Nearly $1 million raised for families of slain Bristol police officers

BRISTOL — Donations to the families of slain police officers Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy have reached about $1 million in the two weeks since the men were gunned down in an ambush attack, Mayor Jeff Caggiano said Wednesday.

The mayor and Police Chief Brian Gould discussed at a news conference the outpouring of support from around Connecticut and nation and how the agency and city move forward after the brutal killings on Oct. 12. One immediate focus, Gould said, is hiring up to 20 more police officers, preferably experienced, certified cops who would require only four to six weeks of training.

Gould and Caggiano thanked people for the flowers, cards and signs that have buried a cruiser parked in front of the police station as a temporary memorial. Caggiano also noted the many blue lights throughout town in support of police and said he hoped more people would illuminate their homes and businesses.

“I hope we light the city of Bristol blue through the holidays,” he said.

Hamzy, DeMonte and Officer Alec Iurato responded to what authorities now believe was a hoax 911 call reporting a domestic fight between brothers at a Redstone Hill Road home. As the officers ordered Nathan Brutcher out of the home, his brother, Nicholas Brutcher, shot them from behind, according to preliminary findings by the state inspector general. Both officers were shot in the head, according to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Nicholas Brutcher fired more than 80 rounds at police before the wounded Iurato killed him with one shot, the inspector general said. Nathan Brutcher also was wounded during the incident, but authorities have not said who shot him and have not provided an update on his condition. It remains unknown whether

Nathan Brutcher will face charges.

Gould and Caggiano declined to comment about the ongoing state police investigation. Asked whether he was concerned about the number of assault weapons in Connecticut, Gould said he would reserve comment until the investigation is completed. Asked about changes in training prompted by the fatal shootings, the chief said the department has to do a “complete debriefing” and more will come out of the investigation, but there were “no identifiable threats” at the home.

“There was nothing they could do. They were completely ambushed,” Gould said.

The chief said he has heard from young people who say the killings have motivated them to pursue law enforcement careers. The Bristol department now has an authorized strength of 122, but only 90 “deployable” officers due to the recent losses, injuries and long-term leaves, he said. It takes about a year to put a new cop on the street, so the chief said the department is focused on recruiting certified officers from other Connecticut agencies.

Gould said Iurato is eager to return to duty.

“Officer Iurato is a true hero and I know he can’t wait to come back,” Gould said. “I’m probably going to have to be putting the brakes on him .. if he had it his way, he would be here right now.”

At the funeral for his two fellow officers Friday, Iurato carried the U.S. Honor Flag, which has flown at the 9/11 memorial in New York and other places around the nation. He had crutches, but did not use them when he walked in the procession, Gould said.

Two main funds have been set up for the officers’ families — Fund the First through the Benevolent Police Association, which has raised about $515,000, and the Bristol Police Heroes Fund, which has raised about $310,000, Caggiano said. Including other fundraisers, the total amount now is approaching $1 million, he said.

Members of other Connecticut police departments have been filling in for Bristol officers, whose wellness remains a priority in the wake of the killings, Gould said.

“Unquestionably, these people are heroes,” Gould said of local officers. “But they are not super heroes.”

The great outpouring of monetary donations, cards from kids and adults and food donations have boosted spirits, Caggiano and Gould said. Some of the extra food has gone to local shelters.

People have been extraordinarily generous, the officials said. One Old Saybrook man sent a personal check for $30,000, Caggiano said. At the wake for Hamzy last week in Terryville, a man who appeared down on his luck asked where donations were being accepted, he said. The mayor said he later found a crinkled dollar bill under cards left at the funeral home.

“I know in my heart that was probably the last dollar that gentleman had for the day,” he said. People are offering ideas about how to permanently memorialize the officers and Caggiano said a subcommittee of the police commission will be established to consider how to honor the men for the long-term when the panel meets next week. The temporary memorial will stay for at least the next two weeks, he said.

Jesse Leavenworth / Hearst Connecticut Media The Bristol Police Department has received an outpouring of support after two officers were killed and a third was wounded on Oct. 12 responding to a call.

Jesse Leavenworth / Hearst Connecticut Media Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould, left, and Mayor Jeff Caggiano address members of the media during a news conference at the police department Wednesday, two weeks after two city police officers were fatally gunned down in an ambush.