New Canaan Police Detail First-Ever ‘Narcotics and Underage Alcohol Investigator’

New Canaan Police for the first time ever are designating an investigator in the department who will focus primarily on narcotics and underage alcohol, officials say.

New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski

According to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski, the officer assigned to this role will track arrests and follow up to build cases people providing alcohol to underage residents and selling drugs in New Canaam.

The program “is going to be a huge new initiative for us,” Krolikowski said at the Nov. 18 meeting of the Police Commission.

“It is worth looking at narcotics and underage alcohol consumption as being more or less available in school, to some degree, and allowed at youth parties, so those are going to be two primary focus areas,” Krolikowski said at the meeting, held in the Training Room at the New Canaan Police Department.

“It’s the first time we have ever had anybody that is dedicated” to those tasks, the chief added.

The news comes as the chief pursues a “diversionary program” for New Canaan youth, under which those who would face criminal charges for alcohol consumption at an underage drinking party could qualify for attending a one-shot educational program in lieu of getting arrested.

The programs will work together as new initiatives the chief has planned to help reduce underage drinking and rid New Canaan schools of narcotics, a priority for a newly formed coalition that’s focused on substance abuse in town.

Krolikowski said the department conducted interviews for the assignment of Narcotics and Underage Alcohol Investigator, and chose Sgt. Joseph Farenga.

“He is very adept at it,” the chief said. “He has done lots of narcotics investigations.”