Citizens, Police, Pay Tribute to Fallen Trooper's Procession

TOLLAND/VERNON, CT — Law enforcement officials and citizens or north central Connecticut lined up along Interstate-84 on Thursday or shared their sentiments privately to pay tribute to fallen state Trooper Kevin Miller.

Miller was killed a week ago when his cruiser collided with a tractor-trailer on I-84 eastbound in Tolland. On Thursday, he was transported from a Stafford funeral home to the state police Troop C barracks where he was stationed, through Vernon and Manchester and eventually to Rentschler Field in East Hartford, where both a wake and funeral will take place.

Bob Sumislaski is a Vernon resident and Vietnam veteran who met Miller at the Star Hill sports bubble just last week.

"He was a veteran. I am a veteran and he deserves this," Sumislaski said said he stood with an American Flag on the Exit 66 overpass on I-84 waiting for Miller's procession. Sumislaski said he had been looking forward to meeting Miller again at the gym.

Also on the overpass were an Ambulance staffer who spoke with Miller several times on calls and a bus driver who works for the company that transports Tolland students. Miller lived in Tolland.

Miller, assigned to Troop C in Tolland, was on-duty a week ago when his cruiser was involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer on Interstate-84 eastbound in Tolland. Miller was killed as a result of the injuries sustained in the collision.

Miller was a 19-year veteran of the Connecticut State Police.

Calling hours have been scheduled for Thursday from 2 to to 4 p.m., and then from 5 to 8 p.m., at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford.

A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, at 11 a.m., at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.
Mourners have been paying their respects at the Troop C barracks since the accident by leaving flowers.

Alaric Fox, who recently retired as the state police commanding officer and is now the chief in Enfield, remembered Miller balancing his role as a family man and trooper. Fox was also the commander at Troop C for for part of his career.

"He was a good dad. I can remember him taking extra duty assignments because he wanted to provide for his family, but he also turned town some assignment because they would interfere with a kid's sporting event or dance," Fox said. "He really did have — especially for 20-year guy — a good, get-it-done kind of attitude. That is a remarkable attribute. He was a good trooper, but a better man and that comes from the bottom of my heart. He is now, unfortunately a fallen brother, and his family will be taken care of by the broader law enforcement community.

Vernon police lined the highway to salute Miller's procession as it traveled by.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel