Two Bristol police officers fatally shot last week in a deliberant plot to lure them to a local home were remembered Friday by thousands and thousands of fellow officers in a ceremony worthy only of exactly what they are: heroes.
Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy were laid to rest during an emotional service at Pratt and Whitney Field at Rentschler Field – one of the few venues in the state big enough to hold the massive number of law enforcement officials who have shown an outpouring of support for the slain officers.
“Words cannot express the grief we are experiencing,” Bristol police Chief Brian Gould said, adding that police and its extended community are also experiencing anger, confusion, frustration and other emotions.
During the ceremony, Gould posthumously promoted DeMonte and Hamzy from their previous ranks of sergeant and officer, respectively.
“There is no doubt they loved being police officers,” Gould said, adding that they each always had a positive attitude.
In 2012 and 2014, respectively, DeMonte and Hamzy took an oath to protect and serve the Bristol community. On Oct. 12, they died carrying out that oath when a gunman called 911 to report a phony domestic violence incident. Authorities have said it was a deliberate attempt to lure police to the Redstone Hill Road home.
Officer Alec Iurato, the 26-year-old who was shot in the leg before he was able to kill the man who fatally shot both DeMonte and Hamzy, had the honor of carrying the American flag at the start of the ceremonies Friday.
Gould said Iurato’s actions undoubtedly saved the lives of other officers who later responded to the scene.
“We will forever be grateful for what he did in confronting pure evil,” Ahmad Hamzy, Alex Hamzy’s father, said of Iurato.
“What gets us through the days is knowing that people support us,” Bill Hamzy, Ahmad’s nephew, said when finishing his uncle’s remarks.
The wives of both Hamzy and DeMonte spoke before the crowd of mostly law enforcement officials gathered at Rentschler.
“There are not enough words to describe the love I feel for Alex,” Hamzy’s wife, Katie, said before reading a quote about how much he meant to her.
“To Alex and Dustin, you are both true heroes, amazing people and you will be missed beyond words,” DeMonte’s wife, Laura, said.
“The kids and I are honored to call you ours,” Laura DeMonte said, adding that her husband always made her and their children feel loved. “We felt that love every single day”
“Our family was a close to perfect as could be because of you,” Lt. DeMonte’s wife continued. “You will always be our hero and our angel.”
Fellow officer Zachary Levine called DeMonte “the most honest, kind, sincere person you could have ever met.”
“He loved being a police officer,” Levine continued. “There was no role that he loved more than being a husband and father.”
“I’ll never forget the smile on his face when he told me he was expecting a third one,” Levine said of the child DeMonte’s wife is expected to deliver in March.
Though police, the Bristol community and the state as a whole have experienced a tremendous loss, Gould said everyone who has been affected owes it to DeMonte and Hamzy to carry on and honor their memory, despite crying and crying to the point where it feels like no tears are left.
Bristol Mayor Jeff Caggiano said Bristol is still reeling from the loss of “two great men.”
“Why?” Caggiano asked. “That’s a tough one.”
“Why did Lt. DeMonte and Sgt. Hamzy have to make the ultimate sacrifice for us?” the Bristol mayor asked.
Throughout the ceremony on Friday, Hamzy and DeMonte were commonly referred to as exceptional officers, great men and heroes.
“He’s a true hero,” said Rev. Zachary Mabe of Terryville Congregational Church. “Whatever it means to you, that’s what Alex is. And so is Sgt. DeMonte. And so is Officer Iurato.”
DeMonte, who left behind a wife, two children and a third child expected in March, loved dancing, music and exercising. The 35-year-old was expected to soon pursue a Master’s degree later this month.
Hamzy, who also was married, took advantage of spending a lot of time with his family throughout his life. He had a need for speed and a dedication to physical fitness, which his family said helped offset his love of sweets and dessert. Hamzy was remembered as someone whose smile could light up a room.
“It’s the type of smile that truly melts your heart,” Gould said.
DeMonte, the police chief said, was also always smiling. But what stood out more about the 35-year-old was his eyes, which Gould called “warm, inquisitive and engaging, yet firm and decisive.”
“He never lost focus or made you feel like you were wasting his time,” Gould said, adding that DeMonte always put the needs of others above his own.
A motocard of thousands of officers led the procession into the stadium. Once there, DeMonte and Hamzy, in caskets draped in American flags, were carried in by their fellow officers as family looked on. They were followed by the rest of the Bristol Police Department, who were then trailed by Bristol firefighters and paramedics.
“This is a tough day for them,” Caggiano said outside the stadium, looking on at his police force lined up and awaiting for the arrival of the procession.
The tribute began with a photo collage of Hamzy and DeMonte in both professional settings as well as their personal life. During the photo slideshow, there wasn’t a whisper to be heard at Rentschler. The crowd was so quiet that a cough or sneeze could clearly be heard across the stadium.
The funeral services drew law enforcement from all over the country. Police from other states, including many outside the New England area, were present.
Clarence Hayes, chaplain for the Meriden Police Department, said before the services he was not surprised by the thousands and thousands of police officers who came to pay their respects.
“Anybody who has a badge knows,” said Hayes, who reached out to Bristol police following the tragedy and offered to do anything he could to help. “That badge is very sacred.”
Chris Ann Meaney, senior vice president, chief operating officer and president of the Bristol Health Medical Group, said before the services that the hospital offered a bus service for its employees who wanted to attend the funeral. Paramedics, doctors, nurses and other medical staff of the Emergency Room often work with Bristol police, she said.
“Those entities are so close,” Meaney said.
“We’re brothers and sisters,” Meaney added, describing the relationship between Bristol’s first responders and hospital staff.
Family of both DeMonte and Hamzy said the support from the community has meant a lot to them and has helped them to keep going.
“To those hurting deeply, it will not fill the hole that has been left in your hearts,” Pastor Dustin Alley said of the prayers and support for the officers.
“The love they showed, the joy they had and the lives they lived will forever be etched into the hearts and memories of those who knew them best,” Alley said.
Justin Muszynski can be reached at 860-973-1809 or jmuszynski@bristolpress.com.