Patch Candidate Profile: Daniel Cruson For Newtown Police Commission

NEWTOWN, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name: Daniel Cruson

What office are you seeking? Police Commission

What town do you live in? Newtown

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: Web Developer - 19 years

Family: Wife - Bethany (40), Children - Daniel (15), Nicholas (12)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Previous public office, appointive or elective: Newtown Board of Education from 2016 - 2023, Newtown Board of Selectmen from 2023 - 2025

Why are you seeking this office? I am looking to continue my service to my hometown and feel I have a number of skills that would benefit the Police Commission.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: Newtown has a number of issues facing it, but the one that is most directly addressed by the Police Commission is traffic. This is an ever-present issue in Newtown, especially with continued development of the town. This will require continued analysis of circumstances and consideration of lots of different potential solutions depending on the area of town being addressed. There isn't a one sized fits all solution to the problem.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I bring a new viewpoint to the Police Commission being a civilian without a history in law enforcement. Experience in law enforcement isn't a bad thing, but it does lead to the potential to view everything through only that lens. Having a member of the Police Commission looking at things through a different lens will help bring a well rounded approach to the work as a whole.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? I know from my work on the budget as a member of the Board of Selectmen that the Police Department is restricted by a lack of funding, resulting in a need to scale back on the community outreach and events. I would like to work toward getting the department the resources it needs to make these available again without compromising the core work of the Police Department.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? When I was on the Board of Education I was the liaison to the District Safety and Security Committee, which is a joint committee between the school district, Police Department, Emergency Services and other parties focused on the safety and security of the schools. I enjoyed that work and the collaboration between all the bodies and learned a lot about how the Police Department and Emergency Services work together. In addition, I was a member, and ultimately chair of, the Board of Education policy committee. The Police Commission is responsible for approving policy and I feel my experience will be valuable in that respect.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? To make decisions and vote based on your own judgement and research instead of the desires of a political party.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I am deeply invested in Newtown as it is my hometown and I am honored to have played such a varied role over the years. I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Newtown in a new role.