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09/04/2018 08:45 AMOn Thursday, Sept. 27, four Clinton Police Officers will be honored with the Police Officer Medal of Valor Award of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association for their actions during the September 2017 fatal explosion at a mobile home in Clinton.
The four officers being honored at the event at the Wethersfield Country Club are Corporal Kyle Strunjo, Sergeant Todd Carlson, Officer Gregory Matakaetis, and Officer Nicholas Torino.
According to a press release announcing the award, “The purpose of the Police Officer Medal of Valor Award of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) is to recognize a police officer(s) each year who distinguishes themselves by extraordinary heroism. The Medal of Valor is awarded for actions in a single event which demonstrate bravery, heroism, and/or self-sacrifice clearly distinguishing the individual for gallantry and bravery under life-threatening circumstances. The officer(s) must be fully aware of the imminent threat to his or her personal safety and must have acted above and beyond the all of duty at the risk of his or her own life or well-being.”
Police Chief Vincent DeMaio said the award going to his officers “showcases the caliber of people we have. We’re pretty excited.”
DeMaio noted, however, that the officers’ reactions when informed of the honors were “very miniscule.”
“They’re not looking for accolades. They do the job the right reasons,” DeMaio said.
DeMaio said he believes the heroism shown by the officers being honored is typical of all the officers in the department.
“Each and every person puts forth this kind of effort,” he said.
On Sept. 21, 2017, people as far away as Branford reported hearing a loud bang at 12:30 a.m. The source of the explosion was a mobile home at the Evergreen Park Complex located on Killingworth Turnpike. An investigation found that one of the occupants of the mobile home, Leo Hinkley, had manipulated the gas fireplace the previous day in an attempt to asphyxiate himself and his wife Candace Hinkley, and instead triggered the explosion.
When first responders arrived on the scene, the officers entered the rubble to retrieve the residents before responders wearing appropriate protective gear could arrive on the scene.
“The first officers went in to secure and retrieved people in the burning wreckage. It was extremely heroic,” Clinton Police Sergeant Jeremiah Dunn told the Harbor News in 2017.
Despite the efforts of the responders, the couple later succumbed to the injuries sustained in the explosion.