Newtown PD Dedicates Community Room To Fallen Officer

The following is a release from the Newtown Police Department announcing the dedication of its Community and Training Room to the late Officer Stephen A. Ketchum, who died in 2016 from injuries he sustained in his response to the attacks on 9/11:

NEWTOWN, CT — On Friday 5/28/2021, the Newtown Police department dedicated the training/community room of the new police department in the honor of one of our fallen officers. Officer Stephen A. Ketchum was an exemplary police officer and caring member of the community. His life was cut short due to injuries associated with his response to the attacks on 9/11.

Officer Ketchum joined the Newtown Police Department in 1989, and shortly thereafter he became a certified instructor and Field Training officer. He was also an active member with his local fire department and was dedicated to helping others. He was well known and respected in the Newtown community and spent several years as a School Resource Officer. He was patient, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to making him very effective at coaching and teaching others. During the latter part of his career he became a founding member of the traffic division and the first motorcycle officer. He was dedicated and committed to any task he took on, and a role model for many.

We see the community room becoming a landmark for future training of Police officers and a place for community gatherings as a reflection of Steve’s dedication to service. Officer Ketchum will continue to affect the lives of others through the use of this facility, and we are honored to dedicate this room in his memory.

The Newtown Police would like to thank Bob Morris and his crew at Signarama in Danbury who not only created the beautiful lettering but also were kind enough to donate the labor.