Tag Archives: Westport Police Department

Police/Fire/EMS Facility: The Process Begins

Posted on February 26, 2025 | 26 comments

Westport’s police station was built in the 1950s — at 1/3 the originally proposed size.

Our fire headquarters dates to the 1970s. It’s too small for modern fire trucks, lacks training space, and has safety deficiencies.

Emergency Medical Services ambulances share bays with large oxygen cannisters. Like police vehicles, they are sometimes trapped on 3 sides by flood waters.

For those reasons — and many more — town officials are exploring a joint Police/Fire/EMS facility. The most appropriate site, they say, is nearly 10 acres, by the current I-95 commuter parking lot on the Sherwood Island Connector.

The public got its first look at the plan — still very early in the concept phase — last night.

A large crowd filled the Senior Center for a presentation by the police and fire chiefs, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, and a pair of architects.

1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Police Chief Foti Koskinas and Fire Chief Nick Marsan, at last night’s meeting. (Photo/Dan Woog)

They provided plenty of information.

And they heard a number of questions.

Expansion of fire headquarters — located on Post Road East next to Terrain, since moving from what is now Emmy Squared on Church Lane half a century ago — has been in the town’s capital plan, Tooker noted.

A new or renovated police station — which relocated to Jesup Road over 70 years ago, after sharing space in what was then Town Hall (now Don Memo and Walrus Alley) — has not been listed in that forecast.

Combining the 3 facilities at one first responders’ site would offer savings in efficiency and scale, Fire Chief Nick Marsan and Police Chief Foti Koskinas noted.

An early drawing for a proposed Police/Fire/EMS facility.

Response times would be enhanced in some cases by leaving the congested downtown area. The new location would also offer speedier access to I-95, both for emergencies on the interstate and to reach Saugatuck Shores.

Relocating the police station would also free up dozens of parking spots downtown.

“No one is forcing anything on anyone,” Koskinas emphasized.

“We understand the challenges. We know there are other big projects ahead, likek schools, bridges and Longshore. We’re not saying where in the queue we want to be. But we want to be in it.”

The point of the meeting, he emphasized, was to initiate a discussion on how tax dollars would be spent to ensure safety for residents, employees and visitors all over town.

An early 1950s plan for a new police station on Jesup Road. The current facility is 1/3 the size of this proposal.

Presenters described a number of areas — for example, the benefits of collaboration between 3 departments, the advantages of on-site training, increasing square footage dedicated to ID needs, and cost savings for land, design and infrastructure — that a shared facility could enhance.

Current police headquarters.

Twice, Koskinas noted, the town has turned down opportunities for land that could be used for first responders.

When the current fire station was built, property was available at a former car dealership just east of Crescent Road. That is now the site of Terrain.

And when State Police Troop G moved from Bridgeport to its site at the Post Road East/Sherwood Island Connector junction, Westport was offered the land for $1. Officials turned it down. Today, it’s Walgreens.

Koskinas explained that the proposed location of a new facility on the Connector — just north of the commuter parking lot entrance — was one of the few spots in Westport large enough for all 3 departments.

The current Fire Department headquarters.

Baron’s South, for example, has topographic, access and zoning issues, while using Winslow Park would present traffic and access issues.

Former RTM member John Suggs said that the Connector site was part of an RTM-designated archaelogical preserve. (Adjacent land was the birthplace of Green’s Farms Church’s West Parish.)

Koskinas promised that a new facility would enhance the now-overgrown area, and honor town history.

Building on that property would require relocation of the commuter lot — perhaps south of I-95, closer to Sherwood Island State Park. That would involve negotiations with the state.

The entrance to the shared facility would be just north of the current I-95 commuter parking lot, on the Sherwood Island Connector.

Greens Farms Association president Art Schoeller cited opposition from neighborhood residents, and asked about noise abatement and noise pollution.

“It is the best spot,” another Greens Farms resident acknowledged.

“We’re taking measured risks now,” Koskinas said, referring to Police, Fire and EMS operations.

“Some of the risks are critical. Some are sustainable. But this project touches everyone in town.”

(“06880” will cover this proposed facility all the way to its completion. We do the same for all major Westport news — and all the minor stories too. Please click here to support us. Thank you!)

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Home Break-In Thwarted; Police Offer Safety Tips

Posted on December 20, 2024 | 9 comments

Just before 4 a.m. today, a Compo Beach resident called Westport Police to report someone breaking into their home.

Officers responded quickly, and identified a vehicle that was involved, but the driver fled and eluded police.

The incident is under investigation. It appears the thieves were confronted prior to stealing anything.

The Westport Police Department reminds residents to take extra precautions to keep their homes and vehicles safe this holiday season. They say:

Secure Your Home
Lock all doors and windows before leaving your house, even if you’re only stepping out for a short time.

Install deadbolts on doors and ensure sliding doors have proper locks or rods to prevent forced entry.

Use Smart Technology
Consider installing smart security cameras and motion detection lights.

Use timers for indoor lights to give the impression that someone is home.

Be Discreet on Social Media

Avoid posting travel plans or sharing that your home will be empty.

Share holiday photos and updates after you’ve returned home.

Protect Packages
Have packages delivered to a secure location, such as a neighbor’s house or a designated pickup spot.

Use package tracking and request delivery notifications.

Notify a trusted neighbor or friend if you’ll be out of town and ask them to keep an eye on your property.

Immediately report any suspicious activity to Westport Police.

Car Safety Tips

Always lock your car, even when parked at home.

Keep valuables out of sight or locked in the trunk.

Never leave the vehicle or house keys in your vehicle.

Park Safely
Park in well-lit, busy areas whenever possible.

Avoid leaving your car running unattended, even for quick errands.

Do not leave shopping bags, gifts, or electronics visible inside your vehicle.

If you’re making multiple stops, secure purchases in the trunk and move your car to a different location to deter thieves.

Be aware of your surroundings in parking lots and garages.

Have your keys ready before approaching your vehicle.

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Citizens Police Academy Offers Inside Look At Officers’ Lives

Posted on November 26, 2024 | 6 comments

Every police officer knows the anxiety of walking up to the driver of a vehicle they’ve just pulled over.

Who is in the car? How many people? Are there weapons? What else besides speeding, erratic driving or whatever prompted the stop might be involved?

Those of us not in law enforcement seldom think about that.

Toni Simonetti never did. Until she herself simulated a traffic stop.

It was in the safety of the Westport Police Department parking lot. There was an officer in the car, pretending to be a driver.

Still, it was a nerve-wracking experience. Many emotions swirled through Toni’s head.

Even a simulated motor vehicle stop in the Police Department parking lot can be scary.

The simulation was one small part of the WPD’s annual Citizens Police Academy.

For 8 weeks, 25 to 30 residents get an up-close, and very personal, look into all aspects of the profession.

They learn about special units like K-9, marine and drone; weapons; what happens at each step of the criminal justice system, and much more. They ride with a patrol officer.

And they get a chance to “stop” a vehicle, and feel what it’s like to approach the unknown driver inside.

The 2024 Citizens Police Academy class, with certificates. This year’s session included 3 Representative Towne Meeting members.

Simonetti is a 24-year resident of Westport. After retiring in 2015 from a long career in media relations, she has been busy with activities like gardening, cooking and bridge.

When she heard about the Citizens Police Academy, she was intrigued. She’d always been a fan of the WPD — “we’re lucky to have such a well-resourced and professional force,” she thought — but her only interactions had been getting a yearly railroad parking permit at the station, and disagreeing with Chief Foti Koskinas’ plan to restrict access to the Westport Community Gardens during school hours.

Besides, she says, “I’m a nosy journalist. I like to know how things work.”

That’s the whole idea of the Citizens Police Academy. It’s thorough, intense, and very educational.

The course includes an overview from Koskinas on his role as chief; a tour of headquarters; the legal provisions governing “probable cause” for questioning; recruitment, selection and training of officers; criminal investigations, including white collar crime; domestic violence; crime scenes, and the WPD’s relationships with the Westport Public Schools and Human Services Department.

Attendees also receive Stop the Bleed training, which Simonetti calls “not for the squeamish.” There is an option too for 1 hour of weapons training.

Each 2 1/2-hour class is packed with information.

The syllabus was straightforward. But, Simonetti says, “I never anticipated how much the topics would come alive in the classroom. There’s nothing like hearing officers tell their stories, and give descriptions of how they work.”

It was “transformative,” she says, to “understand police work as a whole, and the individual thought processes behind it.”

The session on motor vehicle stops, for example, “takes your breath away.” The potential dangers came alive.

When it was time to attempt her first stop — in the WPD parking lot — there was so much to think about: where to stand, how to use her flashlight, what to look for, what to say (and not say), all while considering her own safety.

The ride-along was also eye-opening. She was impressed with the technology inside a patrol car. The amount of data that pops up on a license plate reader was particularly surprising.

She had been skeptical of the need to know the demographic data recorded with each stop. However, she learned, information on who gets stopped, why and where can reveal important patterns of behavior.

The K-9 class was especially memorable. Students met the dogs — one is a bomb sniffer; all 3 can track people and drugs — and learned that their handlers take them home each night.

At the end of the academy, attendees donated money to the K-9 unit. (They also bought lunch and dinner for the entire department.)

K-9 class, at the Westport Citizens Police Academy. (All photos courtesy of Lt. Jillian Cabana)

After 8 weeks, Simonetti is “even more appreciative of the work the police do, the risks they take to protect us, and what great people the men and women in uniform are.”

Now, when she sees a patrol car parked in the Ulta lot, she realizes it’s because the beauty salon company is a frequent target of thieves.

When a police car passes at a normal speed, its red and blue lights on, she knows the reason: visibility is important, for both good guys and bad actors.

And when an officer races by at high speed, siren blaring, she wonders who it is, where they’re going — and what will happen when he or she arrives.

(“06880” is Westport’s hyper-local blog: the place to learn anything and everything about our town. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Have A Cup With A Cop

Posted on October 1, 2024 | 3 comments

With the Starbucks drive-through closed for renovations, Westport Police have some time on their hands. They’ve got a break from monitoring the traffic that clogs up the Post Road every day.

So tomorrow (Wednesday, October 2, 8 to 9:30 a.m.), they’ll have coffee at McDonald’s.

And everyone is invited.

Stop by the officers’ table for coffee and conversation.

It will be a space with no communication barriers, no speeches, no agenda — just “honest conversations about issues affecting our community, a chance to ask questions and discuss local things to do and places to eat.”

Without worrying, for a few minutes, about Post Road traffic.

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See You At Today’s Soundview Summer Stroll!

Posted on July 28, 2024 | Comments Off on See You At Today’s Soundview Summer Stroll!

Today marks the start of a new Westport tradition.

The Soundview Summer Stroll starts at 11 a.m. The entire beach exit road — from the parking lot to the Compo Road South jetty — will be closed to traffic.

Without cars, it will be filled with music, food, kids’ activities — and people “strolling,” rollerblading, meeting old friends, making new ones, and enjoying Compo Beach in a new, exciting and very fun way.

“06880” founder Dan Woog promotes Westport’s newest tradition.

The Soundview Summer Stroll grew out of the annual fireworks. Why, “06880” wondered, did so much community spirit have to be confined to one day a year?

The Soundview Stroll is co-sponsored by “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association. The Compo Beach Playground Committee is in charge of kids’ fun. The Parks & Recreation Department, and Westport Police, signed on early, and have provided great support.

The family-friendly street festival is a gift to Westport, from “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association. We’ve got help from the Parks & Recreation Department and Westport Police.

Here’s the schedule for youngsters, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

  • On the hour: Tug of war
  • 20 minutes after: Water balloon toss
  • 40 minutes after: Inflatable relay race.

Here’s the musical lineup:

  • 11:30 a.m.: Christian Servance
  • 12:30 p.m.: Drew Angus and the Connecticut Songwriters Alliance
  • 1:45 p.m.: School of Rock
  • 3 p.m.: Rock Paper Soul.

Old Mill Grocery & Deli will offer favorites from their menu.

Best of all: The Soundview Summer Stroll is free! (NOTE: A beach emblem is required to park.)

Bring your strolling shoes. See you from 11 to 5 today, up and down the beach exit road.

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Firefighters’ Fundraiser: Drink Whiskey. Enjoy Classic Cars. Save Lives.

Posted on April 6, 2024 | 6 comments

Every day, Westport firefighter Rob Lenois goes to work knowing he may have a chance to save someone’s life.

Now the rest of us can save a life too.

On April 24 (5:30 to 10 p.m., Autostrada), the Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation hosts its 2nd annual Whiskey Tasting.

The evening includes whiskey, specialty drinks, wine and beer; light bites from On the Marc; DJ Rob; a huge silent auction; antique fire trucks, and a photo booth.

The event falls on the third day of Passover. A rabbi will bless the ceremony, and kosher food will be available.

It’s a very important fundraiser. The goal is $80,000.

That’s the amount needed to replace 55 AEDs (automatic external defibrillators). There is one in every fire vehicle, police car and ambulance in town.

But they’re all nearly 20 years old, at the end of their useful lives.

Firefighter Rob Lenois, with a well-worn AED. He stands in front of Coleytown Engine Company 6’s 1950s-era map of the neighborhood. (Photo/Dan Woog)

AEDs ensure than human beings — you, me, our families, friends and neighbors — don’t check out before the end of our own useful lives.

Lenois says that when someone suffers a cardiac event, the survival rate using hands-only CPR is just 3%.

With an AED, that rises to 11%. And it’s a very impressive 66% if the victim gets to a hospital, after a pulse is obtained.

Westport first responders use their AEDs a dozen or so times a year. Deputy Fire Chief Nick Marsan had a memorable experience, saving a young woman’s life at the Saugatuck Rowing Club.

The community has rallied behind the firefighters’ April 24 event. Greens Farms Spirit Shop is the whiskey sponsor. The Kiev family, Tina Dragone, Hammer & Nails, Fleet Auto and many others are providing sponsorships and/or auction items.

Of course, Autostrada is an eye-popping party space. “If you haven’t seen it, this is a great chance to go,” Lenois says.

Autostrada’s lounge overlooks a floor filled with classic cars.

Last year’s event sold out, and raised over $40,000 for 4 important causes: “bed shaker” alarms for every hearing-impaired child in Westport; the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp; children’s cancer care, and cancer screenings for firefighters.

This year’s fundraising target is double that.

It’s a small price to pay, for 55 AEDs that could save someone’s life.

Or yours.

Click here for tickets to the 2nd annual Westport Firefighters Whiskey Tasting, and more information.

AEDs (automatic external defibrillators) save lives.

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Unsung Heroes: Special Edition

Posted on March 21, 2024 | 7 comments

Okay, they’re not really “unsung.”

But we probably don’t sing their praises enough.

I’m talking (of course) about Westport’s Fire and Police Departments, and Emergency Medical Service.

Their lightning-quick, well-coordinated, extremely professional and exceptionally efficient response yesterday turned what could have been a mass casualty event — 27 teenage rowers and 2 coaches, in the frigid water off Compo Beach in gale conditions — into what Police Chief Foti Koskinas calls “a very good outcome.”

From the moment the first 911 call came, at 5:06 p.m. — from a young rower in the water — to an hour later, when the last victim was rescued, and on through the extra hour spent making sure everyone was safe, then into the very clear, direct and honest 8:30 p.m. press conference, with media from as far as New York, the incident serves as an important reminder that our first responders are even more than first class.

They are the best of the best.

We don’t often think about the training that goes into a response like yesterday’s. We don’t see the hours spent planning for every conceivable what-if, while knowing that not every conceivable situation can be foreseen — and the way that response plays out when a call arrives that 29 people are offshore, in 40-degree temperatures.

We don’t know how they do what they do: ensuring that mutual aid arrives from nearby towns; setting up a command post; coordinating efforts in a chaotic scene; getting an accurate count, then accounting for everyone.

We don’t understand the courage it takes to head out in dangerous conditions, or the emotional toll such an event takes on everyone involved.

We don’t give much thought to the men and women in our Fire, Police and EMS departments — the rank-and-file, and their leaders.

Nor do we give much thoughts to their annual budget requests, and how they use our tax dollars.

But — as yesterday proved — every penny they spend is well-deserved.

And well earned.

Westport gives grateful thanks to our Fire, Police and EMS first responders. Sung or unsung, they are our heroes —  today, and every day.

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Rowing Rescue: Police Update

Posted on March 21, 2024 | 9 comments

The Westport Police Department offers this update on yesterday’s rescue of more than 2 dozen Saugatuck Rowing Club teenagers:

Westport Police Marine Division continue the investigation into the boating incident.  As of this morning, the following information is known:

  • One of the capsized rowing sculls has not been recovered, and is missing. The other 2 sculls were brought to Ned Dimes Marina last night.
  • The “chase boat” that sank has been located, submerged near Cockenoe Island, and will be recovered later this afternoon.
  • Both rowers who were transported to Norwalk Hospital and treated for cold exposure have been released from the hospital.
  • The total number of rowers/coaches involved in this incident stands at 29.  We have determined that 19 people were in the water and 10 (9 rowers and 1 coach) were able to remain in their vessels.
  • The investigation will focus on any weather advisories that were posted, available life jackets, experience of the rowers and coaches, and suitability of the vessels.
  • As Chief Foti Koskinas stated last night, Westport Police are looking to help prevent this from happening again. We feel this investigation will aid in that mission.

 

Rescue operations yesterday, at Compo Beach. (Photo/Larry Hoy)

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Rowing Rescue: Photos Show Compo Scene

Posted on March 21, 2024 | 5 comments

The Westport Fire Department has released photos of yesterday’s dramatic rescue of 27 teenage rowers, and 1 coach, from Long Island Sound.

The Saugatuck Rowing Club athletes and adult were in 3 sculls and 1 chase boat when the weather suddenly turned nasty. The sculls filled with water; 2 overturned, as did the chase boat when the young rowers clung to it.

Click here for the full story of the event, including the superb efforts of Westport’s Fire, Police and Emergency Medical Service, aided by mutual aid from surrounding towns.

The Fire Department’s inflatable vessel brings rowers to shore.

First responders assist victims.

Emergency personnel remained for an hour after the last rower was rescued at 6 p.m., an hour after the incident began, to ensure that everyone was accounted for.

Emergency vehicles from many units raced to Compo Beach.

(All photos courtesy of Westport Fire Department)

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Dramatic Day At Compo: 29 Rowers Rescued, After Winds Swamp Boats

Posted on March 21, 2024 | 32 comments

Twenty-eight people — 27 teenager rowers and 1 coach — were thrown into the water off Compo Beach late yesterday afternoon, when glass water suddenly turned rough.

But a mass casualty was averted, thanks to the quick and coordinated efforts of first responders from several towns.

Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas and Deputy Fire Chief Nick Marsan described the dramatic rescues last night, at a police headquarters press conference that drew media from as far as New York.

What Koskinas called “a very serious incident with a very good outcome” began around 5 p.m. A Saugatuck Rowing Club athlete called 911, reporting that boats had capsized and there were people in the water.

Westport Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Service responders raced to Compo. They found a “chaotic” scene, Koskinas said, with a number of young rowers clinging to boats, between the beach and Cockenoe Island. Others were swimming to shore.

The 3 60-foot rowing sculls — with 9 boys, ages 14 to 18, in each — had been swamped when calm weather suddenly turned very windy. Two of them capsized.

Just an hour before the near-tragedy, Alli DiVincenzo took a photo of the Saugatuck Rowing Club boat on calm water.

Some swam to a much smaller launch boat, manned by a coach. Another launch boat soon arrived.

As the young rowers clung to the first launch boat, it too overturned.

The water temperature was 44 degrees. The air temperature was 40.

The Westport Fire Department sent trained dive personnel. Fairfield, Norwalk and Stamford marine units soon arrived to assist. So did the US Coast Guard. There were 8 ambulances on the scene too.

Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Cohen immediately established a command post.

The Fire Department’s inflatable vessel brought 6 victims to shore. The Westport Police Marine boat brought 6 more to Ned Dimes Marina. First responders assisted other victims as they reached the beach on their own.

The chaotic scene yesterday at Compo Beach. (Photo/Larry Hoy)

Emergency personnel initially believed 25 people were involved. The number was raised to 29. Several of the young rowers had reached shore, and gone in to nearby homes to warm up and shower.

Eventually, all were found, and matched with lists of those who had been on the water.

Responders remained at the scene for an extra hour after the last rower was removed from the water at 6 p.m.. They made sure no one was still unaccounted for.

Norwalk Hospital was advised to prepare for a mass casualty event. Ultimately, only 2 young rowers required medical attention there, for hypothermia.

“The weather changed so quickly,” said Weston High School junior Davis Evans, a 4-year Saugatuck Rowing Club athlete.

“The water was glassy. Then it suddenly got windy. Two- to 3-foot swells crashed into the boat. That was really scary.”

Davis Evans describes the dramatic events. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Three hours after the rescue, he said, “it still hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

But, he noted, his fellow rowers remained calm. “I was really impressed by how mature everyone was.” He cited Alex Vogt, the coach on the launch boat that overturned, as “the reason everything worked out okay.”

Westport Public Schools quickly sent a bus to Compo. The rowers warmed up there, then were transported to the Saugatuck Rowing Club to be reunited with families.

“It was an incredible team effort,” Koskinas said. “The most important thing is that all 29 people are safe tonight with their families.”

“As the mother of 3 athletes, I can’t imagine the range of emotions today,” 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker said.

Noting that 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore had a daughter who rowed with the Saugatuck Club, Tooker added, “We hope that all the kids and families feel safe, and well taken care of, tonight.”

She thanked “this amazing leadership team. We are so blessed to have such a professional group of Fire, Police and EMS first responders.”

Police Chief Foti Koskinas describes the events, at last night’s press conference. Behind him are (from left) Deputy Police Chief Ryan Paulsson Deputy Fire Chief Nick Marsan, Westport Police Lieutenant Eric Woods, Assistant Fire Chief Matt Cohen, EMS Deputy Director Marc Hartog and EMS’ Rick Baumblatt. (Photo/Dan Woog)

“You can’t really prepare for something like this,” said Evans, the Weston High rower.

“We practice 6 days a week, from 3 to 6 p.m. We were out that far because the water was really nice. There was no sense of bad weather, until it was there.

“You don’t think something like this can happen to you — until it does.”

But, he said, he will be back on the water soon.

“This is my sport.”

Koskinas said that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

(Assistance was provided by the Fairfield Police Marine Division, Stamford Police Marine Division, Norwalk Fire Boat, Norwalk Police Marine Division, Norwalk Fire Marine Division and US Coast Guard. Eight ambulances and 20 personnel were provided by Norwalk Hospital, American Medical Response and Darien EMS.)

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