Hampton, 64, had a long career with the Derby Police Department that started in 1998 and culminated in a medal of valor for his pursuit and arrest of the man who shot Dombo, a retired school guidance counselor, during an armed robbery of a Derby cell phone store in 2015.Hampton died in the hospital this month battling COVID-19. He and his wife, Nancy, both 64 years old, died six days apart.
“Larry always wanted to do the right thing for citizens,” Derby Police Chief Robert Lee said. “He was a very good police officer every day of his career, but on August 11, 2015, he was a great police officer — one of the greatest in the country.”
Hampton retired in late 2017, a year after being named Derby’s Officer of the Year. Dombo said it pains her to know his golden years were cut short.
“Five years ago, he’s chasing down a bad guy, risking his life, running towards danger,” she said. “Then he only gets to be in retirement for three years before COVID gets him and his wife. He deserved better.
“Then we have people out there who refuse to wear masks, and they are still gathering in big groups, partying, going into bars with no mask,” she said. “And I’m like, this is why people are dying.”
She said people can honor Hampton by following public health measures.
Chief Lee, who has known Hampton since 2009, said Hampton’s legacy will live on in Derby, where he served as a role model for other officers.
“He was an easy guy to like,” Lee said. “He had a great sense of humor. He was very dedicated to his job, could be serious when he needed to be but could be pretty funny when he had the opportunity — just a really good person, him and his wife both. And we really anticipated many more years of Larry being part of this community, and unfortunately that wasn’t to be,” Lee said.
“It’s certainly sad that they passed as early as they did, but it’s also very rewarding that they were part of our community and our lives for as long as they were.”
“Larry always wanted to do the right thing for citizens,” Derby Police Chief Robert Lee said. “He was a very good police officer every day of his career, but on August 11, 2015, he was a great police officer — one of the greatest in the country.”
Hampton retired in late 2017, a year after being named Derby’s Officer of the Year. Dombo said it pains her to know his golden years were cut short.
“Five years ago, he’s chasing down a bad guy, risking his life, running towards danger,” she said. “Then he only gets to be in retirement for three years before COVID gets him and his wife. He deserved better.
“Then we have people out there who refuse to wear masks, and they are still gathering in big groups, partying, going into bars with no mask,” she said. “And I’m like, this is why people are dying.”
She said people can honor Hampton by following public health measures.
Chief Lee, who has known Hampton since 2009, said Hampton’s legacy will live on in Derby, where he served as a role model for other officers.
“He was an easy guy to like,” Lee said. “He had a great sense of humor. He was very dedicated to his job, could be serious when he needed to be but could be pretty funny when he had the opportunity — just a really good person, him and his wife both. And we really anticipated many more years of Larry being part of this community, and unfortunately that wasn’t to be,” Lee said.
“It’s certainly sad that they passed as early as they did, but it’s also very rewarding that they were part of our community and our lives for as long as they were.”
Hampton, 64, had a long career with the Derby Police Department that started in 1998 and culminated in a medal of valor for his pursuit and arrest of the man who shot Dombo, a retired school guidance counselor, during an armed robbery of a Derby cell phone store in 2015.Hampton died in the hospital this month battling COVID-19. He and his wife, Nancy, both 64 years old, died six days apart.
“Larry always wanted to do the right thing for citizens,” Derby Police Chief Robert Lee said. “He was a very good police officer every day of his career, but on August 11, 2015, he was a great police officer — one of the greatest in the country.”
Hampton retired in late 2017, a year after being named Derby’s Officer of the Year. Dombo said it pains her to know his golden years were cut short.
“Five years ago, he’s chasing down a bad guy, risking his life, running towards danger,” she said. “Then he only gets to be in retirement for three years before COVID gets him and his wife. He deserved better.
“Then we have people out there who refuse to wear masks, and they are still gathering in big groups, partying, going into bars with no mask,” she said. “And I’m like, this is why people are dying.”
She said people can honor Hampton by following public health measures.
Chief Lee, who has known Hampton since 2009, said Hampton’s legacy will live on in Derby, where he served as a role model for other officers.
“He was an easy guy to like,” Lee said. “He had a great sense of humor. He was very dedicated to his job, could be serious when he needed to be but could be pretty funny when he had the opportunity — just a really good person, him and his wife both. And we really anticipated many more years of Larry being part of this community, and unfortunately that wasn’t to be,” Lee said.
“It’s certainly sad that they passed as early as they did, but it’s also very rewarding that they were part of our community and our lives for as long as they were.”
“Larry always wanted to do the right thing for citizens,” Derby Police Chief Robert Lee said. “He was a very good police officer every day of his career, but on August 11, 2015, he was a great police officer — one of the greatest in the country.”
Hampton retired in late 2017, a year after being named Derby’s Officer of the Year. Dombo said it pains her to know his golden years were cut short.
“Five years ago, he’s chasing down a bad guy, risking his life, running towards danger,” she said. “Then he only gets to be in retirement for three years before COVID gets him and his wife. He deserved better.
“Then we have people out there who refuse to wear masks, and they are still gathering in big groups, partying, going into bars with no mask,” she said. “And I’m like, this is why people are dying.”
She said people can honor Hampton by following public health measures.
Chief Lee, who has known Hampton since 2009, said Hampton’s legacy will live on in Derby, where he served as a role model for other officers.
“He was an easy guy to like,” Lee said. “He had a great sense of humor. He was very dedicated to his job, could be serious when he needed to be but could be pretty funny when he had the opportunity — just a really good person, him and his wife both. And we really anticipated many more years of Larry being part of this community, and unfortunately that wasn’t to be,” Lee said.
“It’s certainly sad that they passed as early as they did, but it’s also very rewarding that they were part of our community and our lives for as long as they were.”
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