Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify remarks by Police Chief Foti Koskinas regarding the assignment of officers to the town’s schools.

By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — Police Chief Foti Koskinas had bad news about local crime in his latest monthly report to TEAM Westport.

Points in the chief’s report Thursday to the committee include:

• Crime in general has risen locally in recent months, though not violent crime.
• Car thefts, in particular, have increased, with reports of stolen vehicles “every night.”
• There is a need for more police officers to monitor issues at the town’s schools..
• The superintendent of schools has requested police intervention for incidents involving parents once or twice a month.

“It does worry me,” the police chief said of the rise in crime.

Most of the uptick is the result of crimes committed by juveniles, ranging from about 14 years old to early 20s, Koskinas said.

The chief described the challenges police face dealing with what has become a routine nightly scenario following the report of a stolen vehicle.

Officers are restricted trying to apprehend the suspected thieves by laws that ban high-speed chases because they pose a danger to others on the road.

If the stolen vehicle is abandoned in town, other concerns arise because “now the criminals are up and around the town,” Koskinas said. And after stolen vehicles are found, they usually are damaged. 

Juveniles committing crimes also often have guns, he said, but police have been successful intercepting many of the offenders, he said. “Arrests are being made.” 

While the crime increase may, in part, be caused by issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Koskinas placed most of the blame on the state’s juvenile court and correctional system.

“Kids don’t go to jail any more,” he said. Because of changes in the law and court delays, juveniles have the opportunity to commit other offenses before facing a court hearing and possible incarceration.

“How the state handles juveniles is concerning … It is highly concerning as we go into the summer,” the chief said.

Koskinas also said he would like to secure funding to assign officers responsible for all of Westport’s eight schools. Currently, only Staples High School has a full-time SRO.

The other schools would be covered by officers, not stationed in a school full-time like a resource officer, but assigned to monitor two campuses as part of their daily routine and to respond if a security issue arises.

He requested that funding several years ago, but it was not approved, in part, because objections were voiced by those who do not like the idea of a routine police presence in schools, he said.

The Staples SRO has been beneficial, the chief said. The program “does work well at the high school. It does prevent certain things.” 

Police officers at the middle or elementary schools may have a different focus than at the high school level, but still would be useful, he added.

TEAM Westport members asked the chief what could be done to stem the increase in crime, particularly vehicle theft.

“It’s not a trend. It’s the norm,” he responded, advising: “Lock your car. Don’t leave garage doors open … don’t leave valuables in the car” or keys. 

“We need to be better about being victims,” the chief said. Car thefts “are crimes of opportunity.”

Koskinas also suggested addressing what he said is a lack of parental supervision contributing to the escalation in juvenile crimes. When juveniles are out cruising around at 5 a.m., he said, there is obviously a lack of parental control. “This impacts all of us.”

Elaine Daignault, director of the town’s Department of Human Services, followed the police chief’s report with information about how her agency works with juveniles who have gotten into trouble.

“We have our share of youth that come through the system,” she said. “We’re trying to help these young people make amends.”

The town’s Juvenile Review Board is a panel of community representatives, including the Police Department’s youth officer and the chief, as well as a social worker and others. The board handled 15 cases in the past year, she said. The DHS also offers a mentor program and several other programs to work with troubled youth, she said.

“Our goal is to make them feel connected.”

Koskinas did offer one piece of good news in his report to TEAM Westport. 

During the June observance of Pride month, when the LGBTQ community is recognized and celebrated, there were no reports of discrimination against the local LGBTQ community or the advocacy group Westport Pride, the chief said.

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist and journalism teacher for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman newspaper for 10 years and teaches journalism at Southern Connecticut State University.