News

‘Superior Interpersonal Skills’: Letters of Appreciation for NCPD Officers

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The following letters of commendation—submitted by Deputy Chief Andrew Walsh for New Canaan Police Officers Jeff Deak, Thomas Patten and Sebastian Obando—were shared at the last two Police Commission meetings by Chief John DiFederico. ***

Officer Jeff Deak

I would like to commend Officer Jeffrey Deak for his decade-long period of service as a School Resource Officer for the New Canaan Police Department. 

In 2015, as a twenty-year veteran of the police department, Officer Deak volunteered to take the role of the School Resource Officer at Saxe Middle School. In 2022, Officer Deak took on the role as the School Resource Officer at New Canaan High School. 

Officer Deak’s professional resume and track record spoke for itself when it came time to choose a new SRO in 2015. As a former Special Response Team Assistant Commander and Certified Instructor in Defensive Tactics, Physical Fitness, Handcuffing, Firearms, and Baton, it was clear that Officer Deak was well qualified to keep the students and faculty at New Canaan Public Schools in a safe environment. However, what made Officer Deak even more qualified for the position of School Resource Officer was his ability to lead students and work collaboratively with faculty and parents through his superior interpersonal skills. 

Officer Deak used his innate people skills and professional expertise to create a working relationship with the New Canaan School Community and the New Canaan Police Department Youth Office that allowed for the free flow of communication and teamwork.

Opinion

Podcast: NCHS Grad Ted Grogan and NCPD Officer Jeff Deak

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This week on 0684-Radi0, our free podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to Ted Grogan—a 1988 New Canaan High School graduate who works as executive director of The Serenity Project, a nonprofit organization that uses equine therapy to help people who have suffered from all forms of trauma—and New Canaan Police Officer Jeff Deak, the school resource officer at NCHS. The Serenity Project’s annual fundraiser, “Gallop for Good: A Night at the Farm,” will be held Saturday, June 14. Details and tickets here. Here’s a link to the New Canaan Department of Human Services’ “Behavioral Health Resources” page. Here are recent episodes of 0684-Radi0:

Around Town

Podcast: The Substances Available to Local Kids

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This week on 0684-Radi0, our free podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to New Canaan CARES Executive Director Judy Phillips and New Canaan Police School Resource Officer Jeff Deak about substances now accessible to local kids and their effect on youth. Please note that Deak and Yale School of Medicine Research Assistant Tricia Dahl are speaking during a program to be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19 in the Saxe Middle School auditorium. “Kids Menu: The Substances Available To Our Kids These Days And The Effects On Their Lives” is designed for middle and high school families. Students are invited and encouraged to attend (register here).

News

‘We Were Able To Sleep a Lot Better’: Letters of Appreciation for NCPD

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Police Chief Leon Krolikowski submitted the following letters of appreciation for New Canaan Police at the Dec. 19 Police Commission meeting. ***

Officer Jeff Deak

“Hey Jeff, Just wanted to formally thank you for your support this season at the NCHS Football games. We are fortunate to have a great deal of community interest in our football team and with that interest comes a thousand fans and 400-500 students for each game. Your leadership of the officers covering our games helped create a much safer and more orderly environment than we have had in past years.

Allyson Halm

‘Extraordinary Efforts’: Letters of Appreciation for New Canaan Police

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The following letters of appreciation for New Canaan Police officers were shared by Chief Leon Krolikowski at the Police Commission’s March and April meetings. ***

Officers George Caponera and Sebastian Obando

Dear Chief and John,

The Monday crew wanted to express our thanks to Officer [George] Caponera and Officer [Sebastian] Obando for their invaluable help yesterday. We had a critical patient who needed immediate care and transport to the rig and the officers initiated and assisted patient care. The officers also helped move several vehicles to allow the rig a quick egress. We were fortunate to work alongside this team yesterday and want them to know their actions were greatly valued. 

—Kaitlyn Lowe, NC EMS (March 30)

***

Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm

Good afternoon Chief—

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that once again [Animal Control Officer] Allyson [Halm] has done a great job on the Palmer case.