Manchester, Tolland Mourn Loss Of Popular, Decorated Officer

MANCHESTER, CT — The Manchester Police Department is mourning the loss of a 22-year veteran who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Sgt. Stephen Bresciano died Oct. 17, a department social media post announced Monday. He was 49.

Bresciano made his home in Tolland and served the department where he grew up. After graduating from Manchester High School, he earned an associate's degree from Manchester Community College, a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Science in Organizational Management at Eastern Connecticut State University while working full-time.

He was known for his sense of humor and dedication to family, along with a lawn that looked "like Yankee Stadium."

Manchester police have dedicated a cruiser to his memory.

The Sgt. Stephen Bresciano memorial cruiser (MPD)

Bresciano began his career in 1994 with the Connecticut Department of Corrections. In 1997, he He joined the Manchester Police Department. In his tenure there, he was a field training officer, a traffic unit officer, and a firearms instructor.

Bresciano was promoted to sergeant in 2013, and led MPD's Traffic Unit from 2014 thr0ugh 2018 and the MPD Training Unit from 2019 until his retirement.

His awards include the Medal for Distinguished Service (2004), a Chief's Citation (2006), the Medal of Valor (2011), the Medal for Life Saving (2018), and the Medal for Meritorious Service (2020).

He was also part of the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team for more than a decade. While at CREST, he was instrumental in establishing and coordinating the Capitol Region Special Weapons and Tactics School, a basic training course for new tactical officers from across Connecticut.

He leaves his wife, Karen, and two teenage sons. See his full obituary here.