Honoring Branford Police "Icon" Officer Hugh Klockars

BRANFORD, CT — "Gentle giant," and much loved and respected longtime former Branford Police officer Hugh Klockars was honored by the department in a Facebook post announcing his passing.

Klockars joined the Branford Police Department in 1968 and retired in 1998. He was an "icon in the department, many stories of his accomplishments were passed on from officer to officer for many years well past his retirement," police said in the social media post.

"Officer Klockars will be remembered as a great police officer who was always willing to help anyone. He was a mentor to many rookie" officers, and he "took it upon himself to take new Officers under his wing and to pass his knowledge of policing along for their benefit."

He was known for his ability to "diffuse many volatile situations based alone on his commanding presence and huge stature, however, he will always be remembered as a 'gentle giant.'”