Related: Police officer suicide prevention
NORWALK, Conn.—Norwalk police are considering evidence that the death of an 11-year police veteran may have been suicide, according to published reports.The New Haven Register on Tuesday quoted a confidential message written by Norwalk’s police chief to chiefs throughout the state about the investigation of Officer Matthew Morelli’s death. Morelli, 38, died early Friday in a secluded parking lot in south Norwalk, about 50 miles northeast of New York City, after telling dispatchers he was investigating suspicious activity.
The shooting sparked a manhunt that involved helicopters, police dogs and officers from several departments.
“As the scene was being processed and evidence was collected, investigators began considering the very strong possibility that the fatal wound to Officer Morelli was self-inflicted,” Chief Harry Rilling wrote. “So far, the evidence has proven nothing to the contrary.”
The Advocate of Stamford, quoting police and city sources, also reported Tuesday that some forensic evidence collected at the scene suggests that Morelli’s death was suicide. The newspaper said some investigators believed Morelli was depressed because his ex-wife took their daughter to Australia.
Morelli had been a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, loved farming and had been a Marine intelligence analyst before joining Norwalk police in 1996.
A wake will be Wednesday at St. Matthew’s Church in Norwalk, with the funeral scheduled Thursday. Police say a trust fund has been set up for donations to benefit Morelli’s 6-year-old daughter, Sydney.
Copyright 2008 The Boston Globe