Road Dedication In Eastern Connecticut To Honor State Trooper Killed In The Line Of Duty 97 Years Ago

EASTERN CONNECTICUT — A state road in eastern Connecticut is to be dedicated to a state trooper who was killed in the line of duty nearly a century ago.

On Friday, Connecticut State Police, the CT Department of Transportation and legislative leaders announced the Trooper Irving Nelson Memorial Roadway dedication ceremony for a portion of Route 97.

The dedication ceremony is scheduled for the Pomfret Fire Department, 67 Hampton Road in Pomfret Center, on Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Trooper Irving H. Nelson was killed in the line of duty on April 6, 1928.

"Recognizing that there was no roadway memorial to commemorate Trooper Nelson's sacrifice, Troop D personnel began this project in the Spring of 2024 with assistance from the 50th District State Representative (Patrick Boyd) to formally dedicate a section of Route 97 to Trooper Nelson's memory," state police said.

Boyd and Connecticut State Police Col. Daniel Loughman said that Nelson who was from New Haven, was fatally shot in the line of duty.

They said on that day in 1928, Nelson responded to a call made to then-State Police Station No.5 in Danielson about a report of two men in the area wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Massachusetts earlier in the day.

Nelson located the suspects and pursued them on his motorcycle, heading north toward Putnam, they said.

During the pursuit, shots were fired, and two bullets struck Nelson, which resulted in his death.

"His bravery and sacrifice are an important part of Connecticut's law enforcement history to this day. The dedication along Route 97 in Pomfret will honor his legacy," they said.