Month: April 2018

Ganim Urges Smart Approach to Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

Bridgeport – Bridgeport Mayor and Democratic candidate for Governor Joe Ganim today urged the General Assembly to pass a “comprehensive, smart approach to legalizing, regulating and taxing recreational marijuana in Connecticut.”

Ganim recently submitted testimony to the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee favoring Senate Bill No. 487 sponsored by Senate President Marty Looney. The bill would allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase marijuana for recreational use from state licensed retail outlets. Ganim’s testimony:

Testimony of Joe Ganim On Recreational Marijuana

“A legal regulated recreational marijuana industry would launch a new industry in Connecticut, create thousands of new jobs, and produce hundreds of millions of needed annual tax revenue for the state. It is time we treated and regulated marijuana the same way we treat alcohol or tobacco. It is long past time we in this country acknowledged that attitudes about marijuana have changed dramatically and it is time for us too in this land of steady habits to change with it,” said Ganim.

“The entire New England region is moving towards legalizing recreational marijuana. Connecticut has already decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana and established medical marijuana that has been safely and effectively regulated by the state. With the proper regulations in place, Connecticut should take the next step and legalize recreational marijuana,” Ganim said.

Ganim added, “I have consulted with Governor John Hickenlooper’s team in Colorado and there is much we can learn from their experience as the first state to implement recreational marijuana. We should be smart about this and use best practices from states like Massachusetts who are moving deliberately towards retail sales of cannabis products later this year.”

Colorado had more than $1.5 billion in marijuana sales in 2015, generating more than $210 million in tax revenue. The industry has generated more than 20,000 jobs, Tax revenue in Colorado from sales of recreational marijuana is used for programs to fight addiction, and public health statistics show usage rates of cannabis products have not increased for any segment of the population.

 

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Norwalk Police Reaccredited

#Norwalk CT–On March 24, 2018, the Norwalk Department of Police Service received its seventh reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (“CALEA”). The award was presented to the Norwalk Department of Police Service at the CALEA Conference in Frisco, Texas. Since its first accreditation in 1995, the Norwalk Department of Police Service has been successfully reaccredited every three years. The Norwalk Department of Police Service is one of a select few police departments to be CALEA accredited and is the largest municipal police department to be CALEA accredited in Connecticut. Chief Kulhawik is very proud of the men and women of the Norwalk Department of Police Service who exemplify such professional excellence. Chief Kulhawik wants to thank Accreditation Manager Lieutenant Melissa Lepore as well as Sergeant Joseph Dinho, who have worked tirelessly to provide the proof of compliance for over four-hundred-eighty CALEA standards required for reaccreditation. CALEA is the gold standard for professional excellence. In simple terms, it means we do our best to serve the community with state of the art policies and practices devoted to customer and community service.

 

Photo L-R CALEA Chairman Craig Webre, Deputy Chief Gonzalez, Chief Kulhawik, Lieutenant Lepore, Sergeant Dinho and CALEA Executive Director Craig Hartley.

(Norwalk Police Press Release)

 

Shelton News: 2 Killed In Head On Collision

Police UPDATE: An investigation has revealed that a Mini Cooper was traveling southbound on River Rd when it crashed into a Saturn traveling northbound on River Rd. There were four occupants in the Mini Cooper and three occupants in the Saturn. There was a third non-contact vehicle involved in the crash. Police have identified the vehicle and the driver of the non-contact vehicle. 18 year old Shalymar Herrera of West Haven was pronounced deceased. 23 year old Briana Torres-Carter of Bridgeport, who was pregnant, was also pronounced deceased. Both were passengers in a Mini Cooper that was being operated by 19 year old Lawrence Carter of Bridgeport. Lawrence Carter is currently in the hospital in critical condition. Also in the Mini Cooper was 19 year old Jessie Abrams of Bridgeport. Abrams is currently in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Saturn, 25 year old Caitlin Kalafus of PA, was taken to the hospital. The two passengers in the Saturn were 22 year old Carly Kalafus of PA and 26 year old Paul Valleau of PA. All three were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Shelton Police Traffic Division Reconstruction Team is currently investigating this accident. No enforcement action has been taken at this time. Any witnesses or persons with additional information may call the Shelton Police Traffic Division at (203) 924-1544.

 

Police Update–On 4-8- 18 at approximately 7:00pm, Shelton Police were notified of a serious motor vehicle accident in the area of 661 River Rd. Police, Fire, and EMS responded to the scene.
The initial investigation revealed that two vehicles were involved in the crash. There are two people confirmed deceased at this time. Other individuals were taken to area hospitals for injuries sustained in the crash.
River Rd between Rocky Rest Rd and Murphy’s Ln is currently closed. The road closure is expected to last for several hours.
The Shelton Police Traffic Division Reconstruction Team is currently investigating this accident. No enforcement action has been taken at this time. Any witnesses or persons with additional information may call the Shelton Police Traffic Division at (203) 924-1544.

7:07pm–#Shelton CT– 4 people were injured and required extrication in a head-on collision on River Road at Quail Court.  Avoid the area if you can.

 

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Westport News: Burglary Arrest

#Westport News: On 12/18/17 at approximately 4:00am, officers were dispatched to an alarm at Parkway Liquors on Main Street. Arriving officers found the glass front door of the business had been shattered and the cash drawer had been stolen from the register. Detective Marc Heinmiller responded to the scene and took over the investigation. In speaking with other Connecticut agencies experiencing crimes with a similar modus operandi, a male suspect was developed. Investigators learned the male suspect, identified as Casey McAdams, 36,of Derby, CT, committed the Westport burglary with the assistance of Alicia Sheremeta
who drove him to the business. Investigators applied for arrest warrants for McAdams and Sheremeta which were later granted by a judge.

On 04/02/2018, Alicia Sheremeta, 30, of West Haven, CT turned herself in on the outstanding arrest warrant. She was charged with:

53a-103 Burglary 3 rd , 53a-125 Larceny 4 th , 53a-116 Criminal Mischief 2 nd , 53-48 Conspiracy to Commit (Burglary 3 rd ), 53-48 Conspiracy to Commit (Larceny 4 th ) and 53-48 Conspiracy to Commit (Criminal Mischief 2 nd ). Sheremeta was released after posting $50,000 court set bond and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Court on 04/17/2018.

On 04/04/2018, Casey McAdams was arrested at Norwalk Court and charged with 53a-103 Burglary 3 rd , 53a-125 Larceny 4 th , 53a-116 Criminal Mischief 2 nd , 53-48 Conspiracy to Commit (Burglary 3 rd ), 53-48 Conspiracy to Commit (Larceny 4 th ) and 53-48 Conspiracy to Commit (Criminal Mischief 2 nd ). He was held on $50,000 court set bond.

 

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Bridgeport News: Stabbing Because Dog Relieved Himself In Neighbor’s Yard

4/7 @ 8:30AMish– #Bridgeport CT– Police were called to the 1100 block of Park Avenue because two people and a dog were stabbed in the neighbor’s yard.  The attacking neighbor was upset because the dog relieved himself in his lawn.  He then took out a pocket knife and stabbed the dog and two people.  The man was charged with assault and cruelty to animals.  Neither man was seriously hurt and the dog was treated for minor injuries.His bond was set at $100,000.

 

Bridgeport News: Bedroom Fire

7:55pm–#Bridgeport CT– Firefighters were called to a bedroom fire at 118 Vine Street on the third floor in the rear of the structure.  When firefighters we on the way there were radio reports of two small children trapped.  When they arrived the children and everyone made it out safely.  Firefighters had the blaze out quickly.  There were no reported injuries.

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