Middletown Detective Honored For Role In Handling Violent Incident

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A Middletown Police Department detective is being recognized nationally for her role in a volatile situation over the summer.

Detective Karli Travis will be inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall Of Fame, the organization and the police department announced Wednesday.

"This is a direct result of her bravery, heroism, and commitment to saving lives on a call for service in August 2023 that resulted in an officer involved shooting," department officials said. "The MPD, city of Middletown, and the Connecticut Law Enforcement Community could not be more proud."

That call took place on Aug, 12. At 6:33 that morning, Middletown Police Officers were dispatched to 195 Liberty Street for a man smashing glass in the driveway, according to case records.

Travis, who was working her assigned midnight shift, was the first to arrive, case records show. She exited her patrol car, began approaching the residence on foot, and encountered Winston Tate, a convicted felon dating back to 1995, who was holding a hammer in his hand, according to case records.

Body cam footage shows Travis calmly asking Tate to drop the hammer and radioed for backup, according to case records. Tate then sprinted toward her and began attacking her with the hammer, according to body cam footage.

Mayor Ben Florsheim said she then took "life-saving steps for her own sake and the community's sake.”

He added, “Thanks to the training and the good work of the other officer, a tragedy was avoided,” Florsheim added.

Tate, who up to that day had a history of assault involving public safety of healthcare workers, attacked Travis, despite her having drawn her weapon while giving verbal commands for Tate to stop, according to case records. She then fired multiple rounds toward Tate as she was being knocked to the ground and, amid a violent struggle, induced Tate to retreat, case records and body cam footage show.

Officers then took Tate into custody, records show.