Government

NCPD Purchases Six Ballistic Vests for $10,000

By |

The Board of Selectmen during its most recent meeting approved a $10,000 purchase from a Fort Collins, Col.-based company for new ballistic vests for New Canaan Police officers. The protective vests are replaced every five years, according to Capt. Joe Farenga. Referring to the vendor, Angel Armor, Farenga told the selectmen that five years is “the longest they’re willing to put their name on something being effective.”

“Over the years, we definitely at the range with our Special Response Team, have taken really old vests, and tried them and they still offer ballistic protection on a tree,” Farenga said at the March 4 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “But because they say that, they will absolutely step back if there’s a problem and it’s past that five years and an officer’s injured because they’re still wearing a vest beyond the recommended time. So we just replace them every five years per their recommendation.”

First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the purchase.

NCPD: Coughlin Receives ‘Stephen W. Wood Officer of the Year’ Award; Gannon, Callinan Promoted

By |

New Canaan Police Department’s Sgt. Louis Gannon was promoted to lieutenant while Thomas Callinan was promoted to sergeant during a ceremony held Thursday at New Canaan High School’s Wagner Room. The announcement was made in December and the promotions took place Jan. 2, but the traditional ceremony was postponed to February 10. Gannon has been with the department for 30 years, serving as patrol sergeant, youth officer, training officer, investigator and, most recently, acting lieutenant.

Opinion

Praise for Officer Who Fielded Suicide Threat-Related Call: NCPD Letters of Appreciation

By |

The following letters of appreciation for New Canaan Police Department officers were made public during the Feb. 27 meeting of the Police Commission, by Chief Leon Krolikowski. ***

Officer Roberto Lopez

“I am writing this memo on behalf of exemplary service that was put forth by Officer Lopez regarding a recent suicidal party investigation. On 1/27/19 Officer Lopez was assigned to Dispatch, and was in the process of training Officer [Kelly] Coughlin for the role of dispatcher. At approximately 1615 hours he received a call from a female party that had made suicidal statements to a former dating partner.

News

Positive Feedback for Re-Launched New Canaan Police Motorcycle Program

By |

Patrol officer productivity on the New Canaan Police Department’s motorcycle in some ways has been greater than in regular cruisers in the past year, officials say. Sgt. Scott Romano told members of the Police Commission at a recent meeting that on the motorcycle he has “the ability to be a little less conspicuous when doing enforcement, and it is easier for me to sit in certain areas.”

“One of the ones before tonight was Silvermine and Valley Road,” Romano told members of the commission at their July 25 meeting, held at the department’s South Avenue headquarters. “I can tuck in and sit in driveways where definitely a patrol car can’t, and so I have the ability to view the trouble areas and take enforcement action as needed. So it certainly works better for those things than a patrol vehicle.”

The feedback from Romano—a 20-year NCPD veteran who was promoted Aug.

News

Police Safely Locate, Return 79-Year-Old Missing Man Home To Thurton Drive

By |

Police say they tracked and located a 79-year-old man Thurton Road reported missing Saturday night using special equipment supplied by a Port St. Lucie, Fla.-based nonprofit organization. At about 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 5, New Canaan police received a report that the man, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, had been missing for 15 minutes, according to a press release issued by Lt. Carol Ogrinc.

“The man is a Project Lifesaver client and was wearing a transmitter,” Ogrinc said. “Officers trained to use Project Lifesaver tracking equipment responded and the search started from the missing man’s residence.”

The search was led by Officer Dan Gulino and Sgt.