Responding to emerging needs for a steadier police presence downtown to work directly with New Canaan merchants, deter distracted driving, enforce parking rules and otherwise bolster the department’s visibility in the business district, a new “Community Impact Officer” start working a village center beat on Sept. 1.
New Canaan Police Department Community Impact Officer Roy Adams. Photo courtesy of the New Canaan Police Department
Police Chief Leon Krolikwoski said 13-year veteran NCPD Officer Roy Adams in the “CIO” role—developed following a survey of downtown merchants last year—will “make our village a safer place to both visit and do business in.”
“In the past year, on a few occasions, we have seen out-of-state career criminals come to our town and commit serious crimes,” Krolikowski said in an email.
“Moreover, we have had serious pedestrian accidents and an increase in distracted driving within the business district. As a direct result of the vision, responsiveness and support of the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and Town Council, during the 2014-2015 budget presentations we were granted two officers over our normal complement. Recently, since we were able to quickly hire and train three certified officers, we will be close to optimal staffing in September 2014.”
Elm Street, New Canaan. Credit: Terry Dinan
As a direct result of that, the CIO position will go into effect in about 10 days.
Adams himself has wide experience across a variety of roles, Krolikowski said, including patrol officer, dispatcher, WMD specialist, intern coordinator, security surveyor and member of a regional emergency communications team as well as TRIAD.
He’s a veteran who served for 9.5 years as a combat engineer in the Connecticut Army National Guard who holds a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from Southern Connecticut State University and Adams also has earned several letters of appreciation and commendations for the exceptional performance of his duties, Krolikowski said.
Those skills will come in handy as Adams serves as the department’s main point of contact, working directly with downtown visitors and merchants. Here’s a quick list of some (not all) of the CIO’s duties:
- Conduct business security surveys.
- Conduct daily foot patrols of the downtown area.
- Conduct investigations.
- Develop relationships with the merchants.
- Educate merchants on crime prevention.
- Emergency response.
- Enforce motor vehicle and parking violations.
- Maintain a high profile presence to deter criminal activity.
- Maintain a master business contact file.
- Represent the department in a positive manner to the community at large.
“We are committed to better protecting and serving the New Canaan community in both an efficient and effective manner,” Krolikowski said. “The CIO program is just one of the many ways in which we will better fulfill our mission and commitment to the town.”