To The Editor:

Since announcing that I am running for a seat on the Police Commission I have been talking to lots of community members both at their doors and at events. On several occasions, I have been met with surprise that Newtown has a Police Commission and/or asked what it is. So, I think it is important to take a few minutes to write about the responsibilities of the Police Commission, that way the voters will be able to make an informed decision on November 4th.

The Board of Police Commissioners (more commonly known as the Police Commission) is an elected board consisting of five residents (and specifically not members of the Newtown Police Department or other Town Body). They typically meet once a month on the first Thursday of the month, although like all boards, they hold special meetings when needed.

The Police Commission has four primary responsibilities: appoints the Police Chief; approves the policies and regulations necessary to organize and maintain the police department; appoints, promotes, suspends and removes officers of the department based on those policies and regulations; serves as the town’s Local Traffic Authority, which approves the regulatory signs and markings for all roads.

The one that most interests people when I discuss the roles is the last point, serving as the Local Traffic Authority. Traffic is a big issue in town; it has been for decades and will be for years to come. Beyond the obvious concerns about volume, this includes walkability (especially with the work being done on our cultural district) and speeding.

I also personally feel that the approval of policies and regulations is a huge responsibility because they set the foundation for the safety and security of everyone in town. I have recently been told that most of the policies come down from the state but I do think it is important for the Police Commission to ensure that the wording of the policies are appropriate for Newtown to the greatest extent possible.

I hope that this has helped bring some understanding to an often-overlooked board that is a very important part of Newtown.

Dan Cruson

Newtown