North Haven Public Schools to Close Friday for Funeral for Fallen Bristol Police Officers

All North Haven public schools will be closed on Friday in observance of the funeral service for Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy, two Bristol police officers who were killed in the line of duty last week. Bristol schools will also be closed.

DeMonte, 35, of North Haven, was a 10-and-a-half-year veteran of the Bristol Police Department.

He was a school resource officer at Greene-Hills and West Bristol Schools in Bristol.

DeMonte was a father of two with a third on the way.

The closure of North Haven schools closure applies to all students and faculty. District and school offices will remain open.  

Hamzy, 34, was born in Bristol and went to Bristol Eastern High School.

He was with the Bristol Police Department for eight years and served as a longtime advisor for the Bristol Police Explorer Cadet Program.

DeMonte and Hamzy were posthumously promoted. DeMonte was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant and Hamzy was promoted from officer to sergeant.

Funeral Services

The funeral services will be at Rentschler Field at Pratt and Whitney Stadium on Silver Lane in East Hartford at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21.

East Hartford police said travel will be impacted on Silver Lane, Roberts Street and the surrounding area. They are urging drivers to use alternate routes throughout the early morning and afternoon.

Road Closures

State police have announced road closures for the funeral procession for Lt. DeMonte and Sgt. Hamzy.

Each procession is scheduled to begin at 8:55 a.m., with an expected arrival time at Rentschler Field of 10 a.m.

Drivers should expect delays on these routes:

Procession for Lt. Dustin DeMonte

• The procession for Lt. DeMonte will begin at the North Haven Funeral Home on Washington Avenue and proceed to Interstate 91.
• The vehicles will then exit onto Interstate 691 West, then to Interstate 84 East, exiting at the stadium grounds via Exit 58.
• Following the services, the procession will travel from Rentschler Field back to the North Haven Funeral Home.
• The route will be Route 15 South, from Silver Lane, to I-91 South, to Exit 12.

Procession for Sgt. Alex Hamzy

• The procession for Sgt. Hamzy will begin at the Scott Funeral Home following Route 6 to Colt Highway.
• The motorcade will proceed to I-84 East and exit at the stadium grounds via Exit 58. Following the service, the procession will travel the reverse route back to the Scott Funeral Home: I-84 West, to Exit 38, then Route 6 to the Scott Funeral Home.

State police said the routes are subject to change.

Parking at Rentschler Field

Members of the public who wish to attend the services at Rentschler Field are instructed to park in the gray or red lots on the map below. The public will enter through Gate C and D.

Items that are prohibited from the venue include bags, including purses; flowers; gifts; and professional cameras.

Law enforcement attending the funeral are instructed to park in the blue lot and enter through Gate B.

Law enforcement members are required to show official credentials.

Once the venue is filled, no others will be permitted admittance.