Farmington Police Seek Community Feedback

Farmington police are asking residents, workers and other people with ties to the town to fill out a confidential online survey about the department’s performance and community needs. The questionnaire, posted on the Town of Farmington website in March 2024, asks people to rate police service, competence, professionalism and response times. It also asks whether respondents believe crime in Farmington has increased, stayed the same or decreased over the past three years. Chief Colin F. Ryan said in the department’s announcement that the feedback would be used to improve service and support future planning. ### Who is the department asking to respond? The Farmington Police Citizen Survey says people with several kinds of connections to town can participate, including Farmington residents, people who work in Farmington and non-residents. The form asks respondents to identify that connection near the end of the questionnaire. The Town of Farmington police department says community input is part of its broader mission. (farmington-ct.org) On the department’s website, police say effective communication with the community is “critical” to accomplishing that mission and improving service levels. ### What does the survey ask about police interactions? The online form asks whether a respondent has had contact with any member of the Farmington Police Department within the past three years. (farmington-ct.org) If the answer is yes, the survey asks which type of employee was involved, including a dispatcher, police officer, animal control officer, community service officer or administrative and records staff. (farmington-ct.org) The questionnaire also asks what kind of interaction took place, including making a complaint, being a crime victim, being stopped, being arrested, serving as a witness or another community interaction. It then asks whether the department representative listened to concerns and tried to help resolve the issue, and whether the response to a call for service was faster than expected, about what was expected, slower than expected or never came. (farmington-ct.org) ### What broader questions does Farmington want answered? The survey asks respondents to rate overall service to the community, the department’s competence and the department’s professionalism using choices of excellent, good, fair or poor. The form also asks how safe people consider the Town of Farmington, with answer choices of very safe, safe or not safe. (farmington-ct.org) A final open-response section invites “recommendations or suggestions for improvement.” The town’s survey page says that input on where the department needs to improve is “invaluable” to enhancing services and future planning. ### What have town officials said they will do with the feedback? Chief Colin F. Ryan said in the March 2024 announcement, reported by Patch, that the survey would help the department with planning and policies for how it serves the town. (farmington-ct.org) Patch reported that the department issued a call for participants through social media after the survey was posted on the town website. The department has separately said that citizen input is necessary for it to remain responsive to community needs. On the town’s complaints and commendations page, Farmington police say constructive comments about service, “good or bad,” help the department improve and achieve its goals. ### How is this different from filing a complaint? (patch.com) Farmington’s survey is framed as a confidential and voluntary questionnaire about service and public safety priorities, not as a formal misconduct complaint. The survey page asks for ratings and comments, while the department’s separate complaints process allows written, verbal, in-person, mailed, telephone and electronic complaints, including anonymous and third-party complaints. (farmington-ct.org) Captain Kory Vincent oversees internal affairs for the department, according to the town’s complaints page, which also says annual internal affairs statistics and complaint forms are available online. That gives residents two different channels: the survey for broad feedback and the formal complaint system for specific allegations involving employee conduct. (farmington-ct.org) ### Where can people find the questionnaire now? The Farmington Police Citizen Survey remains available on the Town of Farmington police website as of May 14, 2026. The form is listed under the police department section and includes an option for respondents to enter an email address if they want a copy of their submission. The next step for anyone who wants to participate is to complete the online form on the town website, while people seeking to report specific misconduct can use the separate complaints and commendations process maintained by the department. (farmington-ct.org) (farmington-ct.org)