NORWICH – Public safety issues were the main topic of discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting of the City of Norwich Finance / Personnel Committee, with a retirement in the police department and an update on ambulance equipment topping the list.

Police Chief Joseph Angelino addressed the committee, informing them that Assistant Police Chief Van Miles had submitted a letter stating his intentions to retire. “By the end of June, there will be no more Van Miles at the station,” Angelino told the committee.

Miles served as the Assistant Chief for just over a year, during which time, Angelino was acting as the chief of both the police department and the fire department. Angelino said Miles’ appointment as assistant chief couldn’t have happened at a better time, since it allowed him to focus on the fire department. “It’s going to be like having my right arm cut off,” Angelino said of Miles’ retirement.

Angelino then moved on to fire department issues. After reviewing the ambulance equipment, he told the committee that improvements might be needed in the next couple of years.