Police Investigate Vandalism at Bristow Park

Police are investigating vandalism in a public park on the edge of downtown New Canaan. Several surfaces inside Bristow Park—a bird sanctuary that this year marks its centennial—were sprayed with paint, according to Lt. Marc DeFelice, public information officer at the New Canaan Police Department. The vandalism is located in two separate areas of Bristow, he said. Police had no suspects as of Tuesday evening. Officer Nicole Vartuli is investigating the matter, DeFelice said.

NCPD To Add Three New Officers

The New Canaan Police Department is adding three new officers to its ranks. Brian Buckley, 39, Austin Malizia, 33 and Carlos Prado, 25, will start recruit training April 5 at the Connecticut Police Academy’s 382nd training session in Meriden. The tentative graduation date for that class is during the first week of October, police said in a press release. Buckley, a married Bethel resident, graduated from New Milford High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Le Moyne College, where he majored in history. 

Malizia, who is engaged, lives in Norwalk with his fiancée and their two children. He’s a New Canaan High School graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Southern Connecticut State University.

New Canaan Fire Marshal: Where’s the Fire?

We have all been there – driving to an unfamiliar area and trying to find an unfamiliar address. If house/street numbers are clearly displayed you can find your destination fairly easily. If there is no street number clearly visible, how do you know if you are at the right place? This sounds like a simple question but, in an emergency, it can be the difference between life and death. House numbers are not only convenient but critical for emergency responders to locate those in need.

Firefighters Respond to Zumbach’s on Sunday After Problem with Roaster; Shop Will Reopen at 7 a.m. Monday

Zumbach’s closed for the day on Sunday following what the popular coffee shop’s owner called a “small operational fire issue” with a roaster. The shop at the corner of Pine and Grove Streets was “never in danger,” according to owner Doug Zumbach, and will reopen at 7 a.m. Monday. Firefighters responded to Zumbach’s at 77 Pine St. just after 11 a.m., according to a dispatch notice. The issue with the roaster was “fairly common in the industry,” Zumbach said when asked about the issue.

Police K9 Dog ‘Apollo’ To Retire After 10 Years of Service

The New Canaan Police Department’s K9 dog, a German Shepherd from Washington state who came here in 2015 to help apprehend suspects, find missing people and sniff out drugs, is set to retire, officials say. Apollo “was deployed numerous times” during his last full year of service, NCPD said in a press release, including one memorable instance where he helped officers find “an individual suffering from a mental episode.”

“This individual had jumped from the second floor of their residence and with the assistance of K9 Apollo and other emergency services the individual was located near a stream,” the press release said. “Recently, K9 Apollo was deployed to a neighboring town, where there was a possible suspect hiding inside someone’s residence while they were away. K9 Apollo successfully located the suspect hidden in the attic of the residence and was taken into custody on scene.”

Fed by local retailer Pet Pantry Warehouse and handled since last year by Officer Sebastian Obando, Apollo joined the department as an 18-month-old. He participated in community events and demonstrations until 2017, when his former handler went on extended medical leave and the animal entered specialized boarding.