Newest New Canaan Police Officer Sworn In; Tam Receives ‘Officer of the Year Award’; 8 Officers, 3 Civilians Honored

The New Canaan Police Department on Tuesday recognized eight officers and three civilians for outstanding service to the community during a ceremony that also saw the agency’s newest member sworn in by the town clerk. In addressing Nicole Vartuli, a Stamford native and Westhill High School graduate who is poised for training at the Connecticut Police Academy this year with an expectation that she will undergo field training with NCPD through the early part of 2018, Chief Leon Krolikowski said that “badge you were just issued represents public trust.”

“The public willingly puts this work in your hands and trusts that you will take care of them in the proper manner,” Krolikowski said moments after Vartuli had been sworn in by Town Clerk Claudia Weber. “They do not want this responsibility for themselves. My charge to you today is to do just that: Get it right. We have all heard about the stories of officers who have gotten it wrong.

Meet The Town’s Newest Police Officers: Kelly Coughlin and Will Sheehan

New Canaan Police Officers Kelly Coughlin and Will Sheehan on Wednesday graduated from the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden and on Friday kickstarted a three-month field training program. We caught up with the town’s newest police officers hours into their first day on the job to get their thoughts on New Canaan, policing and other matters of interest for local readers. Here’s our conversation. New Canaanite: Tell me a little bit about how you found New Canaan and came to be police officers in New Canaan. Officer Will Sheehan: It’s actually a funny story.

PHOTOS: New Canaan Police Welcome Two New Officers

 

On Wednesday morning, at Lapham Community Center, Kelly Coughlin and William Sheehan were officially welcomed as new officers in the New Canaan Police Department, following a swearing-in by the Town Clerk. They were two of 140 applicants to be selected by NCPD. They were given badges numbered 168 and 169, respectively, by Police Chief Krolikowski. Coughlin is the first woman officer the department has hired in about eight to 10 years, officials have said. After this week, they will both go to the CT Police Academy for about six months of training.