Hartford Police Department, Connecticut
End of Watch Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Add to My HeroesRobert Garten
Detective Bobby Garten was killed when his patrol car was struck by a fleeing vehicle at the intersection of Asylum Avenue and Broad Street at about 10:30 p.m.
Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle with canceled registration tags. As they approached the vehicle, it sped north on Broad Street; however, officers did not pursue it.
Detective Garten was in the passenger seat of a patrol car traveling east on Asylum Avenue with emergency equipment activated en route to another incident. The fleeing car sped through the Farmington Avenue red traffic signal, and as it was speeding through the red traffic signal at Asylum Avenue, it struck the passenger side of the cruiser.
Detective Garten and the officer driving the cruiser were transported to St. Francis Hospital where Officer Garten succumbed to his injuries. The other officer was admitted in stable condition.
The subject is in custody and charged with failure to obey a traffic control signal, failure to renew registration, misuse of plates, and interfering with a police officer. His charges were upgraded to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, disobeying the direction of an officer, reckless driving, DUI, and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.
Detective Garten had served with the Hartford Police Department for eight years. He was a second-generation police officer. He is survived by his parents, brother, nephews, and grandmother.
Detective Garten was posthumously promoted to detective.
Bio
- Age 34
- Tour 8 years
- Badge 1781
Incident Details
- Cause Vehicular assault
- Weapon Automobile
- Offender Charged with first-degree manslaughter
Most Recent Reflection
View all 101 ReflectionsAn Outstanding Young Man !!! Emulating his Father, Another great Police Detective!!! One to make his Family Proud as well as those who have worked with him!! !!! An Awesome Asset to Hartford's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 30 as our 2nd Vice President !!! An Excellent Police Officer !!!! Your Smiling Face & Always Youthful laughter will be Greatly missed !!! Rest Easy Young Man!! Thank you for your service Detective Robert Garten II !!!!!!
Sergeant David Dufault (Ret)
Hartford Police Department
Hartford, CT
March 6, 2024
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