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.