NORTH HAVEN -- A North Haven woman whose barn exploded during a police standoff, injuring nine officers, is publicly thanking everyone who responded to her property during the crisis.
The thank you letter from Deborah Sayre, of North Haven, was sent to several newspapers in the state.
In it, she thanks, police, firefighters, medical professional and even utility workers who responded to her home on May 2 and treated her after the standoff.
Sayre wrote: "Your families must truly be proud of you for you are our everyday heroes."
The explosion injured nine officers. Sayre says she is relieved that all the injured have been released from the hospital and that there were no fatalities.
Authorities also found the body of the man suspected of starting the standoff in the rubble, but he hasn't been publicly identified.
There is also a fundraiser scheduled for Thursday, May 24, at the Stony Creek Brewery in Branford, with a goal of raising $50,000.
Copy posted to the site reads:
“These officers are the bravest of the brave, working dangerous conditions to keep our communities safe. Nine officers sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized following the blast. Five officers from East Haven, three from North Haven, and one from Branford were sent to the hospital with injuries including concussions, broken bones, burns, and leg and knee injuries.
While all of the officers have finally been released from the hospital, several have very long roads to recovery for their physical and psychological injuries. Some have had, and others will require surgeries. All of them need our help. Our brother officers need our emotional support, but also need financial support as some are single income families and rely on overtime to survive. Money raised on this page will help the officers support their families. Any additional funds not used to support the officers will be donated to charitable organizations that support law enforcement.”
