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Professional Compassion

It is with great admiration that I share how impressed my wife and I were with the two East Haven police officers in handling someone seriously impaired who was in front of our house.

This person tried engage my wife. She called me on her cell phone. I work from home. While I tried to keep the individual from further engaging my wife, she called the police. The time range was approximately 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. on Friday, May 3.

At no time did we feel threatened by this person. Nonetheless, we were very cautious since he was so impaired. Once the first officer arrived, we were impressed by the dignity and respect that said officer showed this individual. Once the second officer arrived, the same pattern of calm, patience, and respect was demonstrated. More impressive was when the individual wanted to walk home. Both officers successfully persuaded the individual to take a trip in the ambulance to get attended to.

We are certain that the East Haven Police Department confronts worse situations. Still, for something so benign (in our eyes, not in the eyes of the police), such dignity and respect shown to someone in such a sad state was so impressive.

Thank you to the two officers who demonstrated such professional compassion. Everyone, no matter their state, deserves the same regard that these two officers showed to this individual.

Salvatore Ferro

Valerie Proto

East Haven