Police Chief: Demands for Service Continue to Grow

UPDATE Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas tonight addressed the Board of Finance prior to the board’s unanimous approval of the Police Department’s $9 million operating budget for next year. Koskinas said that the demands on police staff have increased as population and housing units continue to grow even as the department has undergone 10 to 12 years of staff reductions. For example, the housing development underway at 1177 Post Road east across from Crate & Barrel would most likely require a three-car response instead of two to a domestic call because of the rental housing development’s complex layout, he said. By the end of the evening the finance board had approved the town budget of $80,390,686, a 1.2 percent increase over last year’s town budget. The board takes up the education portion on Thursday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com