Police Chief AJ Perez statement following the death Monday morning of Officer Thomas Lattanzio, a veteran of the department for 17 years. Police are investigating this as a suicide.
“This is a very sad day for the Bridgeport Police Department. Our family has lost a brother officer. Officer Thomas Lattanzio had dedicated nearly 20 years of his life serving our residents and our city, and we mourn his loss. We will have more to say about the circumstances surrounding Officer Lattanzio’s passing in the future. For today, we pray for his family and we are comforting each other. Policing is a tough job, and we have hundreds of committed officers who put their lives on the line to protect each of us, every day. As always we will rely on each other and our community for support, for which we are grateful. I ask that the public keep the brave men and women of the Bridgeport Police Department in your prayers during this difficult time.”
Lattanzio had been involved in a number of job-related controversies including recent removal of duty involving excessive force clashes with dozens of people, causing Perez to declare “We have to be able to interact with the public better.”
He had been accused of excessive force in other court cases.
Rest In Peace My Friend Officer Thomas Lattanzio.
This is deeply saddening. Officer Lattanzio was a troubled man. May he rest in peace.
I had the misfortune of being involved with Officer Lattanzio mishandling and creating an unnecessary incident at Brewport last fall. It is unfortunate there were not the departmental safety nets or forum for discussion of community relations in the BPD, instead an “us against them” mentality a new thing.
But the demons in peoples lives are to be dealt with. I hope Officer Lattanzio finds the peace in the next world that eluded him in this one.
My condolences and prayers go out to the members of the Bridgeport PD and Officer Lattanzio’s family. It is hard for anyone when losing a co-worker and I pray for the comfort of those who worked day to day with him.