime family.
While Plotkin could have been the victim of a hit from a rival crime family, federal authorities believe it is more likely he was killed for sexually assaulting a female relative of one of his bosses in Trumbull.
Oct 03, 2005
Daniel Tepfer, Connecticut Post
