South Windsor police awarded for rescues and memorials

Joseph Villanova, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Jul. 2—SOUTH WINDSOR — The police department held an awards ceremony Tuesday night to recognize officials for their work in a number of incidents, including the investigation into South Windsor resident Jessica Edwards' disappearance.

Seven police officers were recognized with a Distinguished Unit Award for their work in finding Edwards, whose body was ultimately recovered on May 21, 2021, 11 days after her disappearance, in a wooded area of East Hartford.

Later that day, police spoke to Tahj Hutchinson, husband of Edwards, who admitted that Edwards died during a physical fight with him at their South Windsor condominium and that he left her body in a wooded area after Edward's family came looking for her.

PROMOTIONS

Members of the force who were promoted over the past year and were recognized at the ceremony Tuesday night:

Chief Kristian Lindstrom

Deputy Chief Brian Eckblom

Lt. Christopher Duchesne

Lt. Mark Halibozek

Sgt. David Gesualdi

Sgt. Stephen Hoover

Cpl. Christopher Poehnert

Cpl. Joseph Futtner

Cpl. Jacob Truebig

Cpl. Alexis McLain

Cpl. Daniel Cain

During a preliminary hearing on Wednesday in Hartford Superior Court, a judge ruled that there is enough evidence to proceed to trial on the accusation that Hutchinson murdered Edwards.

Sergeants Mark Cleverdon, Mike Dobler, Ron Littell, and Mike Prescher; Corporals Daniel Cain, Joseph Futtner, and Christopher Poehnert; and Officer Kevin Geraci were awarded for their efforts during the investigation.

A press release states that the incident was "one of the most complex cases from an investigative perspective and a public relations perspective" for the department in the past decade.

The department granted a Chief's Award to Lt. Glenn Buonanducci and Littell for their efforts in Officer Benjamin Lovett's fatal motorcycle accident on June 26, 2021, and the subsequent memorial services, which included providing assistance to Lovett's family and organizing the wake and funeral.

Cpl. Kyle LaPorte, Officers Erik Dabrowski and Kyle Higgins, and dispatchers Steve Cordeiro and Christine Meyerhans received a Distinguished Unit Award related to a March 2021 incident where a Carla's Pasta employee was rescued after their hand got stuck in a machine.

Another Distinguished Unit Award was given to Littell, Corporals Alexis McLain and Jacob Truebig, and Officers Zach Cosenza, Thomas DeFelice, William Eastwood, and Kyle Higgins for their actions on June 28, 2021, locating two suspects who fled on foot after a larceny and providing medical support to one who showed signs of an opioid overdose.

The officers who were given other awards are Officers Peggy Sue Clouser, David Johnson, Kyle Kolcharno, Bianca Krzynowek, Erika Kuzara, Katelyn Pierpoint, and Isaih Spain. Other individuals awarded include dispatchers Patrick Kelley and Rachel Burnham, Community Service Officer Brian Kelley, and citizens Jacob Burnham, Sean Richards, Ayden Reid, and Michael Samsel.

A total of 19 awards were given at the ceremony, with acknowledgement of 15 additional awards previously celebrated during the pandemic.

Joseph covers East Hartford and South Windsor. He joined the JI in July 2021. Joseph graduated from the University of Connecticut and he is an avid guitarist and coffee enthusiast.