Connecticut family decorates house in blue lights to honor ambushed police officers

WASHINGTON (TND) — A family in Connecticut has decorated their home in twinkling blue lights in honor of the Bristol Police Department, as three officers were recently shot during what authorities have described as an ambush.

Sgt. Dustin Demonte and Officer Alex Hamzy were killed, and Officer Alec Iurato was wounded.

Bristol is such a small, quiet town and for this to happen just shattered everybody," Rob Osenkowski told The National Desk. "We have a projector out there with pictures of the officers."

Osenkowski said he and his wife, Lori, and their three sons,Noah, 13, Josh, 11, and Parker, 9, knew Hamzy. They were devastated to learn the news of the officer's death.

We actually saw him two weeks before at the Mum Parade in Bristol," Osenkowski said. "We shook his hand and were talking to him for a while. My wife grew up with his sister."

Osenkowski said he and his family wanted to recognize the department not only with the light show but by collecting donations for the officers' loved ones. There's a collection bid outside, and people can also donate on Venmo or Paypal at @Lights-on-Rosewood.

They set up the display, called Lights on Rosewood, on Thursday, which was the day after the officers were shot.

In two and a half days, we raised over $9,000," Osenkowski said, adding that a business donated 50 mugs with photos of the officers on them, which they've been selling online and donating the proceeds as part of the fundraiser. "We're almost sold out."

Osenkowski said he and his family have been decorating for holidays for at least a decade. Each year, they collect donations for people in need.

In 2021, he said they raised $14,000 for a family after their father died suddenly.

He said helping the officers this year, as well as the police department, was a no-brainer.

The community has always been so good to us as far as donations because we raise money for children that are sick or families that have lost somebody, so it just made sense for us to do this," Osenkowski said. "We knew that they would step up and help out the Bristol Police Department."

The house will be lit in blue through Friday -- the same day as Demonte's and Hamzy's funerals.

Then, the family will switch over to their Halloween display, which is synchronized to music.

I just have to put a different program in and everything will change color," he said, adding that most of the props -- including three 12-foot skeletons, a 12-foot witch, and a 9-foot werewolf -- are already outside. "I think I'm still going to add a five-minute moment of silence with the blue lights every hour."

During Christmastime, they will set up a holiday display and continue their fundraising efforts. They collect donations, as well as accept non-perishable food items.

"There's always somebody that needs help,"Osenkowski said. "Through the years, we've stayed close to a lot of the families. It keeps us going every year. And we like spending time outside with people every year. We like to meet people from all over the state who come to see the lights and donate to such a great cause."

The show runs at 111 Rosewood Dr. in Bristol, Connecticut, Thursday through Sunday from 6 p.m. EDT to 9 p.m. EDT. Follow along at 98.3 FM.

Learn more about Lights on Rosewood on Facebook.