Seriously Injured Stonington Police Sgt. Is A Longtime Community Hero

STONINGTON, CT —Mario Ritacco was hired by the Stonington Police Department in July 2001.

Over the last near 23 years, he's never missed a day of work, was honored for saving a life from icy river waters, waded through waist-deep muddy marshes and thick underbrush in darkness to track burglary suspects, and for one little girl, recovered her beloved Nintendo 3DS.

And those are just a few examples that paint a picture of the well-known to the community police sergeant.

Monday, Sgt. Ritacco was working a road crew detail on his day off when a car crashed into his police cruiser, which slammed into him, sending the seriously injured decorated officer to the trauma center at Rhode Island Hospital via LifeStar.

Read the story here.

Now in stable condition, per SPD Deputy Chief Todd Olson, many have been praying for the officer who's made an impact in the community.

Ritacco, assigned to the Detective Division of the police department in 2016 and then promoted to sergeant shortly after, has been the recipient of myriad awards and commendations, letters and drawings of thanks from residents, and letters from the police chief for his bravery, and for going above and beyond.

In the winter of 2010 at 5 a.m. while on patrol, Ritacco and two other officers headed to Mechanic Street after a resident reported they heard someone crying for help in the Pawcatuck River. Using flashlights, the officers found a man with a rope tied around his neck struggling in the water off of a dock. Then-chief Darren Stewart said that before waiting for other first responder help, the three officers created a human chain by holding on to each other's gun belts and were able to rescue the man. The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association awarded then-Sgt. Bryan Schneider, then-Youth Officer Tim Marley and then patrol officer Ritacco the Medal of Valor.

“The Medal of Valor is awarded for actions in a single event which demonstrate bravery, heroism and/or self-sacrifice clearly distinguishing the individual for gallantry and bravery under life-threatening circumstances. The officer(s) must be fully aware of the imminent threat to their personal safety and must have acted above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of their own life or well-being.”

That same year, in the heat of the summer, Ritacco and other officers responded to a burglary-in-progress and were led on a chase for three suspects in the dark into what Stewart said then were "very challenging" conditions, to say the least.

Stewart wrote to Ritacco, then-officer Howard and K9 Fritz, that they'd tracked the suspects "through the darkness through swamps, streams and other very challenging terrain, including mud, water, and thick underbrush."

"The track of the suspects was successful and went over a quarter of a mile. I’ve had the opportunity to speak with the store owner," Stewart wrote, "who is very pleased with the results of your efforts I’d like to thank you for your work that night, and your desire to keep going under some difficult conditions."

And then there's the recovery of a girl's Nintendo DS, which may not have been life-saving, but for her, it meant a lot.

Ritacco was also honored with the Outstanding DWI Enforcement 2003, 2004 award, the MADD Certificate of Appreciation 2008, and, as Olson noted, "many letters of thanks" from the community.