News

Police Report Sharp Rise in Motor Vehicle Violations

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New Canaan Police last week reported a 35 percent rise in the early part of the year in motor vehicle violations flagged by officers. 

Two-thirds of violations such as speeding and distracted driving results in verbal warnings, while one-third end up in tickets for motorists, Chief Leon Krolikowski said at the Feb. 27 meeting of the Police Commission. “We are trying to target mostly moving violations that cause accidents,” Krolikowski said during the meeting, held at the New Canaan Police Department. 

In January alone, New Canaan Police reported 524 motor vehicle violations, up 387 from the same month in 2018, the chief reported. 

Commissioner Paul Foley said policy of issuing verbal warnings to motorists in violation for two-thirds of the stops represents “good community policing.”

“Because I just don’t want to go back to the old days of writing a lot of tickets just to write tickets,” Foley said. He added that “people really appreciate the verbal [warning].”

“They do, because I hear about it,” he said. Krolikowski said officers issue that warning “when it’s appropriate.”

“It all depends on the circumstance,” the chief said.

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Chief: Police To Establish Volunteer Service Award in Jim Cole’s Honor

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New Canaan’s police chief said the department is creating a new award to honor a recently deceased town resident known for his active volunteerism in the community, including with emergency response agencies. Among other roles, Jim Cole had served as head of New Canaan’s Police Commission, Fire Commission and Office of Emergency Management, and was known in town as an architect of the Community Emergency Response Team. 

He died Feb. 5 at age 81 following a brief illness. Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said it was “clear to me that we had to do something” in considering of Cole’s volunteer work and the “thousands of hours he gave to the town in different capacities.”

The New Canaan Police Department is establishing a Volunteer Service Award in Cole’s name, the chief said. The Cole award would represent just the second such NCPD honor that could be earned by a civilian.

Government

‘Common Sense Did Not Apply’: Residents Push Back on Morning Traffic Plan

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Town residents expected to see a surge in morning rush-hour traffic following a recent decision by the Police Commission have filed a petition opposing the plan. According to a professional study, installing ‘No left turn’ signs at either end of Nursery Road may lessen the 300-plus vehicles now using the short street to avoid congested Merritt Parkway traffic—yet it would “have the same negative impact on other residential roadways in New Canaan.”

Ten residents of a street who live on one of those roadways, Willbrook Lane—affected areas also include Marvin Ridge Road, White Oak Shade Road and Old Norwalk Road—last week lodged a petition with the town objecting to the change, supported unanimously by the Police Commission at its Jan. 16 meeting. Todd Gaines, who drew up the petition, said, “We don’t want that traffic down Marvin Ridge Road.” 

“Obviously, common sense did not apply here, because this traffic is coming from Norwalk,” he added. “You cannot just come to a conclusion without getting input on a conclusion.

Anna Holbrook

Officials Approve Installation of ‘No Left Turn’ Signs on Nursery Road on Trial Basis

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Saying they feared the change could exacerbate safety concerns by pushing motor vehicle traffic near schools, town officials approved the installation of two temporary “no left turn” signs to ease congestion in a residential neighborhood during rush hour. Traffic on Nursery Road spikes to more than 300 vehicles between 8 and 9 a.m. on weekdays, officials have found—a result of New York City-bound motorists avoiding the congested Merritt Parkway. One proposed solution has been to prevent motorists traveling toward New Canaan along Marvin Ridge Road from turning left onto the top of Nursery Road in the mornings, as well as from turning left onto White Oak Shade Road from the bottom. 

Yet doing so likely would only push cut-through-seeking motorists deeper into New Canaan, including to Old Norwalk and Farm Roads, according to a traffic study from engineer Michael Galante of Frederick P. Clark Associates, a Fairfield-based planning consulting firm. Even so, members of the Police Commission during their Jan. 16 meeting approved the measure 3-0.

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

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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.