After tragic death of Branford girl, 13, 1st responders faced second untimely death in same shift, highlighting need for support services.
BRANFORD, CT — The community’s collective heart is broken, indeed, hearts far beyond Branford’s boundaries are saddened by the tragic loss of a very young life, as can be attested by an outpouring on social media.
As Branford police shared Wednesday in a moving Facebook post, it was “deeply saddened” to share that a 13-year-old girl, a Walsh Intermediate School student, had died. Described as an untimely death, and one where no crime was involved, first responders, including East Haven police, were called to Killiam’s Point Road at around 7:30 a.m., and a few hours later, reported the teen’s death.
Read the story here.
As police shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, Branford Public Schools and Branford police shared a joint statement:
“In close collaboration, we share with great sadness the news of the untimely passing of a student at Walsh intermediate school. On behalf of the Branford Public Schools and the Branford Police Department, we extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by this tragic loss. In response to this event, crisis teams are being mobilized to support students who may be experiencing a range of motion, emotions, or concerns. Our mental health professionals will be available to provide care, listen, and assist students in need. We encourage families to reach out to the school administration if they feel their child requires additional support during this time. Additional communications will be sent to the Walsh community later today. Students were not made aware of this information while in school today. We are grateful for the strength and compassion of our community. Thank you for continuing to support one another as we navigate this difficult time together.”
“The untimely loss of a young life is profoundly difficult, and our thoughts remain with the family,” Branford police Deputy Chief John Alves said in an email to Patch.
And when asked how police and other first responders cope with tragedies like the untimely death of a middle school child, he acknowledged that, “These types of calls are extremely challenging for first responders”
In Branford, in a program that was a first in the state and has since been modeled in many departments, the police department has a social worker, Danielle Suraci, who works directly with officers and the public. She’s not a sworn Branford police officer, but her badge number is 701.
Read that story here.
“We are fortunate to have resources in place, including our department social worker, Danielle, who provides critical support in helping officers, firefighters, medics and telecommunicators process and cope with the emotional impact of traumatic events,” Alves said. “Peer support, access to counseling, and a strong focus on wellness are all part of how we make sure our first responders are cared for after experiencing difficult calls.”
Alves explained that after working the call, the department “conduct(ed) a debrief with the responding officers and fire personnel shortly after clearing the scene, giving everyone an opportunity to process the event and be reminded of available support services.”
But even as folks were processing the death of a teenage girl, Alves said they had little time to do so.
“Unfortunately, both police and fire personnel were called to a second untimely death within the same shift,” something he said, “Underscores how essential these supports are.”
Firefighters and paramedics from the town’s department of the bravest, face potential tragic and traumatizing events. They are trained, but they are human.
“Our members feel sorrow and share in the loss of any member of the community that dies suddenly, especially so young,” Branford Fire Department Chief Thomas Mahoney said. “We extend our deepest condolences to family and friends and are grateful to the countless community members who reached out in support of our emergency personnel.”
“As first responders, each of these incidents takes an emotional toll that we each process it in our own way,” Mahoney said.
As noted by Mahoney, both police and fire departments have a support mechanism that includes informal and formal processes.
“We use our PEER support Team, therapy animals such as the K9 First Responders, our local counselors, and an EAP program,” Mahoney said.
The PEER support team offers members mental and emotional support through one-on-one discussions, pre-incident education, spouse/significant other support, on-scene support and post-incident interaction. This team consists of fire department members who have been specially trained in the power of conversation, verbal and nonverbal listening skills, how to communicate through understanding and validation, brain science and some crisis intervention techniques.
“Peer Support is not a substitute for therapeutic services, as peer supporters are not trained as mental health professionals. Peer supporters do have access to and work in conjunction with clinical consultants who are licensed mental health professionals specially trained in working with emergency services,” he noted.
Meanwhile, it’s a Branford tragedy, but one shared by officers from East Haven.
East Haven police spokesperson Capt. Joseph M. Murgo offered, “Our deepest condolences are with her family and friends during this heartbreaking time.”
“We were grateful to assist our partners in Branford, and we recognize that tragedies like this leave a lasting impact on all who respond,” he said. “While our officers are trained for these moments, they carry the weight of them long after. We hope the community will keep both the family and all first responders in their thoughts.”