Roll of Honor
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
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Peter J. Lavery served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Master Police Officer Peter J. Lavery is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 10.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Peter J. Lavery's cause is highlighted.
How Peter J. Lavery Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Peter J. Lavery is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Peter J. Lavery was killed by rifle.