News

Police Chief: Thanking Those Who ‘Protect and Serve’

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Dear Editor:

Written on each New Canaan Police vehicle is the motto “protect and serve.” These simple words are what the men and women of our Department do exceptionally well. Our officers and civilian staff fulfill this mission every day. In the coming months, we will begin budget talks which often focus on numbers, costs, savings, return on investment and other statistical data. Unfortunately, these talks do not focus enough on the tremendous value our officers provide to our town in ways which are often not publicized. 

Despite budget constraints, staffing difficulties and increased workloads our officers continue to perform well in their roles as crime fighters, caregivers, community partners and protectors.

News

Police Chief: ‘Back To School’ Traffic Safety

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With the start of school, we should all expect an increase in vehicle and pedestrian traffic. As both school buses and parents drop children off and pick them up at school, it is never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention whenever children are present—especially before and after school. Please follow these tips to ensure back to school traffic safety. 1. Don’t be a distracted driver

Put your cell phone down and never text while driving.

News

Police Chief: Keeping College Students Safe

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Very soon, if not already, hundreds of New Canaan students will move to a nearby city or across the country to pursue their studies. Becoming independent almost overnight comes with specific risks and responsibilities. Street crime is on the increase in most large United States cities. It is also growing on campuses and in small communities. No college is immune to crime.

News

Police Chief: Our Community’s Role in Reducing Suicides

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Tragically, every year our town endures several suicides and many attempted suicides. With the recent suicides of Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain and other well-known celebrities a transparent discussion about suicide is timely. 

Suicide is preventable and is a serious public health concern. Each suicide impacts individuals, families, and communities. The financial costs of suicide are approximately $69 billion per year. These numbers undervalue the severity of this crisis. 

In 2015, more than 500,000 people were treated in United States emergency departments for self-inflicted injuries.

Around Town

Police Chief: Honor New Canaan’s Fallen Veterans by Wearing a Poppy This Memorial Day

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This coming weekend, you will find many New Canaan War Veterans distributing poppies to honor the ultimate sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. Members of our local Veterans of Foreign War Post 653 will provide poppies at several locations. Many Americans overlook the history and significance of the poppy. Poppies have a long history of honoring the dead in both Greek and Roman mythology. However, the significance of the poppy in honoring our nation’s war dead is traced to World War I. Once the war ended, Marines and soldiers brought home the memory of a war-ravaged landscape transformed by wild red poppies, which were as red as the blood shed by the hundreds of thousands of American casualties.