News

NCPD Officer Christopher Dewey Earns Stephen W. Wood Officer of the Year Award

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Town officials last week honored an 11-year veteran of the New Canaan Police Department who has served in a number of roles and designed special training as its officer of the year. Officer Christopher Dewey during a ceremony at Town Hall on Thursday was awarded the 2023 Stephen W. Wood Officer of the Year. In addition to police and municipal officials, the ceremony was attended by Wood’s wife, Pat, and daughter, Kimberly Wood LaTourette. The award “holds a special significance” for NCPD, Chief John DiFederico said, as it honors the memory of the late lieutenant, “affectionately known as “Woody’ by many of us.”

“Lt. Wood dedicated 33 years of his life to serving the New Canaan Police Department and the community,” DiFederico said at the ceremony, held in Town Hall. “This year we’re going to recognize Officer Christopher Dewey.

News

‘It’s Been a Great Initiative’: Police Increase Security at New Canaan Schools

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New Canaan Police have assigned an additional officer to bolster security at schools in town, under a new initiative, and have dramatically increased the number of times that officers check on local school campuses. 

The number of school checks from officers increased from four in September 2021 to 132 in September 2022, Police Chief Leon Krolikowski told members of the Police Commission at their most recent meeting. Through the first nine months of the year, school checks were up to 217 compared to 57 at the same time in 2021, Krolikowski said at the Oct. 19 meeting, held at police headquarters and via videoconference. In addition to full-time NCPD school resource officers at both Saxe Middle School and New Canaan High School, Officer Shane Gibson has been designed “school security officer” in a new position that brings him primarily to all public schools in New Canaan but also to private schools, the chief said. “They all work together as a team along with the campus monitors and school administration to keep our schools as safe as can be, and we’re in the process of getting some equipment that we can give to them that will help them in the event of a crisis respond better to an incident,” he told the Commission during its regular meeting.

Ching's Table
NCPD

Letters of Appreciation for the New Canaan Police Department

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New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski presented the following letters of appreciation to the Police Commission at its March 16 meeting. ***

March 1 letter from Rob Mallozzi III to the Police Commission:

“A brief note of thanks to Dep. Chief [John] DiFederico and Lt. [Marc] DeFelice. Both of these gentlemen provided extraordinary leadership and service surrounding the wake and funeral of Steve Benko and were a pleasure to work with. My compliments also go out to the men and women of the Department for all of their efforts last week as well.”

***

March 2 letter from Lt. Marc DeFelice, addressed to Ching’s Table on Main Street:

“I would like to thank you for assisting Officer [Annamaria] Ceci and the New Canaan Police Department in renting one of our residents with her family on February 23, 2022.

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.

Annamaria Ceci

‘No Greater Reward’: Letters of Appreciation for New Canaan Police

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Police Chief Leon Krolikowski shared the following letters of appreciation for New Canaan Police Department officers and staff at the Jan. 15 Police Commission meeting. ***

Leon Krolikowski and the New Canaan Police Department

“Just a quick note to let you know that your work and that the officers in the department are most appreciated and do not go unnoticed. I was thinking especially of the first responders from Tuesday’s terrible situation on North Wilton Road. My grandfather was a police officer in Rye, as I think I’ve told you in the past.