New Canaan Police Commission reviews budget, staffing and school-zone request; approves uniform invoices

The New Canaan Police Commission met Dec. 18 for a brief session dominated by the police chief—s monthly reports and routine approvals.

The police chief (name not provided) told commissioners the department is operating at roughly 32.7% of its budget year-to-date and that budget planning is on track as the town moves toward presentations to the first selectman and town finance committee in early 2024. The chief said he will share finalized budget numbers with the commission before formal public presentations.

In staffing updates the chief said minimum shift coverage was at 57% for the month — the best figure in several years — and that several officers are in field training. The chief listed school-resource-officer assignments for January: Deac at the high school, Blanc at Saks, Gibson at West School, Bartoli at South School and Bentley at East School.

The chief reviewed monthly crime statistics and cautioned against overinterpreting short-term changes: family-dispute incidents fell from 74 last year to 45 year-to-date, and reported identity-theft cases declined from 58 to 18. Conversely, location checks and motor-vehicle stops increased and stolen-vehicle incidents rose from 18 last year to 37 this year. The chief noted it was unclear whether some decreases reflected underreporting or a real drop in incidents.

Commissioners reviewed extra-duty billing and false-alarm follow-up, and examined uniform and clothing invoices. The chief said the charges were legitimate. The commission voted to approve the December uniform and clothing invoice packet after a motion and second.

On traffic safety, the chief described a resident request to designate a portion of Putnam Road as a school zone. He said the local traffic authority can designate school zones near school property or where an area is sufficiently close to school property to pose a safety risk; designation would double speeding fines in the posted zone and requires signage. The chief said the most likely stretch would be the area adjacent to the YMCA that connects to Saks, where many children walk, and said staff will prepare a recommendation next month.

The chief reported the department—s building renovation is on time and on budget, with construction completion anticipated in March–April and a move-in and systems commissioning to follow. He said contingency funds total roughly $1,200,000 and that about $15,000,000 has been spent to date (approximately 73% complete on a cash basis). The chief also reported he had sent a letter supporting a regional training facility effort; the region is pursuing state support that could contribute in the ballpark of $7,000,000 toward the project. Final state decisions are pending.

The chief read a letter of appreciation for Sergeant Capenera, Officer Chenella and Officer Soma, who responded to a medical emergency, "began CPR within minutes," and comforted the family; the correspondent later called to reiterate gratitude despite the patient—s death.

During public comment resident Bart Codd of Conrad Road asked whether temporary stop signs at Conrad and Wiffletree are intended to be permanent. The chief deferred the question to public works, saying hardscaping and permanent signage are public-works projects and advising Codd to contact that department. No commission action was taken on the stop signs.

There were no items for executive session. A motion to adjourn carried and the meeting ended around 6:15 p.m.