Darien Police Mourn Death Of Retired Captain

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Police Department is mourning the death of retired police Capt. Arthur Bates.

In a Facebook post, the department said Bates passed peacefully at his home in Wilmington, NC, on Oct. 13 with his daughters by his side. He was 92.

Bates was born in Stamford and graduated from Stamford high School in 1950, the department said. He joined the United States Air Force that year and was honorably discharged in 1954 with the rank of Airman First Class.

In January of 1956, Bates joined the Darien Police Department and worked as a patrol officer until July 1964 when he was promoted to sergeant. Bates was promoted in 1971 to lieutenant, and later to captain in 1972 when he became commander of the department's uniform division, the DPD said.

Bates was nominated and selected as the sixth Darien police officer to attend the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, VA, for the 98th session in 1974, the department said. Bates retired from active service after 27 years and five months on June 1, 1983.

Memorial bunting has been displayed in front of police headquarters on Hecker Avenue.

Additionally, all uniformed officers will wear mourning bands for 24 hours to honor Bates's service to the town.

"Arrangements will be forwarded as they are received," the department said. "The Department extends its deepest sympathy to the Bates Family."