The Darien Police Department, under the oversight and control of a three-member civilian Police Commission, has an authorized strength of 51 sworn officers, six full-time and one part-time civilian employees, eight school crossing guards, and 20 traffic agents. During fiscal 2005-2006, six new officers were hired to replace retiring officers.
The Department maintains a fleet of 18 vehicles, a motorcycle, a speed monitoring trailer, a 27-foot patrol boat, and an emergency response vehicle that carries all SCUBA and Emergency Response Team (ERT) equipment, while also serving as a mobile command post. The Department also has a well equipped SCUBA team and an ERT, which has partnered with other area town police departments to form the Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team.
During fiscal 2005-2006, the Department logged 21,622 incidents, including 23 burglaries, six attempted burglaries, 142 larcenies, five assaults, and 63 incidents of vandalism. There were 260 criminal arrests, and the Department investigated a total of 97 domestic and domestic violence incidents. Thirty-five arrests were made for domestic violence offenses.
As part of its continuing commitment to reducing motor vehicle accidents and making Darien’s roads safer, during the year the Patrol Division issued 2,444 motor vehicle infractions, 261 misdemeanor summons, and 1,057 written warnings for various violations. Motor vehicle accidents numbered 600, a decrease from the previous year’s total. Defibrillator-equipped patrol vehicles responded to 1,167 medical calls, a notable increase over the prior year. Officers responded to 1,996 burglar alarm activations, the vast majority of which were false alarms attributable to weather-related conditions, alarm system deficiencies, and a lack of familiarity with the alarm system by home/business owners.
The Darien Police Department continued its aggressive campaign to combat the hazards of drunk driving. This vigorous enforcement initiative resulted in the arrest of 92 offenders.
Your Questions Answered
Conceived as an educational tool regarding traffic markings, traffic enforcement, motorist and pedestrian safety. You can email Officer Ken and he will respond in the local paper.