Connecticut cops give Newtown colleagues the day off for Christmas

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Police officers from around the state of Connecticut banded together on Tuesday to give the gift of rest to their colleagues in Newtown, pitching in to give the city’s entire department the day off.

According to CNN, the campaign, organized by authorities in neighboring towns, was designed to offer relief to Newtown’s officers, who have been working non-stop since the Dec. 14 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.

“When something like this happens, it’s a police thing,” said Lt. Bob Kozlowsky, who regularly works with the department in Shelton, Connecticut. “We’ll always try to help out neighboring towns. Any time there’s a tragedy, we’ll try our best to lend a helping hand.”

Many of the officers filling in today have also agreed to donate their overtime pay to charities benefiting both the town and the school. Others volunteered to work their shift for free.

The Atlantic Wire reported that the mass donation was initially planned in secret, but word leaked out over social media.

“They’ve been actually non-stop with their aid,” said Newtown police spokesperson Sgt. Steve Santucci “It’s pretty amazing.”

[Image via Agence France-Presse]