A 34-year-old Hartford police officer who was killed in a crash last week will be honored at services that are expected to draw large crowds on Friday and Saturday.
Officer Robert “Bobby” Garten, who had served with Hartford Police Department for eight years, died from injuries he suffered when a car sped through a red light and struck his cruiser. He and his partner, Officer Brian Kearney, were responding to a call.
It was Hartford Police Department’s first line-of-duty death since 1996.
The wake is from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Dunkin’ Park, 1214 Main St., Hartford. A celebration of life is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at the XL Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Hartford.
Garten, who lived in Newington, was remembered as “a consummate professional who always brought honor, integrity, and compassion to the uniform,” according to his obituary. He had “a courageous yet calming presence under pressure and in the face of dangerous circumstances,” the obituary said.
Garten was selected for a promotion to detective prior to the crash. The Hartford Police Department has posthumously promoted him.