A Connecticut family decked their house in blue lights to honor three Bristol Police Department officers who were recently shot during a reported ambush on the evening of October 12.
The Osenkowski family’s blue light tribute on 111 Rosewood Drive in Bristol is dedicated to Sergeant Dustin Demonte and Officers Alex Hamzy and Alec Lurato, who were fired on after responding to a domestic violence call between two siblings. Demonte and Hamzy were killed in the shooting, and Lurato was wounded, but is expected to recover.
Osenkowski said the idea for the light show was to honor the department and collect donations for the families of the fallen officers. There is a collection bin outside the house, and people can also donate via Venmo or Paypal @Lights-on-Rosewood.
“Bristol is such a small, quiet town and for this to happen just shattered everybody,” Rob Osenkowski told The National Desk. “We have a projector out there with pictures of the officers.”
Osenkowski said he and his wife, Lori, and their three sons, Noah, 13, Josh, 11, and Parker, 9, were devastated to learn of the officers’ deaths. The family personally knew Hamzy, an eight-year veteran on the force.
“We actually saw him two weeks before at the Mum Parade in Bristol,” Osenkowski said. “We shook his hand and were talking to him for a while. My wife grew up with his sister.”
The family began setting up the display the day after the tragic shooting.
“In two and a half days, we raised over $9,000,” Osenkowski told KOMO News.
A local business also donated 50 mugs with photos of the officers on them to the family, which they are selling online. All the proceeds will be donated to the affected families.
This isn’t the first time the family has elaborately decorated their home for a good cause. Osenkowski said they have been doing it for the past decade. Each year, the family collects donations for those in need. In 2021, they raised $14,000 for a family after their father died.
“The community has always been so good to us as far as donations because we raise money for children that are sick or families that have lost somebody, so it just made sense for us to do this,” Osenkowski said. “We knew that they would step up and help out the Bristol Police Department.”
The house was lit in blue until the day of Demonte’s and Hamzy’s funerals on October 21.
Osenkowski is now decorating the home for Halloween; however, he plans to keep a five-minute segment of blue lights and silence every hour in honor of the fallen officers.
The Bristol Police Department was grateful for the community’s support.
“The Bristol, Connecticut, Police Department is so appreciative of the support our community has shown us honoring Sergeant Dustin Demonte, Officer Alex Hamzy and Officer Alec Lurato,” the department wrote on Facebook. “This amazing support has come from all across the United States. Due to the overwhelming generosity, support and love from you, we are looking to thank you each individually. If you could, we are requesting that you send an email to Officer Katherine Verillo so we may better coordinate those well wishes. Officer Verillo may be reached at katherineverillo@bristolct.gov. Thank you so much for your support!”
