New Canaan Re-Introduces Downtown Community Policing Initiative

NEW CANAAN, CT — The New Canaan Police Department announced it is re-starting its Community Impact Officer initiative this month, with five-year department veteran Officer Kelly Coughlin.

Coughlin will be assigned exclusively to the downtown area. She has served in the patrol division and is a dispatcher. Additionally, Coughlin also earned a bachelor's of science degree from the College of New Jersey with a major in Criminology and a minor in Spanish.

Officer Coughlin is the third officer to take on this role since the program launched in 2014.

"Community policing is one of our Department’s primary focus areas," said New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. "One of the goals of the CIO is to establish strong relationships with merchants and the downtown community. Engaging with the public in the center of town, deterring criminal activity, and enforcing traffic laws are priorities of the CIO. Officer Coughlin will be a direct contact for downtown businesses and the Chamber of Commerce. She will provide advice and guidance to all businesses, which we hope will deter crime."

Laura Budd, director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce welcomed Coughlin's assignment downtown.

"The Chamber is thrilled to have the CIO program re-instated," Budd said. "While NCPD is always visible in town, having a dedicated officer who has working relationships with all the businesses provides a great sense of comfort for the stores, restaurants and offices. We look forward to working with Officer Coughlin and know she will be a huge asset to the community."