Book tells history of Groton police, fire departments

Groton — On June 16, 1959, Chares E. Yering died of a heart attack while patrolling Groton Long Point. He was a 32-year veteran of the Groton Long Point Police Department and its first appointed special patrolman.

Yet his death was unknown to many, including Town Historian James Streeter, until Streeter began research for the pictorial history book “Groton-Mystic Emergency Services,” co-written with William J. Tischer, a retired City of Groton fire captain.

“One thing that came close to our hearts in the book, was there were eight people that gave their lives in the line of duty in a police and fire department in Groton,” said Streeter, a former City of Groton police officer and Groton mayor.

Yering’s photo and pictures of the seven others who died are among the images in the book. Also included are images of notable fires, service vehicles and buildings over the years, and even an anti-nuclear protest outside of Electric Boat in 1979.

“I’ve always been a history buff of the fire service. I just thought it was important to preserve the history of Groton, being as rich as it is, because it goes back to the 1860s,” Tischer said, adding, “I don’t think people take the opportunity to look at it very often. And it helps bring it to the forefront.”

On Saturday, Streeter and Tischer will hold a public safety fundraiser

from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Par 4 Restaurant at the Shennecossett Golf Club, featuring samples of specialty beers, hors d’oeuvres and a raffle. Local businesses donated prizes like fishing trips and handcarved firetrucks for the event.

Tickets are $20 and available at the door or by calling (860) 445-5417 or (860) 4469146.

Profits from ticket sales and the raffle will be split and donated equally to the Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital on behalf of firefighters, and to the Connecticut Special Olympics on behalf of police officers.

Copies of the book also will be available that night.