Connecticut
Mother of fallen Connecticut detective admonishes town council after refusal to fly 'antagonistic' flag
A mother of a fallen Connecticut detective admonished a Democrat-led town council after it voted against flying the “thin blue line” flag in honor of a recently slain trooper.
Debbie Garten, the mother of Hartford police Det. Robert “Bobby” Garten, who was killed in the line of duty in September 2023, shared a heartfelt testimony at the Wethersfield town council meeting on Monday on why the “thin blue line” flag matters to those who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.
“I understand that you may have your own viewpoints and policies, but I want to share a few of my thoughts with you,” Garten said. “Was this issue mishandled? Without a doubt.”
Garten said the situation has caused her a “world of hurt.”
CONNECTICUT TOWN REFUSED TO FLY ‘ANTAGONISTIC’ ‘BLUE LINE’ FLAG TO HONOR FALLEN TROOPER
Debbie Garten, the mother of fallen Hartford Det. Robert “Bobby” Garten, gave heartfelt testimony on why the “thin blue line” flag matters to families of slain officers at a Wethersfield Town Council Meeting on June 17. ( Weathersfield Town Council)
“I feel you all have missed the point of this flag request, which has caused a world of hurt to me as a lifelong resident of this town for 60 years, my family, residents of Wethersfield and the law enforcement community at large,” she said. “The impact of this council’s action is immeasurable.”
She said that the fallout after the decision was “an embarrassment.”
“When the Pelletier family was mourning the loss of Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, some council members chose to appear on television and, in essence, I feel, embarrassed themselves and the town of Wethersfield,” Garten said.
“It was disheartening to witness the news coverage and hear the disrespectful and hurtful remarks made by some town council members, especially as the week and funeral for First Class Pelletier was going on,” she said.
Connecticut State Police First Class Trooper Aaron Pelletier, who was killed in a hit-and-run on May 30, was laid to rest on June 5. (Connecticut State Police)
The mother of the fallen officer said that she appreciated seeing the unveiling of her son’s name on the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial and seeing a row of “thin blue line” flags flying in Washington, D.C.
“Beyond honoring fallen officers, the blue line flag supports families,” Garten said. “It shows that they are not alone in their grief, and that there is a network of individuals who understand and empathize with our pain.”
She added that the flag symbolizes a “united community” that can band together after experiencing the loss of a fallen hero.
“This flag symbolizes a united community that offers comfort, compassion, and assistance to all those who have experienced this unimaginable loss,” she said. “The thin blue line holds a deeply personal meaning for me. It’s a tribute to my son’s service and sacrifice, it symbolizes his honor, his strength, and his remembrance of all he stood for.”
Hartford Police Department Det. Robert “Bobby” Garten, 34, was killed when his cruiser was struck by another vehicle that police say was fleeing an unrelated traffic stop in September 2023. (City of Hartford)
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She said, in part, that while the flag “cannot erase the pain or fill the void” left behind by a fallen officer, it does represent “society’s gratitude” toward those who have died in the line of duty.
“It represents society’s gratitude, respect for the men and women who have put their lives on the line for the greater good, and it symbolizes solidarity; reminding us to support and uplift the families of fallen officers and to ensure that they are not left behind or forgotten,” Garten said.
Garten formally requested that the town council raise the “thin blue line” flag for two weeks in May 2025 – one week for the National Police Week and one week for the Connecticut Police Memorial ceremony.
“May your bravery and sacrifice never be forgotten,” she said. “Rest in peace.”
Her statement came after members of the Wethersfield Town Council turned down a bid to fly the “thin blue line” flag in a 5-3 vote after a spirited debate where some described them as “white supremacist” and “antagonistic.”
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In a recording of the town council meeting in June, Democratic Councilmember Emily Zambrello is heard saying that the flag was “viewed as antagonistic.”
“That flag was either created or at least became prevalent in direct response to the Black Lives Matter protests,” Zambrello said. “It’s viewed as antagonistic even if you don’t see it that way and I don’t think that’s a good flag to fly, especially not without further discussion.”
In an interview, Wethersfield Mayor Ken Lesser suggested that the flag had racist ties.
“It is now being used by white supremacist groups and other far-right types of groups,” Lesser said. “And even many police departments around the country and in Connecticut have said that ‘we don’t authorize to use that flag’.”
Thin Blue Line USA describes the “thin blue line” flag as a symbol that represents the police officers who separate order from chaos. (iStock)
The disagreement began after Connecticut State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, 34, was killed in a routine traffic stop last month – leaving behind a wife and two young boys.
Republican Council Member Rich Bailey suggested the town raise the “thin blue line” flag over town hall in honor of Pelletier’s sacrifice – immediately commanding outrage from the majority Democrats on the council.
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The thin blue line is a symbol that represents the police officers who separate order from chaos, according to Thin Blue Line USA, a company that sells merchandise featuring the flag supporting law enforcement, veterans and first responders.
“The thin blue line flag is flown to show support for our heroes in law enforcement and serves as a consoling reminder they will always be there to protect us,” the Thin Blue Line USA website reads. “For those who walk it, the thin blue line is a reflection of courage, a pledge of brotherhood and a tribute to those who have fallen in the line of duty.”
When a house has been loved for generations, its walls tend to hold stories. In the case of one family residence in Darien, Connecticut, that sentiment was taken quite literally. On the casement between the living room and kitchen are ticks that denote decades of growth, a quiet record of childhoods unfolding in real time. Several of those measurements belong to the home’s newest steward—the original owners’ daughter—who was ready to put her own mark on the property.
Eager to see what she could make of the 1930s structure, she and her husband tapped British-born designer Becca Casey of Connecticut-based Becca Interiors to breathe new life—and old soul—into the interior. For Casey, being entrusted with that kind of emotional patina was a privilege she didn’t take lightly. “The greatest challenge was ensuring that the new extension had synergy with the original house while bringing together the couple’s different tastes and honoring the home’s history,” Casey says of the 2,400-square-foot space.
That delicate balance shows up everywhere, from tailored silhouettes and clean lines for him to pattern and color for her. Nowhere is that nuance more evident than in the property’s oldest room, a long, beam-lined living space that once sat largely unused. Casey swathed it in an atmospheric mural, transforming it into a multi-zone haven centered on the fireplace, with moments of repose throughout where the family can gather to play a game or enjoy a book.
Around the home, Casey’s eye for nuance is unmistakable. She wields color, pattern, and shape with equal aplomb, expertly marrying form with function in a way that’s both timeless and fresh. A hidden television disappears behind drapery-lined cabinetry, the inner skeleton of an armchair is displayed like a work of art, a vintage dining table reveals a plaque from the husband’s hometown (a serendipitous discovery that made the piece instantly meaningful). In the end, reviving the dwelling wasn’t about reinvention for Casey—it was about the possibility that a new chapter can bring. The result is a space that, according to Casey, feels “quietly refined and effortlessly lived-in”—an elegant meeting point between memory and modern family life.
FAST FACTS:
Designer: Becca Casey, Becca Interiors
Location: Darien, Connecticut
The Space: A 1930s colonial with six bedrooms, across 2,400 square feet.
LIVING ROOM
Bare windows and a transportive wallpaper nod to the pastoral landscape.
The living room is the oldest space in the house, so Casey wanted to honor its bones while streamlining the layout for modern functionality. Custom Dmitriy & Co. sofas—linen on the top, patterned French mattress tufting at the base—typify the union between “his” and “her” tastes.
Sconce: Woven Shop. Lamp: Visual Comfort & Co. Chair: custom.
Table: custom, Becca Interiors. Chairs: Pottery Barn.
A traditional English roll armchair was tucked into a corner at the request of the husband, whose wish list included a spot to read. Aiming for a “layered floor plan,” with distinct areas for the family’s many needs, Casey added a game table as a visual anchor with a direct sight line to the main entryway of the home.
DEN
An original stone fireplace anchors the family-ready space.
Pendant: Woka. Coffee table: LF Collection. Sconce: Hector Finch.
Coffee table: LF Collection. Rug: Woodard Weave. Chik blinds: Joss Graham.
Drenched in French Gray paint by Farrow & Ball and grounded by the original stone fireplace, the den is carefully choreographed to support togetherness, with a custom sectional and hidden TV.
DINING ROOM
The sun-drenched space looks out to the backyard pond.
Paint: School House White, Farrow & Ball. Chairs: Maison Louis Drucker. Table: antique. Tablecloths: Zara Home, Cabana Home. Pedants: Lightology.
Part of the new addition, the serene dining room is flooded with light, thanks to expansive floor to (almost) ceiling windows. Layered textiles keep the antique table—a happy find, originally made in the husband’s hometown—geared toward casual meals.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Salvaged beams mimic the look of the originals in the living room.
Paint: Shaded White, Farrow & Ball. Rug: Lulu and Georgia. Bedding: The Company Store. Dresser: English Farmhouse Furniture.
Inspired by Belgian interiors, the elevated placement of the fireplace isn’t just a design flex—it’s an experiential choice that puts the flames right at eye level when lounging in bed. Beside it, two vintage English armchairs stun with their exposed interior, a Becca Interiors signature touch.
PRIMARY BATH
Natural materials were chosen for their ability to patina over time.
Mirror: Rejuvenation. Floor tile: Arto. Wall paint: Slipper Statin, Farrow & Ball. Sconces: O’lampia.
In the primary bathroom, wellness comes through atmosphere rather than gadgets. A Drummonds soaking tub is positioned for prime pond views, with a gray-green base (Drop Cloth, Farrow & Ball) that reinforces the room’s soothing palette.
WORKSTATION
Smart features make family management a cinch.
Roman shade: Hunter Douglas. Desk paint: Studio Green, Farrow & Ball. Chair: Soho Home. Rug: Merribrook Collection. Flushmount: RW Guild.
To make the most of a hall nook, Casey crafted a compact desk where the wife, a teacher, can grade papers. Labeled drawers store art supplies, while a floor-to-ceiling cabinet (at side) acts as a hub for deliveries.
About the Designer
Becca Casey is the Principal Director and founder of Becca Interiors. Raised in the countryside of Southwest England, her earliest influences were rooted in history, nature, and the quiet beauty of rural life. These foundations continue to shape her design philosophy today, one that blends heritage with modern sensibility while honoring craftsmanship and the beauty of daily life at home.
The Hartford community is grappling with two police shootings that happened within eight days of each other. Both started off as mental health calls about someone in distress.
People came together to remember one of the men killed at a vigil on Wednesday evening.
With hands joined, a prayer for peace and comfort was spoken for the family of Everard Walker. He was having a mental health crisis when a family member called 211 on Feb.19.
Two mental health professionals from the state-operated Capitol Regional Mental Health Center requested Hartford police come with them to Walker’s apartment on Capitol Avenue.
A scuffle ensued, and police said it looked like Walker was going to stab an officer. The brief fight ended with an officer shooting and killing Walker.
The family is planning to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the city.
“All I will have now is a tombstone and the voicemails he left on my phone that I listen over and over again at night just so I can fall asleep,” Menan Walker, one of Walker’s daughters, said.
City councilman Josh Michtom (WF) is asking whether police could have acted differently.
“To me, the really concerning thing is why the police were there at all, why they went into that apartment in the way that they did, in the numbers that they did,” he said.
The president of Hartford’s police union, James Rutkauski, asked the community to hold their judgment and wait for a full investigation by the Inspector General’s office to be completed.
A different tone was taken in a statement released about another police shooting on Blue Hills Avenue on Feb. 27.
Rutkauski said the union fully supports the officer who fired at 55-year-old Steven Jones, who was holding a knife during a mental health crisis.
In part, the union’s statement says that Jones “deliberately advanced on the officer in a manner that created an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury. This was a 100% justified use of deadly force.”
The Inspector General’s office will determine if the officer was justified following an investigation.
The officer who shot Jones was the fourth to arrive on the scene. Three others tried to get him to drop the knife, even using a taser, before the shooting.
“It just feels like beyond the conduct of any one officer, we have this problem, which is that we send cops for every problem,” Michtom said. “I don’t know how you can de-escalate at the point of a gun.”
Jones died from his injuries on Tuesday.
The union’s statement went on to say that officers should not be society’s default for mental health professionals. The statement said in part, “We ask for renewed commitment from our legislators to remove police from being the vanguard of what should be a mental health professional response.”
The officers involved in both shootings are on administrative leave.
Marked by a ceremonial ribbon cutting and attended by Governor Ned Lamont, state legislators, Waterbury officials, and community leaders, UConn Health celebrated the acquisition of Waterbury Hospital which as of today is now the UConn Health Waterbury Hospital.
“This is a defining moment for healthcare in Connecticut,” said Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health Community Network. “We now have the opportunity to take the award -winning academic quality and service of UConn Health and share it with the wonderful employees, doctors and community of Waterbury.”
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont described the initiative as a forward-looking investment in the future of healthcare access across Connecticut.
“Connecticut is leading with innovation,” said Connecticut Governor Lamont. “The UConn Health Community Network reflects a proactive approach to strengthening community-based care by connecting it directly to the capabilities of our state’s public academic medical center. What begins in Waterbury today, represents a new model designed to expand opportunity, access, and excellence for communities statewide.”
In addition to UConn Health Waterbury Hospital, the Network includes UConn Health Community Network Medical Group and UConn Health Waterbury Health at Home. The model preserves each member’s local identity and will grow thoughtfully over time to improve quality, expand access, and reduce the total cost of care.
“This reflects a bold step forward in how we think about healthcare in Connecticut,” said John Driscoll, Chair of the UConn Health Board of Directors. “Today we celebrate the beginning of a new approach to community-based care. We move forward with clarity of purpose and shared commitment to serve our communities better together.”
Comptroller Sean Scanlon highlighted the significance of the model for the long-term evolution of healthcare delivery in Connecticut.
“This partnership represents thoughtful leadership at a pivotal time for healthcare,” said Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon. “By aligning community hospitals with academic medicine, Connecticut is building a modern framework that positions our healthcare system to meet the needs of patients today and into the future.”
“Hosting this celebration on our campus is deeply meaningful for our staff, physicians and the families we serve,” said Deborah Weymouth, President of UConn Health Waterbury Hospital. “Waterbury’s legacy of care continues, and we are tremendously proud to have a strong partner who is deeply committed to our community and help lead this next chapter for healthcare.”
Welcome UConn Health Waterbury Hospital!
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