Danbury Mayor Says New Death Wishes Echo 2025 Credible Threat

Officials say the case that prompted the mayor's security detail involved dozens of firearms.

By Hayleigh Evans, Patch Staff

Jul 21, 2026 2:35 pm EDT | Updated Jul 21, 2026 2:37 pm EDT

Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves says recent online comments wishing for his death reflect the same rhetoric that fueled a 2025 credible threat. City officials say the posts have been reported to police but are not under active investigation. (Hayleigh Evans)

DANBURY, CT — Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves says social media comments wishing for his death reinforce why he continues to have a security detail, which city officials say was first assigned following a 2025 credible threat.

In a Facebook post Friday, Alves shared screenshots of comments from a user who wrote, "I hope your security detail fails you" and "I hope the mayor ends up dead because of one of these illegals."

"Criticism is democracy. Death wishes are not," Alves wrote.

"When someone uses language like 'illegals' while wishing for my death, that is not incidental," he continued. "It reflects the same hateful rhetoric that has fueled threats against me before."

The mayor's office said local authorities have been made aware of the recent social media posts but confirmed there is no active investigation into the comments.

Officials also said the city has not received additional threats since the recent online activity and that the posts have not resulted in any changes to Alves' security measures.

The mayor's office also identified the previously unnamed incident Alves referenced in his post.

City spokesperson Jason Nova said the mayor's security detail was first assigned in July 2025 following the June 2025 arrest of Troy Kennard, a decision made in consultation with the Danbury Police Department.

In his Facebook post, Alves said the earlier case involved "41 registered guns, six unregistered guns, over 1,000 high-capacity magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and Nazi memorabilia."

When asked about the case, the mayor's office confirmed Kennard was arrested but referred questions about the charges to law enforcement or the courts.

Danbury police said the criminal case is subject to a statutory seal. Public court records show the case remains pending, though additional records are not publicly available.

"As stated in the post, there is no place for this kind of hatred in our or any community," Alves said in a statement. "I have a responsibility to serve the people of Danbury, and I have a responsibility to return home safely to my family each night."