Friends, family to remember fallen Bristol officers

BRISTOL, CT (WFSB) - Arrangements have been made to lay Sgt. Alex Hamzy and Lieutenant Dustin DeMonte to rest.

The two Bristol officers were killed in the line of duty on Oct. 12.

Hamzy’s calling hours; road closure

As of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Route 6 from North Main Street to Route 72 in the Terryville section of Plymouth was closed.

For Hamzy, public walk through calling hours started Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022 at 12 p.m. and go until 8 p.m. at the Lyceum banquet hall in Terryville. Parking was available at the Terryville Fairgrounds via shuttle.

Those attending were asked to not park on public roads.

“The family has made it clear that they want this to be a somber experience,” Caggiano said. “Alex was a member of the emergency response time and this is almost like military honors for them and him lying in state. I just want to prepare people for that. This may not be a regular wake that you’re used to.”

“The family asked that there is no photography, no cameras, no fanfare, just paying our final respects to a fallen hero,” Caggiano continued.

Law enforcement and first responders from around the state came not just to pay their respects, but to usher the day along and keep the area safe while Bristol’s ranks said goodbye.

“I just want to thank them for their service,” said Joel Klusek, who attended the wake.

Klusek said he has a relative at the Bristol Police Department.

“They’ll never be gone to live in our hearts,” he said. “It’s hard to sum up just how much they mean to me.”

DeMonte memorial

DeMonte’s wake will be private and happen in North Haven on Thursday.

Combined service Friday in East Hartford

A combined service is set for Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. The service will be held at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Those who wish to attend were asked to arrive by 9:30 a.m.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the combined service, according to Cheshire police Chief Neil Dryfe. That includes law enforcement personnel from all over the country, as well as Canada.

Ahead of their memorial services, Caggiano and the police department announced that both men will be honored with posthumous promotions. Hamzy will be promoted to sergeant and DeMonte will be promoted to lieutenant.

The promotion for each officer will be held at the combined funeral service Friday.

State police said members of the public who plan on attending should park in the gray or red lots highlighted in the map below:

The public will enter the stadium through Gate C and Gate D, police said.

Bags, purses, flowers, cameras, and gifts are prohibited from the funeral, said state police.

“Once the venue is filled, no others will be permitted admittance,” police said.

Channel 3 will provide streaming coverage of the service on WFSB+.

Other police departments provide assistance

“It’s gut wrenching to every police officer in the state of Connecticut and around the country,” Dryfe said, who is also the president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. “In order to honor these fallen officers and their families you’ll get all the pomp and circumstance that befits a funeral service like this Weather permitting there’ll be a flyover of police helicopters. There’ll be dozens and dozens of honor guards there in full dress uniform with flags.”

Mutual aid will be provided to the Bristol Police Department from across the state so that the entire department can attend the funeral on Friday.

“They’re looking to put their brother officers to rest in a dignified way and recognize not just the way they died but how they lived and what their role was as police officers in the Bristol community,” Dryfe said.

Impact on schools

Bristol schools will be closed Friday in observance of the joint funeral services for DeMonte and Hamzy, the school system announced.

Plymouth schools will have an early dismissal on Wednesday because buses will be used for the public to attend the calling hours for Hamzy. Main Street will be closed during the service.

Calls to support first responders

Earlier in the week, Bristol Mayor Jeff Caggiano asked for people to support first responders by driving slowly and being kind to others.

“They’re out there today on the street with our officers, still working in tandem with others,” Caggiano said. “But this is going to be a long week as we work up to the wake and funeral for our fallen officers.”

State police said Hamzy and DeMonte were lured to a home on Redstone Hill last week by way of a fake domestic violence call between two brothers.

Hamzy and DeMonte were then shot and killed in an ambush, police said.

DeMonte was a 10-year veteran of the Bristol Police Department while Hamzy was an 8-year veteran.

Copyright 2022 WFSB. All rights reserved.