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Published on July 26, 2022
Police Chief Stephen Tavares speaks, with the Chief Casey memorial at the corner of the police department.
Chief Tavares gathers with the friends and family members of Chief Edward Casey.
The Department of Public Safety dedicated the Chief Edward Casey memorial to its new location on July 13 at the Eastern police department. Chief Casey was a member of the Windham Special Police before his appointment as chief security officer of Willimantic State College—now Eastern Connecticut State University—in October of 1965.
“Chief Casey was instrumental in building the security team here at Eastern during his tenure,” said Police Chief Stephen Tavares. “Unfortunately, Chief Casey suffered a heart attack and passed away in 1970. At the time of his passing, Chief Casey built the force to five officers, with the fifth due to be sworn in days after Chief Casey’s death.
“Chief Casey was a Trailblazer in creating a security team that would grow into a sworn police department of 16 officers,” continued Tavares. “The goal of every Eastern police officer is to provide the same level of compassion, protection and respect to the members of our community as Chief Casey did. Chief Casey, or ‘Father Ed’ as he was affectionately referred to, set the standard for community policing at Eastern and we will continue to follow that standard.
“We are honored to have the Casey family with us today to dedicate the memorial stone for Chief Casey. He will always be with us as this stone is placed in this corner to symbolize Chief Casey being the corner stone of the Eastern PD.”
Former Eastern Connecticut State College President Charles Webb said of Casey: “Ed Casey was an institution at Eastern where he was loved by students and staff alike. His passing is met with a deep loss, and although he is no longer with us, his memory will always remain in our hearts. Mr. Casey dedicated his life to the college and to the students. It was his whole life he will be missed.”
Following Casey’s death, students collected funds for a flagpole and plaque at Knight Field, now Webb Hall. In later years the plaque was moved to the Mansfield Sports Complex before finding its current home at the police department.
Written by Michael Rouleau