News

NCHS Grad, Baseball Coach, Community Impact Officer: NCPD’s Ron Bentley Takes On ‘Downtown Beat’

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A 1994 New Canaan High School graduate and assistant coach of the varsity baseball team who has been serving as a police officer in town for more than a decade will start working the “downtown beat” next week under the re-launch of a widely praised and popular program, officials said Wednesday. Officer Ron Bentley will “connect with merchants, residents and visitors in the center of town” as well as “deter criminal activity, enforce traffic laws and make our village a safer place to both visit and do business in” as the New Canaan Police Department’s designated Community Impact Officer, Chief Leon Krolikowski said in a press release. “We are committed to better protecting and serving the New Canaan community in both an efficient and effective manner,” the chief said. “The CIO program is just one of the many ways in which we will fulfill our mission and commitment to our town.”

Bentley, who grew up on Millport Avenue, said during an interview with NewCanaanite.com that he is excited to connect with more people and merchants in the heart of the business district. The longtime New Canaanite—an East School alumnus whose little brother, Charlie, is a New Canaan firefighter—said he put in for the role of CIO because he feels a strong affinity for New Canaan and sees the downtown beat as a way to strengthen even more effectively and directly relations between the department and wider community.

Business

Police To Re-Designate ‘Community Impact Officer’ To Work Downtown New Canaan Exclusively

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Police on Wednesday announced that an officer once again will be detailed exclusively to downtown New Canaan, re-launching a popular program that came to a halt last year due to staffing shortfalls in the department. A yet-to-be-selected “Community Impact Officer” could be back in the business district in about two weeks, Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said. The program was a “home run” when it launched in September 2014, Krolikowski said during a special meeting of the Police Commission, held at department headquarters. “The businesses love it, it makes everyone feel secure and safe and it’s a great opportunity for one of our officers,” Krolikowski said. A role developed following a survey in 2013, the move won high praise from residents, downtown workers and business leaders.

News

New Canaan Police Designate ‘Community Impact Officer’ To Work Downtown Area Exclusively

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Responding to emerging needs for a steadier police presence downtown to work directly with New Canaan merchants, deter distracted driving, enforce parking rules and otherwise bolster the department’s visibility in the business district, a new “Community Impact Officer” start working a village center beat on Sept. 1. Police Chief Leon Krolikwoski said 13-year veteran NCPD Officer Roy Adams in the “CIO” role—developed following a survey of downtown merchants last year—will “make our village a safer place to both visit and do business in.”

“In the past year, on a few occasions, we have seen out-of-state career criminals come to our town and commit serious crimes,” Krolikowski said in an email. “Moreover, we have had serious pedestrian accidents and an increase in distracted driving within the business district. As a direct result of the vision, responsiveness and support of the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and Town Council, during the 2014-2015 budget presentations we were granted two officers over our normal complement. Recently, since we were able to quickly hire and train three certified officers, we will be close to optimal staffing in September 2014.”

As a direct result of that, the CIO position will go into effect in about 10 days.