MERIDEN — Law enforcement officers from across Connecticut gathered at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden on May 21, 2026 for the annual Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony, where three names were added to the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial in a solemn tribute to fallen police officers.
Held as part of the state’s Memorial Day observances, the ceremony featured remarks from Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin, who emphasized that the badge carried by Connecticut officers represents a “solemn promise" to the public to protect the vulnerable and uphold the law with strength and compassion.
“The badge that our Connecticut officers wear and carry is not merely a piece of metal," Chief State's Attorney Griffin said, speaking before local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel and family members of deceased police officials.
"It is, in fact, a solemn promise, a covenant with the public, a promise to protect the vulnerable, to uphold the law without fear or favor, to serve with both strength and compassion, always recognizing that compassion is not a sign of weakness. That promise is renewed daily, every shift, every call, every time an officer steps into unknown and potentially deadly situations.”
Chief State’s Attorney Griffin urged those in attendance to remember the sacrifices made by officers and the families they leave behind. In recent years, he said, Connecticut law enforcement families and state residents have been “grimly reminded” of the dangers officers face.
This year’s additions to the memorial included New London Police Sgt. Frank Linehan, who died in 1950 in the performance of his duties, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Donald Kleber, who died in 2024 from exposure to Ground Zero debris after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, and Yale Police Officer Gregory Swaintek, who died while on duty last year.
Chief State's Attorney Griffin spoke of the families of fallen officers, recognizing the long-lasting toll of their loss.
“We must also acknowledge that behind every fallen officer is a family - spouses, children, parents - who must carry on in the wake of an unspeakable tragedy," Chief State's Attorney Griffin said.
He praised their resilience, calling them “quiet and enduring heroes who stand in the shadows,” and thanked them on behalf of the Division of Criminal Justice.
“Your strength and your courage bring honor to your fallen loved ones," he said.
Several other law enforcement leaders also spoke during the ceremony, including Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnell Higgins, Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman and municipal police chiefs, each reflecting on the legacy of service and the deep bonds within the law enforcement community.
The Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial, located on the grounds of the Connecticut Police Academy on Preston Avenue in Meriden, remains open to the public as a place of reflection and remembrance.
This year’s ceremony honored more than 150 men and women whose names are etched on the memorial wall and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to honoring the legacy of its fallen officers and supporting the families who carry that legacy forward.
