Even in a small town like Darien with relatively little crime, when you put in 36 years as a sworn police officer, plenty of episodes will test your mettle.
Darien Police Capt. Frederick W. Komm, who's last day as a town employee came on Friday, said the best part of the job was working with the department's 51 sworn officers and its support staff every day. "They're good people," he said. "They're all friends. They'd do anything to help you out."
But there were particular, difficult days -- neither easy nor friendly -- that he'll always remember:
- On Oct. 15, 1980, Komm discovered the body of a missing 12-year-old Darien boy who was murdered at Spring Grove Cemetery, just across the street from police headquarters.
- When a 911 call came in reporting that Alex Kelly had raped a girl, Komm was the officer who took the call.
- He's fired his gun in the line of duty, although it was a warning shot (a practice no longer allowed by the department) and single-handedly chased and captured an armed robber.
- Just months ago, he and other officers had their guns drawn as they held down a suspect who was chased after allegedly burglarizing homes in and around Leroy Avenue.
- A friend of his, Officer Kenneth E. Bateman Jr., was killed in the line of duty on May 31, 1980.
On the other side of the cemetery was the boy's school, Mather Junior High School (now Town Hall).
"He said, 'Kid, go out there. Take a radio,'" Komm recalled. "I didn't expect to find anything."
On another occasion, Komm was on patrol when a report came in of an armed robbery at the old Red Coach Grille, a restaurant where the Mini of Fairfield County auto dealership is now located, near Exit 13 of Interstate 95.
The restaurant manager told Komm the robber had just run across the street, behind a gas station. Komm was able to corner the robber, who had a .22-caliber pistol in his waistband, but not before the officer fired a warning shot.
Soon after, other officers arrived. The robber had been camping out in the woods and several crimes were solved with his arrest.
A Trumbull resident, Komm is married, the father of three adult children and the grandfather of three more. One of his sons, Michael, is now a police officer in Fairfield
Komm may have left his job with the department, but that doesn't mean he'll be a stranger: He's taken a job as one of the three patrol officers working with the Tokeneke Association. The association hires former Darien police officers to watch over the private roads and the 240 or so homes on them.
The Tokeneke officers, all sworn police officers who must maintain their training, report for duty at police headquarters, attend the morning briefing and both patrol and check on homes when residents are away.
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