The Police Commission has welcomed back a former member to again serve on the agency in view of a vacancy created by a member's recent untimely death.

Police Commission Chairman Joel Faxon said August 2 that Virgil Procaccini, Jr, would again serve as a commission member to fill the Republican vacancy created by the May death of Robert Myer. Mr Myer was first elected to the commission in November 2015.

Mr Procaccini, who is a former state police detective, is the owner of a private investigation firm. He was first appointed to the Police Commission in 2014 to fill a vacancy created when Republican James Viadero, a five-year member, resigned from the commission to become Middlebury's police chief. Mr Viadero is now Newtown's police chief, having started work in January.

Mr Procaccini ran for election to the commission last November, but lost that race.

In comments at the August 2 Police Commission meeting, Mr Faxon said the Republican Town Committee recommended that Mr Procaccini fill the vacancy created by Mr Myer's death.

"He's a good man," Mr Faxon said of Mr Procaccini.

"I'd like to welcome back Virgil Procaccini, Jr … Thank you for coming back," Mr Faxon said.

Mr Procaccini attended the session, as did members Brian Budd, Andrew Sachs, and Daniel Rosenthal.

The Police Commission creates and implements regulations for the police department. It appoints, promotes, suspends, and removes police department members, as needed. The commission also serves as the local traffic authority.