Middletown PD Officer's Road Race Win A Poignant Tribute To Local Hero

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A local police officer's successful run as part of a special 5K to honor fallen officers Sunday just might have you looking to the heavens for an answer.

Middletown Police Department officer Bryan Gutierrez happened to come in first place during the 2024 Connecticut Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Run 5K event on the streets of Middletown Sunday.

But that story of success only tells part of the story.

According to the MPD, Gutierrez was runner number "217," which just happened to be the radio number for the late Matt Silvestrini, a police officer in Middletown who died of cancer in 2022.

"It goes without saying Matt was with us in spirit today," wrote the MPD.

Traditionally, this event honors and remembers all Connecticut Law Enforcement Officers who died in the line of duty.

Sunday's event in Middletown was particularly poignant, as it was in memory of Connecticut State Trooper 1st Class Aaron Pelletier of Southington, who was killed May 30 after being hit by a vehicle while making a traffic stop on Interstate 84 in his hometown.