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Stamford Police Department Announces the Formation of the Parks Enforcement Unit

Post Date:11/13/2018 9:30 AM

October 24th 2018-  Mayor David Martin today announced that the Stamford Police Department is instituting a Parks Enforcement Unit. This specialized unit is responsible for the enforcement of state statutes and city rules and regulations in Stamford parks. The unit will be led by Captain Thomas Lombardo, someone with forty five years of law enforcement experience and a former Parks and Recreations commissioner, and is comprised of existing park police and uniform patrol officers. Several police officers will be detailed for the peak park usage months beginning April 1, 2019 through October 1, 2019.

Mayor Martin has listened to residents’ concerns and brought them to Chief Jonathan Fontneau and the Department’s Assistant Chiefs. With more than a hundred years of law enforcement experience, they developed this specialized unit to address enforcement and quality of life issues.  This will operate in addition to the current police patrols that occur in City parks to ensure that our parks are safe.  

“I have directed Chief Fontneau and his command staff to develop solutions to improve our park police presence, and as a result, they formed the Parks Enforcement Unit” said Mayor David Martin. “The Stamford Police Department’s new Parks Enforcement Unit will address park safety and quality of life concerns, while operating alongside the daily police operations and patrols that currently occur in our parks.”

Ted Jankowski the Director of Public Safety stated, “The Stamford Police Department’s mission is to ensure that City parks and facilities remain safe for all persons to enjoy by enforcing local laws and ordinances. This new park enforcement model will be based on similar Police units such as Traffic Enforcement, Narcotics and Organized Crime, etc, that specialize in particular areas of crime and crime deterrence. The success of this new program is bas on available funding. ”

Police Chief Jonathan Fontneau stated, “The Stamford Police Department is the primary law enforcement authority responsible for City Parks. Stamford Parks are safe, however, there are concerns that the Mayor has asked us to address.  To address the Mayor’s directive, we are forming a Stamford Police Department Parks Enforcement Unit.”

The Parks Enforcement Unit will be tasked with patrolling and responding to calls for service within the City’s parks.  The officers will patrol both on foot as well as in their vehicles.  They will also investigate crimes that occur on park property and conduct additional operations as necessary.  They aim to be a highly visible presence throughout the park system during high usage months.

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