Around Town

‘I Feel Extremely Lucky To Work Here’: NCPD Hosts ‘Coffee with a Cop’

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New Canaan Police officers greeted patrons of UCBC Bagels downtown Saturday during the department’s periodic “Coffee with a Cop” event. NCPD Community Impact Officer Nicole Vartuli said she’s seeking to make the meet-and-greet with the community a monthly happening at different coffee shops in New Canaan. “We’re just trying to bridge that gap between the Police Department and the community and I think it’s a great concept,” Vartuli said during the two-hour gathering at the South Avenue bagel shop. UCBC patrons received stickers, pens and special “badges” from Vartuli, Officer Erica Morey and Sgt. Thomas Callinan.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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A large-breed Japanese dog stopped traffic last Wednesday afternoon on Carter Street after getting off his property and making his way to East School. It happened around midday on Jan. 4, when the Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department was called to Little Brook Road on a report of a roaming brown dog. The Akita made his way up Clapboard Ridge Road toward Carter, and was spotted trotting down the middle of the street, police said. He wanted nothing to do with an Animal Control officer wielding a snare, so he trotted happily back to his home.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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New Canaan Police Department 22 Push-Up Challenge for Vets
Uploaded by Michael Dinan on 2016-09-07. New Canaan Police on Wednesday joined a global initiative designed to support veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Launched three years ago by Honor Courage Commitment Inc., the #22KILL effort is being recognized by NCPD with members opting in to do 22 pushups daily for 22 days. Based on the statistic that 22 U.S. veterans commit suicide each day on average due to PTSD, it’s a way to “show veterans that they are appreciated and not alone in their darkest hour,” said Police Chief Leon Krolikowski, himself a veteran. The public, veterans and emergency responders are invited to join the police at 2:45 p.m. on each of the next 21 remaining days for the initiative.

News

New Canaan Police Honor 15 Officers, One Civilian; First-Ever Lt. Stephen W. Wood Memorial Officer of the Year Award Given

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Though he passed away nearly four years ago, Lt. Stephen W. Wood, in ways that are profound to those who worked with him, has remained with the New Canaan Police Department. Addressing a room full of New Canaan police, their families and town officials that gathered at Lapham Community Center on Thursday morning—including Pat Wood, widow of the 33-year NCPD veteran—Capt. Vincent DeMaio said “his presence is felt pretty much every day.”

“I think of him often, and I think his memory is firmly in place with every officer worked with him,” DeMaio said during a ceremony that saw 15 police officers receive awards—including a new, special award dedicated to Wood’s memory. The Lt. Stephen W. Wood Memorial Officer of the Year Award in its inaugural dedication went to the highly respected figure’s own son-in-law, NCPD Officer Aaron LaTourette. Asked at the event what she thought and felt about the award, Pat Wood said: “It’s an honor. He would be honored.”

His daughter Kim, who was on hand with her sister Kelly, as well, said: “He was a say-it-like-it-is, do-it-like-it-is kind of guy.