Source New Haven Register, Conn.
BRISTOL, CT — On the eve of the second anniversary of the deaths of two Bristol police officers in the line of duty, the department on Friday unveiled two permanent memorials to honor them in police headquarters.
The memorials for Lt. Dustin DeMonte, 35 at the time of death, and Sgt. Alex Hamzy, 34, are two sets of front and back doors from a marked police car that was parked in front of headquarters on North Main Street following the deaths of the two officers. The doors and windows of are filled with signatures, remembrances and condolences for the officers that were left by visitors in the days and weeks following the tragedy.
"It's hard to believe that its been two years," said Bristol Mayor Jeff Caggiano during a brief ceremony leading up to the unveiling of one set of doors in the police department lobby. The other set is in the police training area, which is not open to the public. "We still have that hole in our hearts but we are healing."
Bristol Police Chief Mark Morello also spoke before having the black curtain removed by members of the committee that worked on the project. Morello's voice broke several times during his remarks.
"This will serve as a testament to never forget them," Morello said, adding that he hoped the families of the officers could take comfort in knowing that.
Following the ceremony, Morello said Friday's ceremony gave him feelings of sadness for the loss and pride for the police department and community response to the officers' deaths.
As for the second set of doors out of public view, Morello said that planners didn't want to lose sight of all the people who turned out to share their feelings.
DeMonte and Hamzy were responding to a reported domestic incident in town on Oct. 12, 2022, when they were shot and killed. Hamzy died at the scene and DeMonte died at a local hospital. Officer Alec Iurato was seriously injured.
Police later determined that the officers were lured to the home on Redstone Hill Road, where they were ambushed by Nicholas Brutcher, 35. Nicholas Brutcher was killed at the scene by Iurato. Nathan Brutcher was also wounded by his brother. Nathan Brutcher was not charged in the incident following an investigation.
In the aftermath, mourners visited the police department on North Main Street and covered the marked police vehicle with flowers, balloons, police badges, flags, T-shirts, and signatures on the doors. Bristol school students also sent thousands of cards. Plastic wrapping from the flowers was saved to be incorporated into benches in honor of the fallen officers.
Dustin DeMonte's brother, Phil DeMonte, said Thursday that whatever the department does to honor them is fine by him and that it's hard to believe two years have already passed.
"It will be nice to see the doors with all the signatures, including my 8-year-old niece," Phil DeMonte said. "Anything means everything to me."
Alex Hamzy's sister, Mary Hamzy, echoed that sentiment Thursday, saying her family is "extremely grateful for the community at large and all the police department has done."
Hamzy added that the doors to the police car speak to the community coming together and exemplify her brother's commitment to Bristol.
But for her, the most important part of Friday's ceremony is the lasting impact.
"They're just making sure these two heroes are never forgotten," she said.
Resident and town employee Noelle Bates said afterward that Friday's ceremony, which was attended by dozens, showed the sense of community displayed by everyone.
"We all stood together," Bates said.
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