With the Harley-Davidson motorcycle he often rode placed beneath a flag at half-staff just outside, members of Newtown Police Department, Newtown Police Commission, local officials, family members, and others who worked with and fondly remembered the late Newtown Police Officer Stephen Ketchum gathered at the new police headquarters, May 28, to honor his memory in a way that will not soon be forgotten.

That is because anyone who has occasion to be in the new facility’s training and community room will see Officer Ketchum’s name emblazoned in gold and affixed to the wall. On that somewhat somber afternoon, the department’s public gathering space was formally renamed the Officer Stephen A. Ketchum Community Room.

Chief James Viadero took his post following Ketchum’s departure from the department amid a long and brave battle with lung cancer — attributed to the time he spent at Ground Zero in the days following the 9/11 attack in New York — but the department’s current leader had the opportunity to meet Ketchum and articulated the feelings of those who knew, respected, and loved him before introducing Steve’s wife, Tanya, and sister, Corey La Rocque.

“We come together on Memorial Day weekend to honor a great police officer, and an extended member of our family,” Viadero said, turning to Ketchum’s survivors. “From our family to your family, Steve is always remembered here. He was a very well-liked police officer, and I think everybody says, he was a cop’s cop — that’s the highest honor you can pay a police officer.”

The chief related how through the work of his surviving officers and superiors, in 2020 Ketchum’s name had been entered onto the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. He is also memorialized on the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial in Meriden.

Viadero then recognized Captain Christopher Vanghele, who was instrumental in organizing the ceremony and the installation of the memorial lettering on the community room’s wall. Stepping up, Vanghele quickly removed a large poster board that had been concealing the lettering. Attendees erupted into applause.

Viadero and Officer William Chapman presented Tanya Ketchum, who was accompanied by her mother, Norma Corrigan, with a folded flag that was given to the department by US Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, along with a photo of Officer Ketchum’s inscription on the Washington, DC memorial.

After a delayed arrival, LaRocque, who was accompanied by her husband, Alan, and Steve’s mother, Ziggie, also took the opportunity to remember her brother.

“We learned a lot from Steve in the 48 years he was with us,” she said. LaRocque then shared the three things she felt were her bother’s greatest attributes: bravery, respect, and dedication.

“Steve really cared about his job. And he kept a chainsaw in his truck so he could get to work after a storm if trees were down,” she recalled. “And even after his diagnosis, two more surgeries, and chemotherapy, he made the decision to return to work. That’s how dedicated he was to this town and this department.”

Following her remarks, his sister presented the department with a commemorative coin inscribed with Ketchum’s name and the news of his “end of watch.”

In a post to the police department’s Facebook page, Sargent Jeff Silver noted that Ketchum joined Newtown Police Department in 1989, and shortly thereafter he became a certified instructor and field training officer. He was also an active member with his local fire department in Bridgewater, and was dedicated to helping others.

“He was well known and respected in the Newtown community and spent several years as a school resource officer,” the notice continued. “He was patient, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to, making him very effective at coaching and teaching others.”

During the latter part of his career, Silver noted, Ketchum became a founding member of the traffic division and the department’s first motorcycle officer.

“He was dedicated and committed to any task he took on, and a role model for man,” Silver stated.

“We see the community room becoming a landmark for future training of police officers and a place for community gatherings as a reflection of Steve’s dedication to service. Officer Ketchum will continue to affect the lives of others through the use of this facility, and we are honored to dedicate this room in his memory,” Silver concluded.

Newtown PD credits Bob Morris and his crew at Signarama in Danbury for creating the lettering and donating the labor to install it.

Associate Editor John Voket can be reached at john@thebee.com.