Category: Fairfield

Swatting Incident At Notre Dame Of Fairfield

2024-04-11@1:11pm–#Fairfield CT– Fairfield Police responded to Notre Dame of Fairfield on Jefferson Street for an incident that police determined it was a prank swatting incident. Swatting is a term used to describe the action of making hoax phone calls to report serious crimes to emergency services.

Website Cloudflare says “Swatting refers to a harassment technique most often perpetrated by members of the online gaming community. Swatting entails generating an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. Swatters do this by making phone calls to emergency lines like 911 and falsely reporting a violent emergency situation, such as a shooting or hostage situation.

Swatters often consider what they are doing to be a prank, but it can come with serious consequences. Swatting occupies law enforcement response teams, making them unavailable to respond to real emergencies. There have even been swatting incidents where law enforcement officers were shot, and in one case the victim of the swatting was shot dead by law enforcement.”

The Fairfield Police Department and the CTDOT Team Upto Kick off National Distracted Driving Awareness MonthPut the Phone Away or Pay – Connecticut Enforces Statewide Campaign

FAIRFIELD, CT – April 1, 2024 – The Fairfield Police Department is partnering with the
Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) as part of National Distracted Driving
Awareness Month. From April 1 – April 30, law enforcement will be looking for drivers who
choose to ignore Connecticut’s hand-held mobile electronics laws. Put the Phone Away or Pay is
a national high-visibility enforcement campaign for National Distracted Driving Awareness
Month in April.
Nationally in 2021, there were 3,522 people killed and an estimated 362,415 people injured in
traffic crashes involving distracted drivers. In Connecticut in 2021, there were over 5,600
crashes attributed to distracted driving that resulted in nine fatalities and more than 850
injuries.
“As a community, we cannot ignore the dangers of texting and driving. It’s not just illegal; it’s a
matter of life and death,” said Fairfield Police Chief Robert Kalamaras. “Beginning April 1, our
officers will be vigilant in enforcing distracted driving laws. We urge all motorists to prioritize
safety and refrain from using handheld mobile devices while driving.”
Connecticut law prohibits the use of any hand-held mobile electronic device while operating a
motor vehicle. Drivers who are 16 or 17 years of age are prohibited from using a cell phone or
mobile device at any time, even with a hands-free accessory. Violating Connecticut’s distracted
driving laws can be costly. Drivers who are ticketed are fined $200 for the first offense, $375 for
the second offense, and $625 for the third and subsequent offenses.

The Fairfield Police Department remains dedicated to maintaining a safe community, protecting life and property, reducing crime and
the fear of crime and to performing its function in a manner which promotes public trust and confidence. The Department strives to

achieve its mission through the core values of Professionalism, Honor and Excellence.

203-254-4800
www.fpdct.com

While April is designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, our commitment to
promoting safe driving practices extends throughout the year. We remain dedicated to keeping
our roads safe and urge all drivers to make responsible choices behind the wheel.
The public is reminded of the following safety tips:

  • When you get behind the wheel, be an example to your family and friends by putting
    your phone away. Texting and driving is not safe behavior.
  • If you struggle to ignore your phone notifications, activate the “Do Not Disturb” feature
    or put your silenced device in your vehicle’s trunk, glove box, or back seat until you
    arrive safely at your destination.
  • If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a
    safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.
  • Give control of your phone to your passenger. Let them respond to calls or messages.
  • Never engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
  • Even when hands-free, do not stream or watch movies or videos.
  • If you see someone texting while driving, speak up. Tell them to stop what they are doing
    because it is dangerous. If someone catches you texting while driving and tells you to put
    your phone away, put it down.
  • Remember, when you get behind the wheel, Put the Phone Away or Pay

Living Bird-Friendly Series Takes Flight in Fairfield on April 12 and 13

Fairfield, Conn, April 1, 2024–Pequot Library is pleased to launch its Living Bird-Friendly series on April
12 and 13. The series, free and open to the public, includes remarks from Fairfield First Selectman Bill
Gerber on April 13 at 10:30 a.m. and a host of presentations designed to inspire community action on
behalf of birds, for the joy and beauty that they bring to all of us.
Living Bird-Friendly will provide more information about how to live more “bird friendly”, including
eliminating window collisions; decreasing light pollution; planting native plants and flowers; and
following bird-friendly pest control strategies. According to Pequot Library Adult Programs Manager
Charlie McMahon, “Pequot Library is proud to take a leadership role on this important topic by
convening area experts who can teach us all about how to best care for our environment and natural
world. This series follows International Dark Skies Week (April 2-8), and is planned as part of the library’s
ongoing climate and environment crisis initiative. Last year we hosted the ‘Lights Out Panel,’ and this
year, we’re thrilled to further that mission.”
The 2024 program hosts and committee members would like to devote this talk to the memory of Flaco,
the New York City Eurasian owl that captured the public’s imagination, who died as a result of an avian
virus as well as lethal levels of four different kinds of rat poison from eating poisoned rodents on the city
streets. We aim to use this series to help raise awareness of the threat of rodenticides to our raptor
populations.
Pequot Library has paired with 11 local advocates and nonprofits, creating programs for participants of
all ages. For example, children will delight in the Owl and Hawk Encounter: Meet Amazing Nighttime
Neighbors on April 13 at 10:30. This activity, featuring live birds, will be led by representatives from
Connecticut Audubon Society and the Fairfield Pollinator Pathway. “It brings people joy to see bluebirds
in their yard or hear a robin sing–or catch a glimpse of a hummingbird or a screech owl, but it’s not easy
for birds these days. They face so many different perils,” said Meredith Barges, co-chair of Lights Out
Connecticut. “This series is all about giving people the tools and knowledge they need to turn their yards
into safe, colorful, vibrant places where birds can thrive.”
Other programs will explain how to make your home or business safer and more inviting for birds. Each
session will feature a short presentation by experts followed by hands-on learning about the practical
aspects of making your home a safe haven where birds can thrive. In the process, gain a greater
understanding of the different threats that our native birds face in Fairfield and across Connecticut.

Community partners involved in this series include Fairfield Forestry Committee, Lights Out Connecticut,
Dark Sky, UrbanScapes Native Plant Nursery, Mow Green, Connecticut Pesticide Reform, Fairfield
Pollinator Pathway, Aspetuck Land Trust, Connecticut Audubon Society, and Sustainable Fairfield.
ABOUT LIGHTS OUT CONNECTICUT: Lights Out Connecticut is a nonprofit project of the Menunkatuck
Audubon Society working across Connecticut to pass meaningful nighttime lighting policies and increase
public understanding of light pollution’s harms for migratory birds and local ecosystems. We organize
residents, businesses, and schools to turn off or dim nonessential lights during peak bird migration with
our online pledge. For more information, visit www.lightsoutct.org.
ABOUT FAIRFIELD FORESTRY: Appointed by the Town Tree Warden, the Forestry Committee, founded in
2006, is charged with promoting stewardship of Town-owned trees and assisting the Tree Warden with
the implementation of the Town’s Community Forest Management Plan. The committee pursues its
mission by: providing public events and programs to encourage participation in the Community Forest
Management Plan; providing opportunities for the general public to give feedback regarding the
Community Forest Management Plan; conducting studies at the direction of the Tree Warden; providing
advisory assistance to the Tree Warden; pursuing grants and other sources of funds to advance the
Community Forest Management Plan; and encouraging and supporting the participation of residents
and neighborhood groups for implementing the Community Forest Management Plan.

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