Funeral Arrangements Made For Milford Police Officer Michael Compare

The Milford community and beyond will be able to say goodbye and pay their respects to Milford police officer Michael Compare, 36, who died earlier this week as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, which left the department and community stunned.

The calling hours will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, June 26 at the Cody White Funeral Home.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m. at Saint Ann Church, 501 Naugatuck Avenue.

Compare was a Jonathan Law High School graduate, a three-year member of the Milford Police Department after spending 11 years as a North Haven police officer.

After Compare’s cause of death was revealed Monday afternoon, the Police Department issued a statement reading, “On behalf of Chief Keith L. Mello and the Milford Police Department, this day is a tragic loss for the family; friends and community Michael belonged to and so proudly served. We thank you for your kind words and support regarding Michael. Michael will be greatly missed.

Compare had a long history of helping others in the community, especially after the Sandy Hook School shooting tragedy.

After the shooting Compare decided to help out in his own way.

Compare participated in the Rev3 Half-Ironman Triathlon in 2013, which was a 70.3 miles long, consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run.

Compare participated in this race in honor of Chase Kowalski, one of the Sandy Hook Elementary School victims.

Along with other officers, Compare assisted police officers in Newtown after the tragedy by covering their patrols, assisting in escorts and security details around their town.

Compare had competed in several marathons, half-marathons, triathlons, and completed his first Ironman Triathlon in Louisville, KY, in August 2012.

After learning that Chase was an active member of the running and triathlon community, Officer Compare decided to run in the Race4Chase. Compare raised funds to benefit the Chase Kowalski Memorial Fund.

The goal of the Chase Kowalski Memorial Fund, set up by Chase’s parents, is to turn tragedy into triumph by healing and strengthening families and communities: To honor the legacy of Chase and all the students and educators of Sandy Hook Elementary, to positively change the lives of children and their families and to be a positive force to inspire community healing through family and children-focused programs.