Chief Walsh presented the department’s executive report for September and addressed staffing levels, crime statistics, accreditation work and enforcement actions.

Staffing and personnel: Chief Walsh said the department had 181 sworn personnel as of the end of September 2025, with two budgeted vacancies, several members on administrative leave or restricted duty, and four officers on light duty for injuries. Civilian staffing in telecommunicators and support positions was reported near full strength, with one telecommunicator candidate in training and interviews scheduled later in October.

Crime statistics and enforcement: The chief cited Connecticut’s first-quarter 2025 crime statistics and said statewide crimes against persons fell 11.1%, while crimes against persons in Norwalk fell about 20.4%. Chief Walsh said crimes against property dropped both statewide and locally (state down 19.1%, Norwalk down 32.1%). He noted crimes against society—an index that includes drug offenses and cruelty to animals—rose 5.1% statewide and 26.7% in Norwalk, and added context that some of the local increase reflected targeted proactive enforcement (narcotics and a cruelty-to-animals investigation that generated multiple arrests).

CALEA and accreditation: The department recently completed a CMRS CALEA review of directives and manuals and has an on-site CALEA assessment scheduled for Oct. 27–29, 2025. Chief Walsh said assessors will conduct interviews and inspections and that deputy chief Lepore is coordinating materials and interview schedules. The department also completed its state reaccreditation review in September with no major deficiencies reported.

Vape shops and ordinance enforcement: The chief summarized a new city ordinance that took effect July 1, 2025, requiring vape shops to register and establishing a three-tier enforcement scheme: an initial $250 infraction, a six-month suspension for a second violation within a year, and license suspension for repeat violations within two years. Chief Walsh said the department issued the first two infractions in the past 30 days and that search warrants executed in September at R & R and A to Z vape shops resulted in arrests and seizures, which he linked to the department’s proactive enforcement.

Extra-duty vendor "Roll Call": Commissioners asked about efficiency and cancellations in the department’s use of an outside extra-duty vendor, Roll Call, which the department began using in January 2022. Chief Walsh explained that Roll Call handles extra-duty job distribution under the collective bargaining agreement; in September there were 1,076 extra-duty jobs requested, 26 cancellations by the vendor, 1,050 total after cancellations, and 956 jobs actually worked (a roughly 91% staffing rate) for 9,663 officer hours. Chief Walsh said officers had not filed grievances related to distribution and that some cancelled jobs reflected weather or contractor decisions; commissioners asked that staff follow up if officers submit specific complaints for evaluation.

Operations highlights: Deputy chief Terrence Blake’s operations report (read in the meeting) showed 190 total arrests in September, 7,671 calls for service, detective-bureau activity including 22 cases opened and eight search warrants, and selective enforcement totals for the year of 11,274 as of Sept. 30. The marine unit responded to rescues and assisted with a barge removal in the harbor. Traffic enforcement produced 951 citations in September, including 12 DUI arrests.

Finance and administration: The chief reported monitored overtime accounts, asset forfeiture balances (about $300,350), and extra-duty staffing reassignments intended to reduce overtime. The department continues to monitor overtime spending and staffing efficiency.