Harry Rilling Public Safety Platform Announcement

Harry Rilling received the endorsement of The American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Local 1727 on Wednesday, the union which represents the employees of the Norwalk Police Department.

"The men and women of the Norwalk Police Union believe that as mayor, Harry Rilling will work to re-establish a cordial working relationship between city employees and city managers, and that he will respect not only the collective bargaining agreements that the city has with their unions, but the spirit of honesty and fairness with which they were written," said Detective David Orr, Local 1727 president, in the statement. 

"With that, the Norwalk Police Union proudly endorses Harry Rilling in his candidacy for mayor of the city of Norwalk," Detective Orr said in the statement.

As a former union member, union president, police member of 41 years, and Police Chief of 17 years, Rilling will respect the value and worth of the police, police retirees, and all city staff that work to make our city safe. “I am proud and humbled to have the endorsement of our hard working police department,” Rilling said in the release. “As mayor I will make sure the police and all city employees have a seat at the table and are heard and respected.”

Rilling will do everything possible to fully staff our city’s police department. He will work to ensure they receive the training, the tools, and the skills necessary to provide for the public’s safety. “I have walked the streets of this city and know what is needed to make sure the people of Norwalk are safe,” said Rilling in the release. Crime decreased significantly under Rilling’s leadership as chief and as mayor he will ensure that trend continues.

Furthermore, Rilling will work with the community as a partner to make Norwalk safe. “Community partnerships are crucial to creating safe and livable cities,” said Rilling in the release, which listed these points:

• Rilling will create more outreach programs for our young people so that they have positive alternatives among which to choose.
• As Rilling works to get Norwalk’s development moving again he will create a downtown ambassador program and encourage young people to serve
• Rilling will aggressively pursue state and federal grants as well as support from private foundations to help fund these initiatives
• Rilling will continue our citizen police academy which was started during his tenure as Chief of Police. He will also conduct a youth police academy to enhance and build positive relationship between them and our officers
• Rilling will continue reaching out to various neighborhood groups, businesses, and community leaders to form crime watch programs to support the chief in his role as a leader of the department.
• As Mayor Rilling will continue his monthly nights out as he did as chief. These nights out will include the police department and other department heads to listen to the citizens of our community and to develop priorities to improve their quality of life.