STATE POLICE COMMANDER, WHO SERVED AS LEAD SANDY HOOK INVESTIGATOR, DIES AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS

SANDY HOOK LEAD INVESTIGATOR DEAD AT 49

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New Haven Register News

NEW HAVEN - State police Maj. William Podgorski, a 24-year veteran of the department, has died after suffering from a brief illness.

Trooper Kelly Grant said Podgorski, 49, the Western District commander, died Monday after surgery. The illness was not disclosed.

Sometime after surgery on Friday, Podgorski was transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital from another hospital, Grant said. He died there Monday morning surrounded by his family.

The Farmington resident is survived by his wife and three children.

Podgorski led the Western District, which includes Troop A in Southbury, Troop B in Canaan, Troop G in Bridgeport and Troop L in Bantam.

“Speaking on behalf of all the troopers in Litchfield, we’re all devastated,” said Lt. Stavros Mellekas, the Troop L commander. “He was a great guy, nice guy, family man. All the guys are really upset.”

Podgorski previously worked as the commander of the state crime lab and oversaw the Western District Traffic Unit...