Commission Approves Drop Plan, Law Courses Unanimously

Other Committee · Meeting of September 28, 2026

Norwalk Police Commission honored officers who tried to save a teen struck by a train and approved two personnel moves. Chief Walsh credited Sergeant John Toronto, Officer Francois Van Rensburg and Officer Cory Oughton for performing CPR on an elevated rail span after an August 5 strike near the Watershed hotel; the teenager later died at Norwalk Hospital. Walsh called the response "a heroic effort" and said FOI requests have topped 1,000 year-to-date, a "significant increase" over last year.

The commission unanimously approved law school courses for Detective Christopher Emperato and a January 1, 2027 retirement drop plan for Sergeant Alex Tolney. Deputy Chief Blake Lepore, who filled in for the vacationing Deputy Chief Dino on several reports, was set to leave for a 10-week FBI National Academy program in Quantico, Virginia.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,388 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of September 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

Roll Call and Minutes

The Norwalk Police Commission convened a special meeting on September 28, 2026, at 4:30 p.m., chaired by Mayor Smith. Roll call recorded commissioners Collier-Clemens, Tony Lopez, Nate Sumter and Ron Paladino present, along with Chief Walsh, Deputy Chief Blake Lepore and Sergeant John Toronto. Commissioner Collier-Clemens moved acceptance of the minutes of the August 17, 2026 meeting, which the commission approved without discussion. No members of the public signed up to speak during the public participation period.

Officer of the Month: Fatal Train Strike Rescue

Background and stakes: The item brought before the commission was a routine monthly recognition item, but it carried into a detailed account of a fatal emergency response from August 5, 2026, that the commission had not previously reviewed in public session.

The question before the body: Whether to formally recognize three officers for actions during the train strike incident, as proposed by Chief Walsh.

Substantive content: Walsh told the commission that combined dispatch received a call just after 8:09 p.m. on August 5 reporting a person struck by a train near Glover Avenue. Responding units and dispatchers worked through several location corrections before determining the strike had actually occurred at the rear of the Watershed hotel, at 353 Main Avenue, on a rail span crossing the river. Three people were found walking on the tracks; one, a juvenile male, was struck and left beneath the train on an elevated section of track that Walsh described as having "nothing more than keeping them from plummeting 30 feet into the rocks and river below." Sergeant John Toronto, Officer Francois Van Rensburg and Officer Cory Oughton reached the victim and performed CPR, while Sergeant Joseph Moquin and Officer Steven Aniskevitz assisted with equipment and communication from the span. The teenager was removed by stretcher and taken to Norwalk Hospital, where he later died. Walsh said he and Deputy Chief Lepore both responded to the scene that evening.

The deliberation: Walsh credited Norwalk Fire Department and Norwalk EMS alongside the named officers, saying none of the responders "hesitated a minute." Mayor Smith and multiple commissioners spoke in turn to thank the officers, with one commissioner noting that "these are the kinds of heroic things that people sometimes don't know and don't attribute it to the police department."

"I too would like to thank Sergeant Toronto and his team for everything they do and keeping Norwalk safe and doing a job that puts their lives in danger to save other people, and we really appreciate everything that you do." — a commissioner, following Mayor Smith's remarks

Procedural steps and outcome: This was a recognition item, not a vote. No formal motion was required or taken.

Implications and what is next: The recognition puts on public record a rescue attempt that involved significant risk to officers on unstable rail infrastructure, and names the officers and department resources (fire, EMS) involved in a fatal incident that affected a city rail crossing used by Metro-North.

Chief's Executive Report

Background and stakes: Monthly executive reports are a standing agenda item giving the commission oversight of staffing, finances and department initiatives.

The question before the body: To receive and review the chief's report for August 2026.

Substantive content: Walsh reported 185 sworn personnel at month's end, two over current budgeted staffing in anticipation of September and ongoing retirements. Sergeant Shannon Shury was listed on administrative leave. The report noted 197.63 sick days used departmentwide, with one officer on extended FMLA leave, and five workman's compensation days for the month, which Walsh called low. Ten officers were in the post-academy awaiting fall and winter graduation, and three background investigations were underway for recently sworn candidates. Combined dispatch carried 21 telecommunicator supervisors, and 14 civilian employees filled support roles at full staffing. The senior animal control officer position, vacated by a September 11 retirement, has a selected replacement now going through HR onboarding.

On finances, Walsh said 16 percent of the overtime budget and 16 percent of the salary budget had been used year-to-date, with overtime down an average of 30 percent from July 2025 across major divisions: uniform patrol overtime down 30 percent, special services down 27 percent, detective bureau down 41 percent, and training division down 23 percent. Year-to-date school security costs totaled $9,382.40. The state and federal asset forfeiture account balance stood at $408,268, down 2 percent from the prior comparison period (Walsh corrected a typographical error in the written report during the meeting, noting the comparison should read 2026 rather than an earlier reference commissioners flagged). In August, the department requested 705 extra-duty jobs, 674 of which were worked, a 96 percent fill rate, totaling 7,501 hours; 108 jobs were called off, either by sick officers or contractor cancellation. The department logged more than 1,000 Freedom of Information Act requests year-to-date for 2026.

The deliberation: A commissioner asked how the FOI volume compared to the prior year.

"Dave, can I just ask, how does that compare to last year?" [00:11:08] — a commissioner, addressing Chief Walsh

Walsh responded that the increase was "significant" and said he could prepare a year-end numbers analysis. A separate commissioner asked about a "dog warden fee" line item; Walsh explained it reflects fees collected at the city's animal control facility on South Smith Street when owners redeem dogs, with the fee increasing if an animal is picked up roaming repeatedly. Commissioners also thanked Walsh for a new administrative data dashboard, which Walsh said had been in development "for a couple of years" and was completed in partnership with an outside vendor over about five months.

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was required; this was an informational report.

Implications and what is next: The FOI backlog and the two-over-budget staffing level are items Walsh indicated he would continue to track, with a year-end comparative analysis expected.

Operations Reports: Detective Bureau, Community Affairs and Administrative Divisions

Background and stakes: With Deputy Chief Dino on vacation, Deputy Chief Blake Lepore presented the detective bureau, community affairs and administrative/professional standards reports in his place, continuing the commission's monthly operational review.

The question before the body: To receive division-level statistics for August 2026.

Substantive content: Lepore reported the detective bureau opened slightly more cases than the same month last year while most investigative volumes declined; family violence cases were down by 10 compared to last year. The marine unit responded to 42 calls, rescuing five people and citing nine boating violations. The abandoned vehicle unit handled 103 calls and towed 31 vehicles. Calls for service were down from 2025, while arrests rose by four to 160. The department issued 1,655 infractions in August for a year-to-date total of 9,071.

For community affairs, Lepore reported 1,338 calls for service in August (74,24 year-to-date, as stated in the report), seven community outreach events (93 year-to-date), and selective traffic enforcement in 78 locations, 26 based on a UConn traffic-safety database and four from residential requests. The traffic unit logged 1,078 total stops in August, including 576 Norwalk residents and 90 out-of-state drivers, for 4,583 stops year-to-date. The behavioral health unit opened 39 new cases, closed 20, hospitalized 14 and made 11 referrals. The animal control unit handled 60 incidents, including two bites, and redeemed six dogs.

For the administrative and professional standards report, Lepore said 92 people were fingerprinted in August for pistol permits, with two denials; the crime scene unit processed 140 pieces of evidence and the property unit took in 138 items. Grant-funded DUI and aggressive-driving enforcement, which ended the first week of September, produced 96 car stops, 456 infractions and 15 arrests in August; year-end DUI grant totals reached 744 car stops, 156 field sobriety tests and 130 arrests, while the speed and aggressive-driving grant logged 889 car stops and 882 infractions over 708 hours. The detective promotional exam is scheduled for November 7, with assessment centers the following week. The department's accreditation recertification audit begins October 9.

The deliberation: A commissioner asked whether body and dashboard camera video requests were part of the FOI total; Lepore said some are FOI requests, others are court, insurance or attorney requests, "but the most important one is the attorney's requests." Following the three division reports, a commissioner praised the department's bench strength.

"Any one of the chiefs, deputy chiefs can step in when one is on vacation or whatever, whether the chief is there, and we get these excellent reports the same as though that's your particular expertise." — a commissioner

Procedural steps and outcome: These were informational reports; no votes were taken.

Implications and what is next: The reports show continued declines in overtime and several crime categories alongside rising behavioral-health and FOI caseloads, trends Lepore and Walsh indicated would be revisited as school resumes and SRO-related activity picks up in September.

Personnel Matters: Law School Course Approval and Retirement Drop Plan

Background and stakes: Two personnel items required formal commission action: a training course approval and a retirement drop plan, both governed by department policy and the collective bargaining agreement.

The question before the body: Whether to approve Detective Christopher Emperato's law school coursework and Sergeant Alex Tolney's drop plan application.

Substantive content: Walsh told the commission Emperato, enrolled at Pace Law School and pursuing a Juris Doctor after completing a bachelor's degree, requested approval to take property law, constitutional law and professional responsibility. Walsh said a law degree would help Emperato with case investigation and trial preparation and could qualify him as a Police Officer Standards and Training Council certified instructor, enabling him to teach POST certification courses such as constitutional law, criminal law and search-and-seizure law to Norwalk officers. Walsh noted the commission has approved earlier coursework for Emperato toward the same degree.

Separately, Walsh presented a drop plan application for Sergeant Alex Tolney, whose date of appointment is April 29, 1999, and who has proposed a retirement date of January 1, 2027. Walsh said he reviewed the application package, included in the meeting materials, and confirmed Tolney had satisfied the requirements of the collective bargaining agreement to enter the drop plan effective January 1, 2027.

The deliberation: Commissioners offered brief supportive comments on both items.

"That's really to be appreciated for pursuing excellence, and it just gives us that much more of a trained staff." — a commissioner, on Emperato's course request

Procedural steps and outcome: A commissioner moved approval of Emperato's course application; the commission approved it unanimously by voice vote. A commissioner then moved the Tolney drop plan application, which the commission also approved unanimously.

Implications and what is next: Tolney's drop plan locks in a January 1, 2027 retirement date under the union contract, part of what Walsh called an approaching wave of departmental retirements; Emperato's coursework continues toward a law degree the department has signaled interest in supporting for training and prosecution purposes.

Informational Items: Commendation Letters and a Deputy Chief's FBI Assignment

Background and stakes: The commission's informational items segment covers correspondence and staffing notices that do not require a vote but are entered into the record.

The question before the body: None requiring action; informational only.

Substantive content: A resident named Anna, who identified herself as a social worker, wrote to thank Sergeant Ryan Everett and Officer Casmar Clarke for their help during her husband's mental health crisis, calling the officers "outstanding" and noting she has "seen the different ways officers can interact during these situations, positive and negative." A second letter, from residents Stephen and Claudette (surname not read into the record), praised the Norwalk Night Out event organized through the department's PAL and FBI citizens outreach programs, calling it "a well-run, giving and fun event"; Walsh credited Lieutenant Tejada with organizing his first Norwalk Night Out. Walsh also announced Deputy Chief Lepore would leave the following day for a 10-week assignment at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, for executive and leadership training, with an expected return in mid-December.

The deliberation: Commissioners offered congratulations to Lepore.

"Congratulations, and all the best of luck. Thank you. You'll be missed." — a commissioner, addressing Deputy Chief Lepore

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote required. The commission moved to adjourn, which passed unanimously by voice vote.

Implications and what is next: Lepore's 10-week absence means Deputy Chief Dino, once back from vacation, and other command staff will cover her duties through mid-December; the commission's next regular meeting was not specified in the available materials.

Mayor Smith, chair, presiding Commissioner Collier-Clemens, member, moved acceptance of the minutes Commissioner Tony Lopez, member Commissioner Nate Sumter, member Commissioner Ron Paladino, member Chief Walsh, Norwalk Police Department Deputy Chief Blake Lepore, Norwalk Police Department, presented detective bureau, community affairs and administrative reports in Deputy Chief Dino's absence Deputy Chief Dino, Norwalk Police Department, absent, on vacation Sergeant John Toronto, present at roll call, later recognized as officer of the month No members of the public participated during the public comment period.

Metro-North Railroad — operator of the train involved in the August 5 fatal strike near the Watershed hotel on Main Avenue. Norwalk Fire Department and Norwalk EMS — jointly responded to the train strike incident with police officers. Norwalk Hospital — received the juvenile struck by the train, who later died there. Pace Law School — institution where Detective Christopher Emperato is pursuing a law degree, cited in the course approval item. Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) — state body whose certified-instructor status Walsh said Emperato's law degree could help him obtain. FBI National Academy, Quantico, Virginia — training program Deputy Chief Lepore will attend for 10 weeks beginning September 30. Norwalk PAL / FBI citizens outreach — organizers, with Lieutenant Tejada, of the Norwalk Night Out event referenced in a commendation letter. UConn traffic-safety database — cited as the basis for 26 of 78 selective traffic enforcement locations in the community affairs report. August 17, 2026 meeting minutes — approved without discussion at the start of the meeting. Chief's executive report and attached financial spreadsheet for August 2026 — basis for the staffing, overtime and asset forfeiture figures discussed. Sergeant Alex Tolney's drop plan application package — reviewed by Chief Walsh and included in meeting materials, cited as satisfying the collective bargaining agreement's requirements.