Thousands attend funeral for Bristol Police Sgt. Alex Hamzy and Lt. Dustin DeMonte, officers shot and killed in ambush
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Close to 10,000 people attended Friday's shared funeral service for two Bristol, Connecticut police officers shot and killed in the line of duty on Oct. 12.
The service for Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy started at around noon at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford and lasted more than two hours.
Hamzy and DeMonte were remembered as model officers beloved by their families. Hamzy's father Ahmad Hamzy and DeMonte's pregnant widow Laura DeMonte spoke at the memorial.
Officers from departments across the state escorted their caskets to the service.
Officer Alec Iurato, who was wounded in the ambush and fatally shot the suspect, was at the stadium in uniform.
Speakers describe immeasurable loss
The loss of Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy is impossible to measure, and the pain is difficult to bear.
"We will cry together for Dustin and Alex because we will miss them terribly," said Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould.
DeMonte and Hamzy were known for their efforts to lift up the youth of the Bristol community.
"I can see the love they had for their job, to go out and reach the community, to bring joy, hope, peace and comfort in their life. These men deserve a recognition as big as this," said Meriden Police Chaplain Clarence Hayes.
Cops came from every corner of Connecticut - and from Maryland to Maine on the East Coast - to attend Friday's service.
Posthumous promotions honored DeMonte's and Hamzy's exceptional service and sacrifice.
Among those paying tribute to Hamzy, his father Ahmad, who is an immigrant from Lebanon. He paid tribute to Officer Alec Iurato, the cop who took down the suspect with a single shot.
"We will be forever grateful for what he did in confronting pure evil," said Ahmad Hamzy.
His son loved BMW cars, working out and, most of all, his wife Katie, whose sister read a message on her behalf.
"He is my hero, my protection, the love of my life and of course, my heart. I love you Alex," said Katie Hamzy's sister.
The final speaker was DeMonte's widow Laura DeMonte, who is pregnant with their third child.
"Our family was as close to perfect as could be, because we had you. You made everything better. Thank you for these beautiful children, wonderful memories that we will cherish forever," she said.
The service ended with a traditional final radio call, unanswered by the slain officers.
The caskets were carried to their final resting places, but memories of DeMonte and Hamzy are engraved on countless heavy hearts.
Watch the funeral
CBS News New York streamed special live coverage of the shared funeral for Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy.
Watch the entire service in the video players below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
A fitting salute
Cops from every corner of Connecticut, first responders from across the Northeast, and members of the community gathered as a grieving family Friday.
The size and complexity of the service delayed the start by about an hour. It's perhaps the largest single assembly of first responders in the state's history, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported.
The families of Lt. DeMonte and Sgt. Hamzy appeared stoic and exhausted when they arrived, but they were united in their grief and supporting each other.
The men are remembered as active and engaged officers with histories of helping young people in Bristol schools.
"I can see the love they had for their job, to go out and reach the community, to bring joy, hope peace and comfort in their life. These men deserve a recognition as big as this," said Meriden Police Chaplain Clarence Hayes.
"They will be supported, not only by the Bristol community and the Bristol Police Department, but as a state as a whole," said Connecticut State Police Sgt. Christine Jeltema.
Procession starts
Motorcycle procession leads caskets to memorial service for Dustin DeMonte and Alex Hamzy, @BristolCTPolice officers slain on October 12. pic.twitter.com/fZhgORz07V
— Tony Aiello (@AielloTV) October 21, 2022
How to watch
CBS News New York will stream special coverage of the funeral starting at 11 a.m.
You can watch by downloading the CBS News app on any device or smart tv.
Hit "live" and find us on CBS News New York, or watch on the Pluto TV app, where you can find us on channel 400.
Order of Service for funerals of @BristolCTPolice DeMonte and Hamzy.
— Tony Aiello (@AielloTV) October 21, 2022
Wife Laura DeMonte and father Ahmad Hamzy will speak.
Special live coverage @CBSNewYork starting 11am. pic.twitter.com/JbYVQrElHw
Posthumous promotions
The fallen officers both received posthumous promotions Thursday ahead of their joint funeral.
Dustin DeMonte, 35, was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. Alex Hamzy, 34, went from officer to sergeant.
A third officer, 26-year-old Alec Iurato, was also wounded in the attack. He was treated and released from the hospital the next day.
A deadly ambush
Connecticut state police said the officers responded to a 911 call about a domestic dispute between brothers. When they arrived, they were ambushed.
Police said Sgt. Hamzy died at the scene. The eight-year veteran leaves behind a wife, Katie.
Lt. DeMonte later died at the hospital. He was married to wife Laurie and had two children with another on the way.
Police said Officer Iurato shot and killed one suspect, 35-year-old Nicholas Brutcher, and wounded his brother, 32-year-old Nathan Brutcher.
CLICK HERE for more reporting from that day.