(Westport, CT) On Thursday, September 7 th , the Westport Police Department received its official Tier 1 Accredited Status from Connecticut P.O.S.T.C (Police Officers Standards and Training Council). The official award of accreditation follows the department’s multiyear effort to voluntarily self-evaluate its policies and procedures and compare them to best practices and standards as outlined by P.O.S.T.C.
The Final phase of this process involves inviting P.O.S.T.C assessors in, to inspect those policies, their implementation, and tour the Police Department to verify that all are in compliance with the stipulated best practices and procedures as outlined in P.O.S.T.C standards.
Chief of Police Fotios Koskinas states: “It is an honor to receive this status and recognition from P.O.S.T.C as well as a testament to the hard work and professionalism of this agency and all those employed here both sworn and civilian. The highest of all honors is to be recognized by your peers, today’s award signifies that. I would also like to recognize Staff Corporal Ashley Delvecchio and Deputy Chief Vincent Penna for their hard work, dedication and professionalism in completing this task in a timely and efficient manner.” This process is completely voluntary and achieving it places the Westport Police Department among only 40 of the Connecticut Police Departments to obtain this status.
Left to right Milford Police Chief Keith Mello (Chairman of the POSTC Council), Staff Corporal Ashley DelVecchio ( Westport PD Accreditation Manager), Westport Deputy Police Chief Vincent Penna
On August 8 th , 2017, the victim of this incident came to the Westport Police Department to report she was sexually assaulted the previous day. The victim explained that the assault took place at the Westport Inn by a man she was having an online relationship with. The male suspect, identified as Ashwin Mathur, age 23 of Stamford, CT, told the victim that he was a police officer. On the night of the incident, the victim reported that Mathur was wearing a badge when he arrived to pick her up. Westport Police Detectives investigated the incident and interviewed both the suspect and the victim. Based on the information learned from these interviews, Detectives submitted a warrant to Norwalk Court to arrest Ashwin Mathur. On September 14, 2017, Mathur’s vehicle was stopped by a Stamford Police Officer and he was taken into custody
for the outstanding warrant. Westport Police Officers responded to the Stamford Police Department and took custody of Mathur. He was transported to Westport Police headquarters where he was processed and charged with Sexual Assault 3 rd degree, Unlawful Restraint 2 nd degree, and Impersonating a Police Officer. He was released after posting the $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Court on 09/27/17.
#Westport CT–In late August of 2017, the Westport Police Department received a sexual assault complaint from a juvenile victim. The victim reported being sexually assaulted by a tutor over a period of time.
The tutor was identified as Juan Torres Jr, age 40, of Waterbury, CT. The victim further reported Torres took nude photos of the victim. On September 9th, Westport Detectives executed a search warrant on Torres’ residence in Waterbury. Detectives discovered evidence at the residence which corroborated the victim’s complaint. Torres was taken into custody later that evening at the Waterbury Police Department. He was transported to the Westport Police Department where he was processed and charged with Risk of Injury to a Child (12 counts), Sexual Assault 2 nd degree (10 counts) and Sexual Assault 4 th degree. Torres was released after posting $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on 09/18/17.
#Westport CT–With election season upon us, the Westport Police Department would like to remind its citizens of the regulations pertaining to temporary signs in Town. Unfortunately, we have experienced vandalism and theft regarding temporary signs in the past. This type of behavior will not be tolerated. These crimes may lead to criminal charges such as Trespassing, Criminal Mischief and/or Larceny.
The following policy has been established by Westport Town Officials in order to provide coordination for the placement of temporary signs by Westport non-profit organizations wishing to advertise one-time- only charitable events. Signs placed on public property advertising a private business or company will be removed.
General Guidelines for ALL Temporary Signs
Town property includes traffic islands and road rights of way.
The Town may not approve, nor is it responsible for, any signs erected on State of Connecticut property. It is not advisable to place signs on State of Connecticut property (including rights of way and islands along Routes 1, 136, 57, 33, and the Sherwood Island Connector, nor on the exit or entrance ramps of I-95 or the Merritt Parkway) as the State may remove them.
No sign may be placed on any school property without the prior permission of
the Superintendent’s Office.
No sign may be placed within the interior of Compo Beach or Longshore Club
Park.
No sign may be placed on Town Hall property.
No sign may be placed on trees or utility poles.
No sign may interfere with traffic visibility.
Signs on private property require property owner approval. Signs on private property shall not extend beyond the property line or into the Town right-of- way and is suggested they be removed within 2 days after the publicized event or election.
Temporary Signs for Political Purposes
Political signs are considered an expression of free speech and are allowed on public property. The General Guidelines noted above apply to temporary signs for political purposes.
Temporary Signs for Advertising Charitable Events
The placement and locations of temporary signs on Town property for the purpose of advertising a charitable event requires review and approval by the Westport Police Chief, Director of Planning and Zoning, and Director of Parks & Recreation, or their designated representatives. Qualifying organizations (i.e. local non-profits) may send the attached request, including proposed locations, for the placement of temporary signs to: Selectman's Office, Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT 06880 or selectman@westportct.gov.
The following conditions will apply to charitable events:
A maximum of 15 signs are allowed for each such event. This includes directional signs.
The signs may be erected not more than 2 weeks before the event and must be
removed within 2 days after the publicized event.
The size of the sign cannot exceed 2 feet by 3 feet.
Non-compliance may result in the removal of signs.
Please note that this Press Release pertains to Town of Westport roads, and not State Roads, like Route 1, Route 33, Route 57 and Route 136.
#Westport CT– On 06/12/2017 at approximately 10:45am, Westport Detective Sharon Russo was advised by People's Bank Security of an incident of fraudulent ATM transactions that occurred at the
People’s Bank, 371 Post Road East, Westport on 06/11/2017. Detective Russo was advised that the same suspect was arrested in Darien earlier that same day on the 12th, while conducting the same type of transactions. The suspect, identified as Gabriel Enache, approached the ATM vestibule in Westport and made several transactions using several different cards. Enache was able to use multiple fraudulent ATM cards during these transactions. Detective Russo determined that Enache fraudulently obtained $3,780.00 and attempted an additional $1,400.00 from a total of 27 transactions in Westport. 8 customer accounts were compromised as a result of this activity. Enache continued this criminal act in Fairfield then Darien, where she was captured. Detective Russo compared the surveillance footage from the Westport People’s Bank to the Darien footage. Detective Russo positively identified Gabriela Enache as the same female suspect.
On 06/14/2017, People’s Bank Security advised Detectives of more fraudulent transactions by Enache which took place in May and early June of 2017. In these cases, Enache successfully obtained an additional $4,640.00 by using fraudulently manufactured debit cards. Detective Russo submitted a Warrant to Norwalk Court for the arrest of Enache. On 8/28/2017 at approximately 10:30am, Westport Officers responded to Bridgeport Court to serve Enache for the active arrest warrant. (Enache was transported from the Willimantic Women’s Prison to appear in Bridgeport Court for a prior arrest out of Fairfield that she did not make bond on.) Enache was processed and photographed at Bridgeport Court and turned over to the Marshall.
#Westport CT–On May 1, 2017, the victim of this incident came to the Westport Police Department to file a fraud complaint. The victim stated his employee, Michael McCrorken, wrote fraudulent paychecks to himself from the business. The victim owns the company A Dash of Salt which is a catering company located at 971 Post Road East. The victim discovered digital copies of checks made out to McCrorken from his business which he did not authorize. All of the signatures on the checks made out to McCrorken were not the owner’s signature. Officer Taylor Field worked closely with the victim and Webster Bank and determined that 37 fraudulent checks were created and signed by McCrorken which totaled over $23,000.00. Officer Field submitted an arrest warrant to Norwalk Court for the arrest of McCrorken. On August 29, 2017, Westport Officers responded to the Adult Probation Office in Norwalk and took custody of McCrorken who had an appointment that day. McCrorken was transported to Westport Police Headquarters where he was processed for the Larceny and Forgery charges. He was held on a $25,000 bond.
(Westport, CT) On Wednesday, September 6th , the Westport Police Department was notified of a threat made in an online gaming chat room in late August. The individual threatened violence at a school near his home on September 8 th . The Federal Bureau of Investigation traced the threat back to a Westport public school student. The student’s parents were notified and were cooperative with investigators. At no time did the youth have access to any weapons. The student was interviewed the F.B.I. and Westport investigators and has since been charged with 53a-181 Breach of Peace 2 nd and 53a-62 Threatening 2nd .
The Westport Police Department has been working closely with Westport Public School administrators and we are confident the safety of students is not in jeopardy. Additionally, the school administration will be addressing the issue and following up with appropriate disciplinary action.
This Westport Police press release was made possible by:
#Westport CT–Elaine Daignault, Director of the Westport Department of Human Services announces the return of the American Job Center Southwest’s (formerly known as CTWorks) Career Coach at Westport Town Hall. On Thursday, September 14, the Coach will offer a beginner’s class in Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 from 10 a.m. – noon, followed by an intermediate class in PowerPoint 2013 from 1 – 3 p.m. The Career Coach is a “training center” tour bus equipped with ten wireless computer labs offering free computer classes to residents in the greater Norwalk area. The mobile unit operates on a monthly schedule of visits to various community locations and is accessible to people with disabilities.
Area residents interested in registering should contact the Westport Department of Human Services at 203-341-1050 or via e-mail at humansrv@westportct.gov. For more information, including the current Career Coach schedule, check the website for American Job Center Southwest at http://www.ajcswct.com
.
Ms. Daignault stated, “I hope that by offering the American Job Center Southwest’s Career Coach in the Westport area, many residents who wish to improve their computer skills will find it convenient and useful in pursuing their personal goals.
At 8:53 this evening the Westport Fire Department Communications Center received a 911 call from an employee at Trader Joes on the Post Road reporting a fire in a refrigeration unit inside the store. The employee was attempting to extinguish the fire using a fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful. Dispatch advised the employee to pull the fire alarm to evacuate the store. Two engines, a truck company, and the shift commander responded initially. The first unit to arrive found smoke coming from the front of the store so the call was upgraded to a full structure fire response bringing an additional two engines from Westport and an additional engine from Fairfield. Firefighters confirmed with Trader Joes management that the store was fully evacuated and then located a deep seated fire inside a freezer unit. As the fire was being controlled, firefighters checked surrounding stores for extension of the smoke and made their way to the basement of Trader Joes to secure power inside the store. The fire was quickly confined to a small area
within the store’s main level and fully extinguished within approximately 15 minutes, while firefighters checked the surrounding areas of the store with thermal imaging cameras.
During the fire, Norwalk Fire Department provided coverage at Westport Headquarters for any simultaneous emergency calls. The last Westport fire unit cleared the scene at 10:31PM
The Westport Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Never ignore a fire alarm, assume that it is a false alarm or that it is a test. The most important thing you can do when the fire alarm sounds leave the building and do not re-enter the building until advised to do so by the Fire Department.
9:00pm–#Westport Ct– Firefighters on scene of a reported structure fire at Trader Joe’s at 400 Post Road East. Norwalk is providing mutual aid firehouse coverage.
