In the early hours of June 22, 2015, the community of Milford, Connecticut, was struck by an unexpected tragedy with the death of 36-year-old Michael Robert Compare, a White male and a dedicated officer of the Milford Police Department. Emergency services were dispatched to his Naugatuck Avenue condominium shortly after 12:30 a.m. following a report of an untimely death.
Upon their arrival, first responders found Compare and provided immediate medical assistance before transporting him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The nature of the incident prompted the involvement of the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad to assist the Milford Police Department with the investigation, a standard procedure for such cases. The investigation at the scene continued for hours, with a crime van parked outside the residence as investigators worked to piece together the events that had transpired. Later that day, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released its findings, determining that Michael Compare's death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officially ruling it a suicide. Authorities assured the public that this was an isolated incident with no danger to the community. As the death was not a homicide, there were no suspects or arrests in the case.
The news of his passing sent ripples of shock and grief through the community and his law enforcement family. Compare was a respected figure, having served with the Milford Police Department for three years after an eleven-year tenure with the North Haven Police Department. He was known for his passion for helping others and his active participation in numerous charities, including the Special Olympics Torch Run and events for the Boys and Girls Club of Milford. A graduate of Jonathan Law High School and the University of New Haven with a degree in Criminal Justice, he had followed in his father's footsteps by pursuing a career in law enforcement. His sudden death was a profound loss for his family, friends, and the community he had sworn to protect and serve.
