Kenneth E. Bateman Kenneth Bateman Barbara Bateman

Police Department to Mark 40th Anniversary of Officer Kenneth E. Bateman’s Death in the Line of Duty

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On Memorial Day and the night before, Darien Police Department will hold a ceremony marking the death of a man in uniform, Darien Officer Kenneth E. Bateman Jr., shot and killed when he went to the scene of a burglary. “To solemnly remember the 40th anniversary of Officer Bateman’s death, the Darien Police Department will post and illuminate 40 candles in front of the Darien Police Department building commencing at sunset on Sunday, May 30, 2021,” Police Chief Donald Anderson said in a statement released Monday morning. “The candles will burn throughout the night into May 31, 2021 in honor of Officer Bateman and will be extinguished at noon on Memorial Day, when both the Connecticut and United States flags are again returned to full staff per the United States Flag Code and by Presidential proclamation.” Bateman was killed by one of the burglars robbing Duchess, Anderson said. “Although this heinous crime remains unsolved, many Darien officers and investigators, now over several generations, have diligently continued and furthered the investigation into his murder.