SOUTH WINDSOR — A longtime South Windsor officer, Lt. Richard A. Bond, died early Wednesday after a two-year battle with cancer.
Bond, 54, has been an officer for more than 30 years, police said in a news release. He rose through the ranks from patrol officer to commander of the department’s Special Services Division, where he was responsible for criminal investigations, victims services and traffic safety.
An expert in the field of traffic accident investigation and reconstruction, he served as the commander of a regional traffic team called Metro Traffic Services, police said.
Bond received numerous commendations since he graduated from the police academy in 1980, including Officer of the Year. He was awarded the the department’s highest award for valor for his actions after a 1990 bank robbery: He pursued the bank robbers into Hartford as they fired shots at him from their fleeing car, police said.
The robbers eventually were arrested and the money recovered.
Chief Matthew Reed said Bond was a friend as well as a respected leader in the department.
“Rich was my first training officer when I arrived at SWPD in 1987. We hit it off immediately,” Reed said in a written statement. “I was happy to have Lt. Bond as a key member of the Department’s command staff. … His experience and competence were unmatched and I am proud to have worked with him.”
Bond, who grew up in South Windsor, leaves his wife, Robin Bond, his brother, John Bond and two sisters, Margaret Duffy and Amy Riggs.
By Christine Dempsey, Hartford Courant