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Police

Mission
The Police Commission manages and supervises the Police Department and appoints the Chief of Police and subordinate police officers. 


Members
James McLaughlin, Chairman
Shekaiba Bennett, Secretary
Paul Foley, Member

You may contact the Police Commission by e-mail at Police.Commission@newcanaanct.gov Please do NOT use this e-mail address to report an emergency. 


Meetings

Police Commission meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00P.M. at Town Hall, 77 Main Street. 

Except for executive sessions, meetings are open to the public. The meetings allow the Commissioners to review monthly departmental reports and address requests from the townspeople. Updates on the state of the Police Department are reviewed, and the Commissioners are informed of the accomplishments of the police officers, letters of appreciation or condemnation, training received and other issues pertinent to the internal order of the Department. 

Anyone who would like to address the Police Commission should contact the Chief's Secretary at 203 594 3512. 

Police Commission meeting dates as well as minutes and agendas can be found by clicking on the following link: Police Commission Schedule of Meetings, Agendas & Minutes. 

If meeting minutes or agendas do not appear on this Web site, please contact the relevant board, commission or committee. Do not contact the webmaster of this site. For the Police Commission, you may send e-mail to Police.Commission@newcanaanct.gov  Please do NOT use this e-mail address to report an emergency. 


 Traffic Calming

1. Introduction
This will document the routine that will be used by the Police Commission of the Town of New Canaan, Connecticut in the capacity as Legal Traffic Authority to receive traffic concerns/requests/complaints, from residents and other interested parties for the adoption and/or installation of traffic calming measures. 

Formal concerns/requests/complaints, may be in the form of letters addressed to the Police Commission, 174 South Avenue, New Canaan, CT 06840 or by e-mail addressed to  police.commission@newcanaanct.gov 
In response to such concerns/requests/complaints, the Commission will seek the opinions of Police Department traffic experts, other departments of Town government, traffic engineers, Public Works and other emergency services. 

For informal inquires / suggestions / questions regarding traffic issues, please contact Deputy Chief Andrew Walsh at Andrew.walsh@newcanaanct.gov or 203 594 3517


II. Traffic Calming 
Traffic calming is used to slow vehicle speeds and, in some cases, discourage drivers from using specific streets and reduce the "cutting through" traffic on local residential streets. The following general benefits of a traffic calming program are attractive for several reasons: 
Improve safety 
Develop pleasant livable neighborhoods 
Reduce cut-through vehicle traffic 
Encourage resident involvement in the process 
Speeding is inappropriate in a residential setting and degrades the quality of the street 
Traffic calming is responsive to resident concerns 
Properly designed measures are effective and serve the purpose intended

Traffic calming measures shall be designed to comply with recognized standards and practices of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Traffic Calming devices shall conform to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

Traffic calming measures are not to inappropriately delay emergency responses to fires, medical or other emergencies. Certain streets and roads have been identified as emergency response routes where certain traffic calming devices that increase response times will not be considered. 

Traffic calming must be neighborhood driven and it is necessary to keep residents informed. Residents of an area identified as possible installation sites must be given the opportunity to participate in the discussions leading to the implementation of such proposals. All traffic calming measures will come before the Police Commission for public review and comment. All Police Commission meetings are held monthly and are open to the public and agendas for meetings are published here.
Police Commission meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 P.M. at police headquarters, 174 South Avenue. 


Public informational meetings will be held with residents to present and discuss individual projects as deemed necessary by the Police Commission. 

III. Traffic Calming Measures
 
Common traffic calming measures include the following: 

a. Speed Reduction 
i. Enforcement 
ii. Public awareness 
iii. Speed humps 
iv. Traffic circles 
v. Entrance treatments 
vi. Pavement treatments 
b. Volume Reduction 
i. Diverters 
ii. Cul-de-sac 
iii. Choke points 
iv. One way traffic
c. Pedestrian Safety 
i. Pedestrian refuges 
ii. Curb extensions 
iii. Raised crosswalks 

A complete description of these traffic calming measures can be found at CTDOT Safety

State Roads, Local Roads, LTA – What does it all mean??

State and local officials, as well as members of the general public, are often unsure whom to contact regarding various traffic related issues. Common questions received by the Office of the State Traffic Administration (OSTA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) include: "How do I get a traffic light installed?" "Who is responsible for slowing vehicles speeds on my street?" "How can I get that pothole fixed on the road that I take to work?"

A series of questions and answers to help explain the relationship of the OSTA, Local Traffic Authorities and the DOT, and how to deal with various traffic concerns can be found here 

For informal inquires / suggestions / questions regarding traffic issues, please contact Deputy Chief Andrew Walsh at Andrew.walsh@newcanaanct.gov or 203 594 3517

Additional Info

Speed Hump Criteria
Connecticut Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Emergency Response Roads