Two New Canaan Police Officers Promoted 

Town officials last week promoted two longtime members of the New Canaan Police Department. 

The Police Commission during a special meeting April 21 promoted Sgt. Joseph Farenga to lieutenant, and on April 23 promoted Officer Michael O’Sullivan to sergeant, according to Chief Leon Krolikowski. “We are thrilled to have Lt. Farenga and Sgt. O’Sullivan join our leadership team,” Krolikowski told NewCanaanite.com. “Both of these veteran department members will help us lead our department into the future as we all continue to selflessly protect and serve our community.”

Farenga is a 20-year veteran of the department whose past roles include youth sergeant, supervisor of the Motor Enforcement Program, human trafficking instructor and A.L.I.C.E. instructor.

‘Thanks for Handling This So Well’: Letters of Appreciation for New Canaan Police 

The following letters of appreciation for New Canaan Police Department officers were made public during the Jan. 16 meeting of the Police Commission, by Chief Leon Krolikowski. ***

Officer Roberto Lopez

“Wanted to make you aware of the one of the New Canaan Police Department’s ‘awesome’ officers! “Officer Lopez was incredible this evening. “We hadn’t an older woman who shoplifted at Mobil and she is always in our store daily.

New Canaan Police Honor 11 at Awards Ceremony

The New Canaan Police Department on Tuesday honored six officers, four sergeants and one lieutenant in an awards ceremony in New Canaan High School’s Wagner Room. NCPD honored 11 members of the police force at an awards ceremony Tuesday night. Pictured is Capt. Andrew Walsh with Sgt. Brian Mitchell, who received the Meritorious Police Duty Award.Police Chief Leon Krolikowski presented the Lt. Stephen W Wood Officer of the Year Award to Officer Thomas Callinan. Krolikowski cited Callinan’s “self-initiative, service to the New Canaan Community, integrity and selfless service to our Department and Town” in presenting the award.

New Canaan Police Honor Life-Saving Officers, Vigilant Local Man

The New Canaan Police Department is in the process of simplifying its mission statement to a single sentence: “To protect and serve our community with courage, professionalism and integrity.”

Courage, professionalism and integrity—in the predawn hours of Saturday, Oct. 18, NCPD Officers Michael O’Sullivan and Brian Micena demonstrated those heroic qualities in saving the life of 52-year-old Charlie Taben, a New Canaan resident who had gone into cardiac arrest at about 2:45 a.m.

When officers arrived at the house within minutes of the dispatcher’s call, the officers found that Taben had no pulse and wasn’t breathing, Chief Leon Krolikowski recalled Monday morning. “Brian and Michael relied on their training, worked as a team and connected the AED [automated external defibrillator],” initiated a shock and commenced CPR—almost certainly saving Taben’s life, Krolikowski said during an Awards Ceremony for the officers, held in the Lapham Community Center. O’Sullivan and Micena earned the “Medical Service Award,” Krolikowski said as the Taben family—Charlie, his wife Eve and their three daughters—looked on, as well as about 30 guests, including Police Commissioners Stuart Sawabini and Sperry DeCew, Fire Chief Jack Hennessey, Selectman Beth Jones and Emergency Management Director Mike Handler. “This award is presented to any member of our department for an act performed in the line of duty which through disregard for personal safety or prompt and alert actions results in saving a life or preventing serious physical injury,” the chief said.