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NORWALK, Conn. – The new team at the top of Norwalk's cop shop is "definitely the tops," according to Lt. Paul Vinett.
"We're so happy, we were all waiting for this day and it's finally come to fruition," Vinett said Wednesday after Thomas Kulhawik was sworn in as Norwalk's new chief of police and David Wrinn as his deputy. "We're sad to see Chief Rilling leave, he's done a tremendous job here at the department.
"But we know that Tom and Dave working as a team together — I should say Chief Kulhawik and Deputy Chief Wrinn working together — are going to be fabulous, absolutely fabulous team to lead this department. I'm going to be very proud working for both of them."
Kulhawik accepted the post with gratitude, thanking the many people in the room, including former Chief Harry Rilling, as shown in the video above.
The Rev. Nellie Mann, who is on leave from her post as the Norwalk police chaplain, said she was happy Kulhawik was chosen.
"He has 30 years of experience," she said. "He knows the community, he knows every police officer. I have a lot of respect for him because I've had the opportunity to be the interviewer for police officers coming in. I've seen coming him in and out. He's easy to talk to, and he's going to be wonderful for the community. I'm very excited for him. He certainly has my vote."
Kulhawik was "a very impressive candidate" when he was considered for deputy chief in 2007, police commissioner Dan O'Connor said. "I still find him a very impressive candidate. He was my No. 1 pick for deputy chief back in 2007 and he is my pick for chief in 2012."
Vinett is thrilled with the team and that they are home grown. "They work well together, they communicate with people well. They know our needs. They came up through the ranks," Vinnet said. "They've done so much for the department already, but they just keep moving on and forging ahead, as they have."
You can learn more about the men by opening the attachment below.
Comments (7)
Crime is epidemic and out of control in Norwalk. Let us not forget this happened when Kulhawik was deputy chief so in other words these many many unsolved violent crimes happened under his watch. Moccia had the opportunity to get someone from outside the old boys club of the NPD but instead he was more concerned about the police union endorsement.
I ask the question once again what did Kulhawik do to warrant promotion???
Anyone with information is urged to contact Norwalk Police via the tipline at (203) 854-3111 or leave an anonymous tip online at
https://www.tipsubmit.com/WebTips.aspx?AgencyID=143
Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing "NPD" into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637).
Wonder when the City will update its website so residents can shoot the new Chief e-mails.
Hey Ken - there's already too much 'shooting' in Norwalk - how about we 'send' him some emails? [wink]
In all seriousness, I hope they can help turn this city around. I'm really getting more and more fed up every day with the violence. If my parents, who live in a suburb of Buffalo, NY, ever heard how much gun violence we had in Norwalk - where I'm raising their 2 small grandchildren - they'd have heart attacks. I try to keep them sheltered so they're not sick with worry every day.
Tarisita,
I agree with you that the violence is unacceptable, and I hope the Norwalk PD under the leadership of the new Chief will find new and innovative ways to prevent it. At the end of the day, the only acceptable level of violence in Norwalk is zero.
Yet, I read all the same news accounts that you do, and it doesn't seem to me like there's an EPIDEMIC of violence in Norwalk. Some commenters here have been one-string banjos trying to make it seem like there is, for what appear to be political reasons. I disagree. In certain depressed areas, like around Woodward Avenue or near housing projects, there is gang and criminal activity and the usual accompanying violence. But do you really feel like there is a level of violence that would make anyone who lives in a decent part of town feel unsafe?
Well, there was the shooting near Jefferson School...and the recent one of the guy found near the hospital.
BUT, both those had people calling the police, the Jefferson School one as soon as shots were heard, the recent one as soon as the person was seen.
Citizens need to help the police by calling them when things happen.
tkulhawik@norwalkct.org