Darien Police Hold Vigil for Fallen Officer [Video]

With flowers from the town's Memorial Day ceremonies still bathed in floodlight across the street, members of the held a somber vigil early Tuesday to honor one of their own fallen.

One by one, officers stood watch beside the Kenneth E. Bateman Jr. Memorial garden, marking the 30th anniversary of the Darien patrolman's death in the line of duty.

On May 31, 1981, Bateman was shot and killed while responding to a robbery. His is believed to be the only unsolved murder of a police officer in Connecticut's history.

That morning, Bateman was dispatched to Duchess Patio Restaurant on Post Road when a silent alarm was triggered. Shortly after arriving, he was shot by a surprised burglar exiting through a side door. Bateman was rushed to Norwalk Hospital but pronounced dead 90 minutes later. 

Tuesday's vigil lasted from midnight to 3:35 a.m., signifying when Bateman began his shift that day and when he was gunned down.

"It's just a sign of respect," Sgt. Jeremiah Marron said Tuesday. "There's not a lot we feel we can do on an individual level, but the guys in the unit thought it would be a good opportunity to come in and represent the department."

Six officers — Ofc. Daniel Gorton, Ofc. Gregory Benedetto, Ofc. Edwin Vigil, Ofc. Stuart Schwengerer, Ofc. Daniel Ehret, and Ofc. Michael Cummings — stood watch over the course of the morning.

"It's a small, symbolic event. We want to make sure we keep fresh in our minds that he died for us," Marron added.

Marron said that a number of officers would also visit Bateman's grave at St. John's Cemetery around the hour of his death.

Despite decades of investigation and large rewards offered for information, no charges have ever been brought in the killing. One individual with a lengthy criminal history — Anthony Sabato — was revealed to be a suspect in 2004, but the evidence linking him to the incident was insufficient to make a case. Police believe at least two people were involved in the break-in.

"It's an active investigation. People have put thousands of man-hours on it," Marron said.

Just three current members of the department — Capt. Fred Komm, Capt. Gary Pavia, and Lt. Ron Bussell — were on the force at the time of Bateman's death.

"There's not a lot of guys left here that had the privilege of even knowing him, never mind working with him," Marron said.

But Bateman's memory remains a constant presence at the department. In addition to the memorial outside of police headquarters, a bronze plaque in the department's lobby bears his likeness, scholarships are awarded annually in his honor, and Hecker Avenue was renamed Kenneth E Bateman Jr. Way in 2001.

The Darien and New Canaan police departments also play an annual softball game partly in honor of Bateman.

Ofc. Bateman was born in Stamford in 1947. He attended local schools before joining the U.S. Navy, where he served on the U.S.S. Enterprise. After being honorably discharged as a yeoman third class in 1970, he joined the Darien force in 1973. He left behind his wife, Barbara, and his parents, Kenneth Sr. and Gladys Bateman.

Anyone with information pertaining to Bateman's killing is encouraged to contact the department's Detective Bureau at 203-662-5330.