2007 Annual Report - Town of Wilton

ceremonial events as representatives of thePolice Department and the Town of Wilton.Officer Richard Ross is the full-time StudentResource Officer (SRO). His primary functionis to work with Wilton school students ofall ages to assist them with any matterthat police service can offer. He promotesbetter understanding of the police role inthe community and provides education onlaws, drug awareness and the dangers ofalcohol abuse. He is also charged with theinvestigation of criminal complaints andenforcement of all laws at the schools andwithin 1,500 feet of school property. OfficerRoss and Chief Kulhawik periodically meetwith School Administration to assess schoolsafety and security and to discuss emergencyplanning with representatives of the individualschools. Officer Ross also organizes theemergency lockdown drills for all the schools.The Wilton Police web site www.wiltonpolice.orgis available for visitors to learn about recentnews of interest, found items, special programsand events, as well as inquire about jobopportunities with the Department. In addition,you will find email links for every officer inthe Department. This web site has also beenutilized for notifying residents of emergenciesand the continuing Route 7 Widening Project.Several officers continued their formaleducation in 2007, working towards advanceddegrees in Law Enforcement and CriminalJustice. Twenty-three of the Department’sofficers have Law Enforcement degrees, fivehave postgraduate degrees, and two aregraduates of the FBI National Academy.The motorized equipment assigned to theDepartment consists of nineteen patrol vehicles(marked and unmarked), including four SUVs.The Department also has six bicycles and sixofficers are trained in bike patrol functions.In 2007, the three-member Wilton PoliceCommission, appointed by the Board ofSelectmen, assisted Chief Kulhawik and hisstaff with a complete overhaul of Departmentrules and regulations and Standard OperatingProcedures. This monumental task wascompleted in 2007 as part of an ongoingstate accreditation process which will beattained in 2008.The Police Commission has responsibility forthe general management and supervision ofthe Department, its personnel, property andequipment. They have exclusive authorityto appoint, promote, discipline and removemembers of the Department. The PoliceCommission renders an important leadershiprole in all police matters and also serves asthe Traffic and Parking Authority for the Townof Wilton. Commission members for 2007were Matthew C. Mason, Mark Ketley andChristopher Weldon.Edward V. Kulhawik,Chief of PoliceMatthew C. Mason, ChairmanWilton Police CommissionPublic Safety & Welfare20