The Windsor Journal

Anyone who lives or works in Windsor or South Windsor is invited to participate in an emergency exercise Thursday, June 23rd from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM at Windsor High School located at 50 Sage Park Road.

The exercise, sponsored by Mass Dispensing Area #31 (MDA #31) will be testing Windsor and South Windsor’s planned response to a fictitious emergency that requires the distribution of antibiotics to residents.

Those wishing to volunteer can arrive at Windsor High School anytime between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM.  Families are welcome.  Volunteers will be required to fill out a form, answer some screening questions, and receive fake medicine (candy).   Free refreshments will be available as well as a chance to win an iPad!   Volunteers may walk through the clinic multiple times to increase your chance to win!

The Windsor Police department nominated Officer Michael Tustin for the "2011 Officer of the Year" award.

According to the proclamation issued by the town,

"Officer Michael Tustin is highly motivated and committed to the citizens of The Town of Windsor and the members of the police department.

Officer Michael Tustin is a life long resident of Windsor where he attended Windsor High School graduating in 1996. Throughout his youth Michael was interested in law enforcement and joined the Windsor Police Explorers with whom he spent 10 years as a member.

After high school Michael attended Westfield State College where in 2000 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Michael returned to his hometown, Windsor, where he was hired by the Town’s Highway Department as a Maintainer.

In December 2001 Officer Tustin’s life long dream of becoming a police officer came to fruition when he was hired full time by the Windsor Police Department.

During the past 9 years Officer Tustin has worked primarily in the patrol division where he has shown that he is a highly motivated and productive officer. Officer Tustin has served within the Windsor Police Departments Crime Suppression Unit working on narcotic violations within the town.

Over the course of Officer Tustin’s career he has received numerous awards and citations for outstanding work including three awards for life saving. In April 2003 Officer Tustin assisted two Windsor Firefighters in the rescue of a man on Carriage Way who in an attempt to commit suicide set his home on fire. Officer Tustin and the firefighters entered the home without regard for their own safety and pulled the man to safety. In July 2007, Officer Tustin responded to a call of a 50 year old man was having difficulty breathing; the call was dispatched as cardiac arrest. Officer Tustin along with others officers arrived on scene and took over the CPR already being performed by a neighbor. The patient was transported to the hospital where he survived. Again in October of 2008 Officer Michael Tustin discovered a fire in a residence at Shad Run Terrace on Henry Street. With the assistance of Officer Andrew Johnson an unresponsive elderly victim was rescued.

During his career Officer Tustin has always displayed a high level of self initiated activity and received an award from the Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association for his work on street level narcotics investigations.

Today Officer Tustin works as a patrol officer and is a certified Field Training Officer and recently became trained as a Crisis Intervention Officer becoming a part of Windsor Police Department’s crisis intervention team where he continues to excel.

Officer Michael Tustin’s constant hard work and diligence makes him not only a valuable member of the Windsor Police Department but a role model to new officers joining the force."

It's the second happy event for officer Tustin this year, as he and his wife just returned from their honeymoon.

Our congratulations and our best wishes.

Photo: Officer Michael Tustin and daughter Shaela during last year's WPD ceremony where he was honored for Excellence in Police Duty. Photo by John Karas

Despite the weather, hundreds of firefighters from across the state, as well as family and town officials honored fallen firefighter Robert Watts, who was laid to rest Saturday, after a moving ceremony at Sage Park Middle School.

During an impeccably choreographed procession a fire pump carrying the casket started from Carmon Funeral Home and following Cook Hill Road and Capen Street reached the Sage Park facility where officials and the family were gathered.

On its way the procession made a stop at the Windsor Safety compound on Bloomfield Avenue, where Watt's brother firefighters paid their respect.

Some of the most moving images of the day were the riderless horse the bagpipe detail that followed the procession, symbols that Watts had lost his life in the line of duty.

Here are a few photos of the procession. May Windsor never forget Watt's sacrifice.

{jathumbnail off}

Connecticut is mourning the line of duty death of Windsor Volunteer Firefighter Robert Watts who collapsed while charging a water supply hose outside Windsor Rehabilitation Center on Poquonock Avenue Monday.

Funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. at the Sage Park Middle School, 25 Sage Park Road, Windsor, followed by a private burial at the request of his family. Governor Dannel P. Malloy ordered the state flag on the state Capitol building to be lowered to half-staff Saturday.

The volunteers from Hose Company 1 responded to a smell of smoke in the large health care facility when Watts, standing by a nearby hydrant ready to charge the hose, complained he was not feeling well. He collapsed and was given emergency medical care by a paramedic before being rushed to the hospital where he later died.

Watts was 50 years old. The cause of death is not known.

“I send my deepest condolences, along with those of the entire State of Connecticut, to the family of Robert Watts, his loved ones and his fellow firefighters,” stated Gov. Malloy. “His passion and commitment to serving his country, and his community, will be remembered. I ask the people of Connecticut to keep Robert Watts and his family in their thoughts.”

Congressman John Larson also expressed his heartfelt grief as the son of a former fireman.

"Monday night we tragically lost a volunteer firefighter, Robert Watts of Windsor who died suddenly while responding to a call. Firefighters always have a special place in my heart being that my dad was a firefighter for 37 years at Pratt and Whitney. My thoughts and prayers are with Robert's entire family - especially his two children - and I stand ready to extend a helping hand,” Larson said Thursday.

Watts was a dedicated firefighter with willingness to step forward and help out at many town fundraisers and community events. He also showed initiative on the job, and his professional approach to firefighting made him a valuable member of the volunteer company, observed Windsor Fire Chief William Lewis. His colleagues related how Watts always seemed to have the right tool at the ready when responding to a call.

The department held a press conference Tuesday to address the loss of Robert Watts. They looked back on his service, noting how he had been involved in firefighting ever since he was a teen. Watts was also proud of his stint in the Marines having served with the Corps from 1980 to 1986. Watts joined the Manchester Fire Department in 1977 and in 1982 became an active member for both emergency response and participation with the Fire Prevention Bureau until the early 1990s. He had completed his Firefighter I training in 2006.

In Windsor Watts was an active member of the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department responding to emergencies day and night. Chief Lewis said Watts was an exemplary volunteer serving the town of 30,000.

“He was a devoted to his family and to the department,” he said. “It's a great loss for us.”

Windsor Mayor Donald Trinks echoed the chief’s comments.

“We are devastated and shocked by this,” he said, stressing that the father of two was only 50. “We are all thankful that we have a volunteer firefighting force in Windsor, and that we have people as devoted to saving others as Robert Watts was.”

Robert Watts’ wake will be today (Friday, April 22, 2011) from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Carmon Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Avenue, Windsor.

According to his obituary, Watts is survived by his parents, Leland and Nancy Watts of Boyertown, PA; his two children, Allen and Christina Watts of Windsor; his brothers, James Watts of Boyertown PA and Steven Watts of Manchester; his sister Sheri Matthewson and her husband Kurt of Griswold; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 10 a.m. at the Sage Park Middle School, 25 Sage Park Road, Windsor. Burial will be private at the request of his family.

Donations in Robert’s memory may be made to the Windsor Fire Company, P.O. Box 128, Windsor, CT 06095. Go to www.carmonfuneralhome.com for online condolences.