BRISTOL, Connecticut — Thursday marked one year since Bristol Police lost two of its officers after they were shot and killed in an ambush while they responded to a 911 call.
Many said it still felt like yesterday when their community grappled with the tragedy.
“The pain never goes away,” said Chief Brian Gould of the Bristol Police Department.
On October 12, 2022, Lt. Dustin DeMonte, Sgt. Alex Hamzy and Officer Alec Iurato responded to a 911 call. It was a call they never thought would change the community.
Lt. DeMonte and Sgt. Hamzy were shot and killed. The news was so shocking, it felt as if the world was on pause.
“They put themselves in danger every day,” said Bristol Mayor Jeff Caggiano.
Since then, Bristol residents, the police department and the officers’ family members found comfort in the large community support that spanned from the east to the west coast.
Chief Gould learned a lesson during this time of darkness.
“It’s made me more appreciative. I have a tremendous amount of respect and the families have inspired me. It makes you just as a person take each day and just appreciate it that much more,” added Chief Gould.
Homes have continuously been lit up in blue, even months after the incident. Businesses like Uncle Sam’s posted signs to show their love for police officers.
“Even still when I look out the window, I see the signs, even just the blue lights everywhere, you still just know – like yeah, that happened,” said Kelly Kay, a server at Uncle Sam’s.
Kay has held an emotional attachment to the booth in the corner of the restaurant.
It is where Lt. DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy sat all the time and it is where they were just hours before they died.
Bristol officers are still finding the strength to sit in the booth.
“It’s a hard area for them still. Some still don’t come at all,” added Kay.
The loss has still felt raw for Bristol resident Ann Munger-Chrystal.
“It still is as sad as the day it happened,” said Munger-Chrystal of Bristol.
She and her family members wore ‘Bristol Strong’ t-shirts for Thursday night’s vigil, which she hoped would provide a level of closure for the police department.
“I just hope we can find some peace. I don’t think we’re ever going to accept the fact of what happened, but it brings our town together,” added Munger-Chrystal.
Mayor Caggiano asked everyone to light up their homes and businesses in blue on Thursday.
Carmen Chau is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at cchau@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook and X.
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