Montville Police Officer Addresses 'Senseless Violence And Online Hate,' Urges Unity And Hope

MONTVILLE, CT — Montville CT Police Department Officer Karen Aleshire wrote a lengthy social media post on the department's Facebook page in which she addressed the "senseless violence and online hate that is perpetuated is infuriating."

In her post, Aleshire urges everyone to come together and to choose "joy, peace and hope instead of anger and despair."

Her message led to numerous comments from residents, including one person who wrote, "Thank you Officer Aleshire and Montville PD for your leadership and compassion. I am grateful for the work you do in our community."

Another person responded by writing, "What a beautiful up lifting and compassionate post. Thank you so much.. you are all greatly appreciated."

Here is Officer Karen Aleshire's full message as written on the Police Department's Facebook page:

"This morning, I woke up feeling a lot of emotions. Probably like most of you I am feeling mad, sad, scared, but also determined.

The senseless violence and online hate that is perpetuated is infuriating.

I believe that our whole community went to bed a little shaken with all of the tragedy that has been occurring recently.

The 2025-2026 school year has just begun and within those short 3 weeks, we have already experienced 2 school shooting across the Nation, with a total of 9 since January, 2025 and 230 since 2018.

We have had political assignations and atrocious acts of violence that we watch in person, on the news or online, over and over again.

As one of the people who oversees the Montville Police Department Facebook page, I woke up to a notification this morning. Someone had posted on our post about remembering our friend Sgt. Chip Pipping. I clicked on it, I have been enjoying reading all of your memories and shout outs to him since we posted it. This morning's post was different. It contained disparaging comments about law enforcement on it.

We have a challenge for you:
As a community, can we ALL please try to do better?
Model better behavior
Model tolerance

Live an example that shows that it does not matter which side of politics you are on, you can disagree with someone and still be respectful.

The youth don't remember 9/11 but I do. What I remember the most is after the hopelessness and despair; the entire Country came together as one. I can still feel that coming together and when I think of 9/11 now, I think of people waiting for hours in line to give blood, I think of love, respect, togetherness.

The youth are watching and listening, please teach them right.

Here is a gift card to enjoy a drink at Dunkin, courtesy of a few Montville Officers this morning who wanted to do something kind, as well as many pictures of our Officers trying to model good behavior and community because we are choosing joy, peace and hope instead of anger and despair."

-Officer Karen Aleshire

You can read the comments on Officer Aleshire's post here.

See related: Montville School Resource Officer Focuses On Helping People; Building Relationships