Government

‘Indefensible Partisan Nonsense’: Police Commissioner Resigns

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One month after voicing his displeasure in losing the chairmanship of the Police Commission, Sperry DeCew last week resigned from the appointed body in a pointed letter to the first selectman. DeCew in his Feb. 20 letter to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said he had “reflected on your puerile, narrow-minded position to have Republicans chair every town committee” and felt he had “no option but to render my resignation immediately.” 

A member of the Police Commission since June 2012 and its chairman for two years, DeCew had attended and participated in a final meeting Wednesday. 

“The thought that New Canaan, with its wealth of talent, should be defined by a political party is indefensible partisan nonsense,” DeCew said in his letter, obtained by NewCanaanite.com. “Further, the fact that you did not have the courtesy to call me prior to the January Commission meeting and let me know that you were going to replace me as Chairman, again speaks to the unnecessary negative feelings this matter has generated.”

DeCew is a Democrat and his successor in the chair role, Paul Foley, is a Republican. This month, another appointed town body, the Health and Human Services Commission, saw its Democratic chair and one other member resign amid a change in chairmanship to a Republican.

News

Police Chief Urges State To Create Left-Turn-Only Sequence in Traffic Light at Cherry and Main Streets

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Municipal officials say they’ve asked the state to look into putting a “left-turn only” sequence for the traffic light at Main and Cherry Streets downtown. It’s common when eastbound motorists on Cherry seek to turn left onto Main “that maybe one car will get through that intersection before the light turns red,” according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. “And I’ve experienced that many, many times,” Krolikowski said at the Jan. 15 Police Commission meeting, held at department headquarters. “So nine months ago, I contacted the state and asked them to take a look at that intersection and see if they can put in a ‘left-turn only’ light there.

Annamaria Ceci

‘No Greater Reward’: Letters of Appreciation for New Canaan Police

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Police Chief Leon Krolikowski shared the following letters of appreciation for New Canaan Police Department officers and staff at the Jan. 15 Police Commission meeting. ***

Leon Krolikowski and the New Canaan Police Department

“Just a quick note to let you know that your work and that the officers in the department are most appreciated and do not go unnoticed. I was thinking especially of the first responders from Tuesday’s terrible situation on North Wilton Road. My grandfather was a police officer in Rye, as I think I’ve told you in the past.

Government

Police Commission Chairmanship Turns Over at Heated Meeting

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The appointed municipal body that oversees the New Canaan Police Department elected a new chair Wednesday night during an awkward organizational meeting. Paul Foley, a member of the Police Commission since December 2013, was elected chairman by a 2-1 vote following a heated exchange between his predecessor in the role and the town’s highest elected official. 

Sperry DeCew, a member of the Police Commission since June 2012, had served the past two years as chair. 

As per section 15-3 of the Town Charter, the three-member Commission meets “promptly after” Dec. 1—typically in January—for the election of its own officers “at the call of the First Selectman.” 

As First Selectman Kevin Moynihan opened the organizational meeting, held during the Commission’s regular meeting at police headquarters, DeCew said, “Let’s get on with this circus. Nominations for Commission chairman.”

Commissioner Jim McLaughlin—himself appointed one year ago to the Police Commission—nominated Foley. DeCew called for any other nominations.

Fotis Dulos

Police: Manpower Dedicated to Missing Woman Case Led To Minimum Shift Staff, Drop in Motor Vehicle Citations

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The manpower that New Canaan Police dedicated this past summer to the investigation of a missing local mom drained the department’s staff to minimum levels for a time, leading to a decline in motor vehicle violation citations, officials say. Year-to-date motor vehicle violation incidents were down about 20% as of Oct. 31, officials reported at last month’s meeting of the Police Commission. Responding to a question from Commission Chair Sperry DeCew about the decline in incidents—from 3,648 through the first ten months of 2018 to 2,933 this year—Deputy Chief John DiFederico said, “With the investigation this summer, that took a lot of manpower away.”

“We also had a very high number of order-ins,” DiFederico said at the meeting, held Nov. 20 at NCPD headquarters.