Fellow Local Connecticut Law Enforcement Officers Give Newtown Police Christmas Day Off … “It’s a police thing”

‘Tis the Season, The long Blue Line of Christmas caring … “It’s a police thing”.

The tragedy of the Newtown, CT Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting has not just been difficult on the families who have lost loved ones when 26 people were murdered, including 20 children, but it’s also been demanding on the Newtown police department. They have been going nonstop since the shooting massacre and are getting a rare Christmas gift. Their fellow law enforcement brethren in nearby communities of Monroe, Brookfield, Danbury, Bethel and Milford are allowing for the Newtown’s police officers a holiday off, for the entire force. Lt. Bob Kozlowsky of the Shelton, Connecticut, police department said, “when something like this happens … it’s a police thing. We’ll always try to help out neighboring towns. Any time there’s a tragedy, we’ll try our best to lend a helping hand.”

On Christmas Day, thanks to a grassroots effort by their fellow law enforcement brethren in nearby communities, Newtown’s police officers will be the recipients of a rare gift in their profession — a holiday off, for the entire force.

“Patrol officers and sworn personnel will be given the day off to be home on Christmas. Officers from surrounding towns will be patrolling Newtown,” police Sgt. Steve Santucci of Newtown told CNN.

Newtown police have been working nonstop since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. The school shooting claimed the lives of 20 children and six faculty members, leaving a close-knit community — and its police force — still reeling 10 days later.

“We’ve sent officers, dispatchers, and even our chief of police has gone to Newtown to help out. We’ve helped with dispatching, traffic, miscellaneous calls. Our chief of police has gone to assist their chief of police with administrative duties.”

On Christmas Day, those neighborly officers will take to the streets of Newtown again. For a time, for a day, it can be Christmas for the officers of Newtown and their families.