It was an emotional scene in Hartford Friday as friends, family, fellow police officers, and the public came to Dunkin' Park to pay their respects to Detective Robert "Bobby" Garten.
Hartford police officers marched from the Hartford Police Headquarters to the ballpark to be there as a procession escorted Garten's casket from Wethersfield to Dunkin' Park.
Police officers from near and far came to Hartford to honor a brother in blue. The officers share a special bond no matter their department.
"It’s something all of our officers face, they come to work everyday, bravely to do their job and never knowing if they are going to come home," Glastonbury Police Chief Marshall Porter said.
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A celebration of Garten's life will be held at the XL Center in Hartford beginning at 10 a.m.
Garten died last Wednesday night at the age of 34 when a driver who was fleeing from a traffic stop hit the police cruiser Garten was in, police said.
Detective Garten is remembered as “the guy who was always smiling,” according to his obituary.
He was born and raised in Wethersfield, lived in Newington and graduated from the police academy in 2015, following his father’s footsteps to become a Hartford police officer.
Garten had been selected to be promoted to detective before the crash that claimed his life and the department posthumously promoted him.
During his career, he was a field training officer and a member of the Hartford Police Department Marine Division and the Street Crime Unit and he received several awards and citations.
Garten had been a Hartford Whalers fan since childhood and a supporter of the Hartford Yard Goats and the service for him will be at Dunkin’ Park, home of the Hartford Yard Goats, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. It is open to the public.
Parking is available for attendees at 1257 Main St. in Hartford, 310 Market St. in Hartford, 330 Market St. in Hartford and 275 Windsor St. in Hartford.
The park is located at 1214 Main St. in Hartford and police said roads around Dunkin’ Park will be closed as of noon on Friday:
- Market Street
- Pleasant Street
- Trumbull Street
- Main Street
A celebration of life service will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the XL Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza in Hartford.
Police are warning of traffic delays and said “no-parking” orders and road closures around the XL Center on Saturday, including the following roads:
- Market Street
- Pleasant Street
- Trumbull Street
- Church Street
- Ann Uccello Street
- Allyn Street
- Main Street
Parking and shuttle service are available for attendees at the following locations starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday:
- 1257 Main St. in Hartford
- 310 Market St. in Hartford
- 330 Market St. in Hartford
- 275 Windsor St. in Hartford
- Other parking options are also available near the XL Center
Wethersfield police will shut down several streets on Saturday during the funeral and procession. The closures will occur between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The following roads will be closed:
- Main Street between Marsh Street and State Street
- Marsh Street from Interstate 91 to Main Street
- Hartford Avenue in the area of Main Street
- Broad Street in the area of Marsh Street
Additional temporary closures will happen at the following locations:
- Silas Deane Highway at Route 5/15 and Jordan Lane
- Hartford Avenue between Jordan Lane and State Street
- State Street from Hartford Avenue to Main Street
Hartford police said they are thanking the public for the outpouring of support and they are expecting a large turnout for both services.
Burial with police honors will follow for family and friends at Village Cemetery at 1 Marsh St. in Wethersfield.
