32-Year Veteran Norwalk Police Officer Cesar Ramirez Dies

NORWALK, CT — Officer Cesar Ramirez, a 32-year veteran of the Norwalk Police Department, has passed away after a "courageous battle" against brain cancer, the department announced Tuesday.

Ramirez, 71, was diagnosed late last year with an aggressive form of the cancer, called glioblastoma, according to a GoFundMe page that was established this month to assist Ramirez's wife, Ana Ramirez, and family. To date, the page has raised more than $7,800 toward a goal of $10,000.

"Officer Ramirez spent his years of service helping those need and has positively impacted so many," wrote Sgt. Sofia Gulino, who established the page. "He is a hero."

Both Mayor Harry Rilling, Norwalk's former police chief, and his wife, Lucia Rilling, spoke of Ramirez's love of Norwalk and the respect and dignity he showed everyone he encountered.

"Cesar Ramirez was a really special person and Norwalk Police Officer. This is a great loss for our Norwalk Police family. It was my honor to know him well," said Mayor Rilling.

"He cared deeply about the community he served. He was a dedicated public servant in every sense of the word. His passing is a huge loss for our city which I know he loved dearly. It is a sad day in Norwalk, but I know his legacy will live on through the programs he started and the difference he made in the lives of residents.

"All of Norwalk mourns with his family during these sad times."

Lucia Rilling added, "I admired Cesar's respect, dignity, and faith, both for himself and toward others. His kind and gentle ways were meaningful and, most of all, an important trait he possessed.

"With Officer Ramirez's passing, our multi-cultural community has been left without his guidance, but with a perfect example of all that is good, decent, and necessary in a human being."

State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, who represents Norwalk and Darien, also offered his condolences.

"My thoughts go out to Cesar's wife Ana, their children and their grandchildren," said Duff. "Cesar was loved by all and one of the finest of the finest in the Norwalk Police Department. I am glad we all were able to have a ceremony with Cesar, his family, and the community last month to honor his over three decades of service. We will miss you, Cesar."

Last month following his diagnosis, Officer Ramirez was saluted by the department with a full honor guard send-off, according to the Norwalk Hour.

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