Mar 26, 2008
Matthew Morelli
Weston mourns fallen officer
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by Patricia Gay
Matthew Morelli, formerly of Wilson Road in Weston, will be remembered as a good Marine, a good police officer, and a good man.
He will be laid to rest Thursday, March 27, at 9:30 a.m. in a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Matthew’s Church in Norwalk.
Following the service, attendees — expected to be in the thousands — will march to St. John’s Cemetery in Norwalk, where Officer Morelli will be buried with full military honors.
Members of the Weston police, fire, and emergency medical services departments will be participating in the service, along with the Rev. Bernard Wilson of Norfield Congregational Church, who serves as the Weston Police Department’s chaplain.
While on duty, Officer Morelli, an 11-year veteran of the Norwalk police department, died of a gunshot wound Friday, March 21, shortly after midnight, in the parking lot of the Calvin Reformed Church in South Norwalk. He was 38.
At a press conference held Tuesday, March 25, Norwalk Police Chief Harry Rilling said there was a high degree of probability that the fatal wound was self inflicted. However, he said the department had not reached a point where it could make a 100% conclusion.
The specific circumstances surrounding Officer Morelli’s death are still under investigation.
According to Norwalk Police, Officer Morelli called police headquarters at 12:26 a.m. to say he was checking something suspicious in the lot. He then made a brief call to dispatch before his radio went dead. Officers were immediately sent to the scene, where they found Officer Morelli shot.
Norwalk police said a rifle, described as an AK-47 or older, military-style rifle, was found next to or under Officer Morelli’s body.
Chief Rilling said Officer Morelli served with pride and distinction and had received numerous departmental commendations. “Because Officer Morelli served, the city was a safer and better place,” Chief Rilling said.
Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia said, “Officer Morelli should receive proper respect. His family lost a loved one, the police department lost a brother, and the city lost one of its finest.”
Still in shock
Those who knew Officer Morelli are still in shock as they come to grips with his untimely death.
“It’s a tragedy. My heart goes out to the Morelli family,” said First Selectman Woody Bliss.
“It’s just a horrific thing,” said Selectman W. Glenn Major.
Officer Morelli was a 1987 graduate of Weston High School. He was divorced and was living in Oxford at the time of his death.
He is survived by his daughter, Sydney Anne, his parents Dennis and Roberta Gates Morelli, and brothers Dan Morelli of Weston and Brian Morelli and his wife Tiffany and their son, Cole of Bethlehem.
His is also survived by his close friend Tammy Read of Oxford.
“Matt had a big heart, as big as the outdoors, and he loved his farm and animals,” the Morelli family said in a written statement.
He was also known to exercise precise judgment, and was an avid outdoorsman, scuba diver and skydiver.
“Matt was a fixture in the Weston community,” said Weston Police Chief John Troxell, who knew Officer Morelli since they were kids.
For several years, Officer Morelli was a volunteer with the town’s emergency medical services. He was also an intelligence analyst with the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the first Gulf War.
“Matt was a good kid, good Marine, good police officer, and a good man. When he was hired by Norwalk, he told me that was one of the best days of his life,” Chief Troxell said.
He said he was shocked to learn of Officer Morelli’s death. "It takes a special kind of person to become a police officer, because it’s not a career, it’s a calling. Matt was a dedicated officer who answered that call,” he said,
Cindy (Flodeen) Friedrichsen grew up in the same neighborhood with the Morellis and remembers Matthew fondly. “I have good memories of riding bikes with Matt and his brothers and playing with him in the neighborhood,” she said.
Last Saturday, she went to pay her respects to the Morelli family. “There were many family and friends there offering support, which they will need right now,” she said.
Chief Troxell, along with Weston police Sgts. Mike Ferullo and Patrick Daubert, Det. Carl Filsinger, and other members of the Weston Police Department, have also spent a great deal of time with the Morelli family trying to console and help them.
“The family is distraught, as may be expected,” said Det. Filsinger. He knew Officer Morelli for many years. “This is just devastating. It’s a loss for every one of us,” he said.
Weston EMS Director Jon Weingarten recalled Officer Morelli’s service with EMS in the 1990s. “He was a good EMT, and he played on the department’s softball team. What happened is shocking and very sad, because Matt was a very competent and capable police officer,” Mr. Weingarten said.
“I’m torn up. It’s just so hard to believe,“ said Joe Abruzzi, another member of Weston EMS.
Mike Vincelli of Weston, a disaster services co-chairman with the Fairfield County chapter of the American Red Cross was sent to the scene of Officer Morelli’s shooting to set up a canteen service for first responders.
“I’ve been to the scene of many calls before, but this was one of the most emotional. It was pretty traumatic,” Mr. Vincelli said.
The Red Cross canteen provides hot coffee and beverages to police, fire, and EMS workers. “We were there from 2:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. When the medical examiner arrived, the people at the scene grew very emotional. As the van with Matt left, all the officers lined up on both sides of the roadway and stood at attention and saluted,” Mr. Vincelli said.
In lieu of flowers, the Morelli family is asking that donations be made to the Sydney Anne Morelli Trust Fund, c/o Fitzmaurice & Siegel, 1281 East Main St., Stamford, CT 06902.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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