Animal 411

New Canaan Animal Control Officer Receives Bear Spray Training, Certification

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Saying the town has seen a rise in the number of black bear sightings in recent years, New Canaan’s Animal Control officer has been trained and certified to carry bear spray this spring, officials say. The New Canaan Police Department receives reports of “a number of bear sightings” each year, Chief Leon Krolikowski said. “Most often, New Canaan bears avoid interacting with our residents,” he told NewCanaanite.com. “However, given that [Animal Control] Officer [Allyson] Halm is often called to handle a variety of wild and domestic animals, some who are quite unhappy, we issued her bear spray, provided training and certified her. This spray is not just for bears as it can be used to harmlessly re-direct a variety of animals.

Bryan Connolly

NCPD Officer Rex Sprosta Named ‘2020 Lt. Stephen W. Wood Officer of the Year Award’ Winner

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A 16-year New Canaan Police veteran has earned one of the department’s highest honors, Chief Leon Krolikowski said Thursday. Officer Rex Sprosta, a U.S. Marines veteran hired by NCPD in October 2004 is winner of the 2020 Lt. Stephen W. Wood Officer of the Year Award. Created in 2014 and first earned by Wood’s own son-in-law, the award is designed to “honor and memorialize a beloved member of our department,” Krolikowski said in a a press release. A U.S. Marine veteran himself, Wood served the town from 1977 to 2009 and “was taken from us far too young,” Krolikowski said. “Nomination and selection for this award is the result of exceptional work, integrity, and overall service to our Town and Department,” the chief said in the press release.

News
NCPD

Police: SUV Unlocked with Keys Inside Stolen from New Canaan, Additional Vehicles Entered

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An SUV, unlocked and with its keys inside, was reported stolen  Sunday morning from an Orchard Drive home, according to police. The 2019 Toyota Highlander, which also had a purse, Social Security card, driver’s license and credit cards inside, was reported stolen at 8:11 a.m. and was recovered about two hours later in Bridgeport, New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said in a press release. “A bag of clothing that was inside of the vehicle of the Toyota Highlander at the time it was stolen was discovered near the mail box of a South Avenue homeowner reporting their vehicles were entered,” he said. “A piece of mail belonging to a Silvermine Road resident was also inside the bag.”

At about 9:05 a.m. Sunday, a Horton Lane resident reported two vehicles being entered overnight, the chief said in the press release. One vehicle appeared to have been rummaged through, though nothing was taken.

Allyson Halm

Town Talking To Local Vet About Paying Fee To Shelter Lost Domestic Pets

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Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said last week that he’s in talks with a local veterinarian about New Canaan paying a fee to use the facility as a place to house stray or roaming domestic animals until an owner is found or they’re adopted to a new family. The local vet “did propose a very reasonable per diem,” Krolikowski told members of the Police Commission during their Feb. 17 meeting, held via videoconference. “I don’t have a final number, so I can’t discuss that until I get something in writing, but that could be an option if the shelter isn’t working for us,” he said. Krolikowski added that there a local vet would need to meet specific state requirements to take on the responsibility of housing strays, and more research needs to be done on those requirements prior to any decision.

Government

Police Chief ‘Thrilled’ That Security Cameras Now Are Being Installed at Waveny’s Entrances

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The chief of the New Canaan Police Department said he’s “thrilled” that security cameras are being installed at Waveny’s two main entrances. 

Asked about the pole-mounted security cameras—there’s one already in place at the park’s Lapham Road entrance—Police Chief Leon Krolikowski noted that New Canaan has seen motor vehicle break-ins in recent weeks at both Waveny and Irwin Parks. “We have seen video cameras work well specifically at the YMCA, preventing people from breaking into vehicles,” Krolikowski told NewCanaanite.com. “And if they do commit a crime, it will help us catch and and arrest them and prevent future crimes from occurring. These groups will enter a vehicle if they believe that there are valuables inside. Very typically they strike public parks and public common areas in Fairfield County, recently in Monroe and in our town and other parts of Fairfield County.