Interim Police Chief Leon M. Krolikowski Jr. has been promoted to permanent New Canaan police chief, the police commission announced Thursday morning, Sept. 19. The commission voted in Krolikowski during its Wednesday night meeting.
“I am very excited, as is my family,” Krolikowski told the Advertiser. “It’s been a pretty intensive process over last three months. It’s nice to have some finality.”
“I am excited to be New Canaan’s police chief and lead the department and do some things so we can better the community,” he added.
The decision was expected in October but the commission decided to go with its only internal finalist for the job. The five finalists — of more than 70 applicants — met for a daylong assessment earlier this month. After that, Jim Cole, the Police Commission chairman, said he and his fellow commissioners had a tough choice ahead of them.
“It was extremely close,” Cole told the Advertiser Thursday morning. “Anyone of the top five would have made an excellent police chief. The top two candidates were extraordinary. It was a very hard decision. Several things went into it, of course.”
Krolikowski has held the interim position since June 28 when former Chief Edward Nadriczny retired after seven years of leading the NCPD.
Cole said both candidates have outstanding credentials and when it came down to a final decision, it was about the small details, including that Krolikowski is a New Canaan resident who has dedicated his police career to the town. Cole added that Krolikowski did an “excellent job as interim police chief,” which factored into the final decision.
“He demonstrated that he has plans to improve the police department and plans to make changes,” Cole said. “They were well thought out and the amount of planning that went into this effort on his part was really one of the ingredients.”
As chief, Krolikowski plans to create a traffic enforcement unit to investigate motor vehicle accidents and to better enforce speeding and distracted driving. Other goals of his include reorganizing the department so it more effectively serves the community, as well as increasing staff complements to implement a school resource officer at Saxe Middle School.
Krolikowski will hold his first lunch and/or dinner as chief with the community on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at noon and then at 7 at the police department. Those interested can bring their own lunch or dinner and share their comments and concerns with the chief.
Krolikowski is a 24-year veteran of the police department and prior to his appointment as interim chief he was a Captain and Commander of the Operations Division. Chief Krolikowski has a law degree (juris doctorate from 2003) from Quinnipiac University and is a candidate for a master’s degree in business from the University of Massachusetts. He is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.
He’s been a New Canaan resident for more than 20 years. Krolikowski’s wife, Anna, owns the Baskin-Robbins on Main Street. The couple has three children, Morgan, Kelsey and Ryan, in the town schools.
“I am thankful for all the support from the community I received every day,” Krolikowski said. “People asked me every day what was happening. It’s great that I am able to live here and get the support of the community. Now I can accomplish what I want to.”
Jim Cole, the Police Commission chairman, and Interim Police Chief Leon Krolikowski talk during the Thursday, Aug. 8, school emergency drill at Saxe Middle School. (Joshua Fisher photo)