Bank In Bristol Area Collecting Funds For Killed Officers' Families

BRISTOL, CT — A regional bank and the Bristol Police Department union have set up a fund to help the families impacted by Wednesday night's tragic shooting that killed two Bristol policemen.

Both the City of Bristol Mayor's Office and the Bristol Police Department announced the fund on their respective social media pages on Thursday.

Donations can be made at all branches of Thomaston Savings Bank with the name of the fund being called the "Bristol Police Heroes Fund."

Based in Thomaston, Thomaston Savings Bank operates 15 branches in that region, including two branches in Bristol.

The bank also has branches in Bethlehem, Farmington, Harwinton, Middlebury, Oakville, Terryville, Unionville, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Torrington.

Killed in Wednesday night's shootout on Redstone Hill Road were Bristol Police Sgt. Dustin Demonte, 35, and Officer Alex Hamzy, 34.

They were reportedly responding to a domestic disturbance call, but state police said that may have been a deliberate set-up to ambush the officers, who were immediately greeted with gunfire when arriving at 10:29 p.m. Wednesday.

Demonte left behind a wife with two children and a third on the way, while Hamzy left behind a wife.

Wounded in the attack was Bristol police officer Alec Iurato, 26, who is out of surgery at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. WFSB Channel 3 posted footage of Iurato leaving the hospital late Thursday morning.

Connecticut State Police Thursday said suspect Nicholas Brutcher, 35, was shot and pronounced dead at 310 Redstone Hill Road.

Meanwhile, his brother, Nathan Brutcher, 32, was shot and transported to St. Francis Hospital for treatment of his wounds.

His condition, as well as his role in the incident, was still unknown early Friday morning.

Connecticut State Police, the lead investigating agency of the shooting, issued statements late Friday morning on the situation.

“On behalf of all the men and women of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, our sincerest condolences go out to the citizens of Bristol, the Bristol Police Department and most of all to the families of the fallen Officers. What we thought was unimaginable became reality in less than a minute's time. Our hearts are broken but our serviceto our citizens is everlasting. We will never forget our Bristol police heroes,” said James Rovella, commissioner of the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

“Wednesday night was shattering for the Bristol police. Losing a member of your law
enforcement family is a heartbreaking tragedy. The Connecticut State Police offers sincerest
condolences to our brothers and sisters at the Bristol Police Department as they cope with the
inconceivable grief of losing two officers in the line of duty,” added Colonel Stavros Mellekas, Connecticut State Police.

For the City of Bristol Police Department's Facebook page, click on this link.

For the City of Bristol Mayor's Office Facebook page, click on this link.

From Oct 13: '2 Bristol Cops Shot, Killed, Suspects Identified By Police: UPDATE'