Peter J. Lavery
Agency patch
Master Police Officer

Peter J. Lavery

Newington Police Department — Newington, CT
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch December 30, 2004
Age 47
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Badge 2523
The Vigil Panel 152 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Master Police Officer Peter Lavery was shot and killed when he responded to a domestic disturbance call on Mountain View Drive in Newington.

During the initial confrontation, Officer Lavery was shot as he entered the basement of a home where the suspect was located. Officer Lavery's partner was able to take the suspect's wife to safety while under fire from the suspect, who was armed with a semi-automatic rifle.

The Newington SWAT team, with the assistance of other area SWAT teams, responded and attempted to negotiate with the suspect, who remained in the basement. After several attempts by the SWAT team to remove him, the man committed suicide.

Officer Lavery was a veteran of the Connecticut National Guard. He had served with the Newington Police Department for 17 years and had previously served 5 years with the Berlin Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, two sisters, and two brothers, both of whom are retired Newington police officers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-CD151291
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Master Police Officer Lavery gave the Newington Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newington community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Newington, CT
Platform Identity npd.capitol.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 30, 2004
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Age 47
Badge Number 2523
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Peter J. Lavery served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Master Police Officer Peter J. Lavery is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Newington Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
CT — Statewide
74
of 169 officers
43.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Peter J. Lavery's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Peter J. Lavery Compares

Age at Death
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
22
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Peter J. Lavery is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Peter J. Lavery was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Peter J. Lavery served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Peter J. Lavery’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Newington Police Department are honored on badge.nw.