South Windsor Police Officer Dies From Crash Injuries

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — An off-duty South Windsor police officer involved in an early morning crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle in Tolland June 26 has died from his injuries, according to Sgt. Mark Cleverdon, public information officer for the South Windsor Police Department.

Officer Benjamin Lovett, 25, died Tuesday at Hartford Hospital as a result of his injuries. A state police report indicates he and another person were riding a motorcycle on Crystal Lake Road when it was stuck by another motor vehicle which had run through a stop sign at the junction of Hunter Road.

The vehicle operator, Spencer Kraus, 24, of Ellington, was charged with second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, evading responsibility and failure to obey a stop sign.

Lovett was hired in South Windsor by then-Chief Timnothy Edwards in April 2018. After completing training at the Connecticut Police Academy that September, he entered the South Windsor Police Department's Field Training Program and subsequent probation period. During the training and evaluation period, Lovett demonstrated himself to be pro-active, effective and a valuable team player, Cleverdon said.

He was assigned as a patrol officer in the Operations Division, where he excelled and grew as a new officer. In spring 2020, Lovett was temporarily assigned to the Criminal Investigations
Bureau, an experimental assignment to give newer officers exposure to specialized positions, Cleverdon said.

In May 2020, Lovett tested for the position of Narcotics Investigator and was appointed to the East Central Narcotics Task Force, a regional team comprised of Manchester, Vernon, Glastonbury and South Windsor officers. He became a valuable asset to the team and continued to grow in his abilities and talents as an investigator working with the other agencies, Cleverdon said.

"Officer Lovett has received numerous letters of appreciation from the public, he is the recipient of the 2020 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recognition award, he served as an emergency medical technician within our department, a certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) member, and he held numerous investigation and narcotic training certificates," Cleverdon said. "Most of all, Benjamin was a valuable member of the department, an easy-going and bright officer, a friend and a coworker who will be greatly missed by his family at the South Windsor Police Department."

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