With the recent back-to-back announcements that Newtown Police Chief James Viadero and his second-in-command, Capt Christopher Vanghele, would both be departing for new job opportunities by month’s end, it is clear our local law enforcement agency is in for significant changes and a variety of unknowns.

First and foremost, we extend hearty congratulations and best wishes to both departing department leaders.

While Vanghele will represent Newtown exceptionally, applying his vast range of experience as the new Chief of the Plainville Police Department, Viadero will do Newtown proud as he advances to a new role as chief inspector in the Connecticut Office of the Inspector General.

Given Viadero’s nearly three decades climbing to the rank of Captain with the Bridgeport Police Department, a brief stint as Middlebury’s Police Chief, and the further experience he gained during a six-year tenure leading the force here (and as a Newtown Police Commissioner before that), he will now apply his combined talents to serve all of Connecticut.

For those unfamiliar with Viadero’s new career destination, the State of Connecticut, Office of the Inspector General was created through the passage of House Bill 6004: An Act Concerning Police Accountability.

This independent office, within the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), will be responsible for conducting use of force investigations of peace officers, prosecuting cases where the Inspector General determines a peace officer used force to not be justifiable, and making recommendations to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council — where Viadero also previously served — concerning censure and suspension, renewal, cancelation, or revocation of a peace officer’s certification.

He is certainly equipped to hit the ground running, directing investigatory activities of special unit inspectors and carrying out special investigations as well as managing the division’s fleet operations, coordinating the statewide system for extradition of prisoners and interstate compact cases, and acting as liaison between the division and Connecticut State Police and/or investigative staff of various police departments.

While he will be reportedly working out of offices in Cheshire, Viadero’s heart and home we know remain in Newtown. That continued proximity could be a benefit as the local department along with police agencies across Connecticut eventually begin carrying out new and improved practices and procedures that just emerged from the state Police Transparency and Accountability Task Force this week.

After two years of study and deliberations, the task force’s final report recommendations cover 20 areas and will be sent to state lawmakers for their consideration during this year’s legislative session, which is set to begin February 9. One of the top goals, according to an AP report, was improving how officers interact with people with disabilities, as studies show 30% to 50% of people killed by police have disabilities.

As we await state lawmakers’ eventual actions on task force recommendations, more immediately, Viadero’s and Vanghele’s departures will be challenging. But community members should have great confidence in our elected Police Commissioners as they move to fill the NPD’s top two seats — whether from our department’s ranks or another agency.

We also have high regard for the capable law enforcement professionals already serving as NPD supervisors and, as such, hope to see one of our own quickly elevated to the captain’s post.