http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/local/scn-gt-a1guardmondayapr09,0,298144.story?coll=green-news-local-headlines
By Martin B. Cassidy
Staff Writer
April 9, 2007
More than a year after the police chief folded a
department-sanctioned honor guard, a new guard made up of
unionized Greenwich police officers has led the town's St.
Patrick's Day Parade and paid their respects to two auxiliary
police officers killed in Manhattan.
The reconstituted 14-member guard funded by the Silver Shield
Association, the police union, will perform at future ceremonies
in town, said Sgt. James Bonney, president of the union.
"The members of the guard want to honor fallen officers and
to be professional as possible while honoring veterans,"
Bonney said. "As much as possible we want it to be very
tightly executed and be as squared away as possible in our
appearance."
In January 2006, after members of the guard boycotted the
swearing in of First Selectman Jim Lash, Police Chief James
Walters dissolved the group. Members later declined his offer to
reactivate the unit, saying Lash had ignored their growing
grievances with Walters. Town officials felt the guard had acted
improperly to skip Lash's ceremony.
The union soon announced plans for a new honor guard and raised
$22,000 through a fund drive to pay for new uniforms, badges,
patches and other equipment to get started.
Veterans were happy to see a police honor guard re-emerge for
special events, especially those honoring veterans.
Jim Larkin, a Korean War veteran, was impressed with the guard's
appearance at the recent St. Patrick's Day Parade, and their
vintage uniforms were distinctive.
"I am delighted and honored that the Silver Shield
Association has reintroduced the honor guard," Larkin said.
"The unit is a tribute not only to the police department,
but to the citizens of Greenwich and in a special way its
military veterans. They really looked sharp."
Tony Cossu, another Korean War veteran, said that he was glad the
group was back, and also felt it was appropriate that they are
not funded by taxpayer dollars.
"I am glad they are back," Cossu said. "If this
honor guard was something extracurricular in the police
department and these guys want to continue that tradition, the
more power to them."
Sgt. Kraig Gray, a former Army drill sergeaant who is a member of
the Silver Shield honor guard, said the unit practices once or
twice a month, and more intensively immediately before events.
Gray said he felt many officers consider an honor guard,
associated with the department or not, to be an important part of
the department's character.
"I'm glad it's back," Gray said. "Don't get me
wrong, I don't do it necessarily for myself. But it shows that
there is something special about being part of an organization
like the police department. I mean a bank doesn't have an honor
guard and no one would expect them to."
The uniforms, flags, and other start up costs were paid out of
$22,000 raised in a union donation drive to reinstitute the honor
guard, Bonney said.
The guard's new uniforms are modeled on the dress blues of the
department during the 1920s and 1930s.
A new feature of the uniform is three stars affixed to the right
cuff of the blazer, representing the three Greenwich officers who
died in the line of duty, Bonney said.
Detective James Butler was shot by a suspect on Jan. 16, 1950,
while investigating the theft of two turkeys, and later died in
1954 as a result of his injuries.
Officer Joseph P. McCormack was shot during a motor vehicle stop
on May 17, 1927, as he stood guard over a prisoner he'd
apprehended. McCormack died in 1944 as a result of his injuries.
Officer William J. Robbins was struck by a motor vehicle driven
on May 14, 1929, suffering a traumatic head injury and broken
leg. After three days in a coma he passed away on May 17.
"We thought that it was a nice touch on the uniforms,"
Bonney said of the stars. "We wanted to honor those men for
what they did."
Another guard member, Lt. John Wachowski, a 23-year veteran of
the force, said he joined the guard because he feels a patriotic
obligation to show the importance of honoring veterans.
After the U.S. military attacked the Taliban in Afghanistan in
2001, Wachowski instituted a policy for the officers working for
him of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before the work shift
begins.
"A lot of very good people have died defending the flag of
the United States of America," Wachowski said.
"Whatever the small sacrifices we have to make as part of
this guard they are nothing compared to the sacrifices of the men
and women who serve this country."
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.