Incident
Patrol Officer Frank Romano suffered a fatal heart attack while walking his beat in Fulton Park on Cooke Street. Officer Romano had served as a park patrolman at the park for one year and had previously patrolled Hamilton Park. He had a total of 27 years of law enforcement experience.
Survivors
Officer Romano was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
27 years. You could have gone home.
Patrol Officer Romano gave the Waterbury Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Waterbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Romano.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Watertown Police Department has lost 11 officers; 2 of them lost to cardiac events.
Frank is one of 14 officers lost to cardiac events in CT, 8.3% of the 169 remembered there.
Frank is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Frank is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.9% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1958, 1 officer in CT was lost to cardiac events, the 2nd heaviest of 13 years on record. The heaviest was 1964, with 2.
In 1958, 10 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 61st heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1958, 10 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 61st heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Frank was 54. Of the 14 lost to cardiac events in CT whose age is recorded, half were between 42.8 and 55.5; the middle age was 49.5. Frank had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 17 years.
Frank was 54. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Frank had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Frank was 54. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Frank had served 27 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
November holds 21.4% of these deaths in CT, more than any other month. Saturdays: 21.4%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Saturdays: 14.3%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.4%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 18.2% of all 11 deaths at Watertown Police Department, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 8.3% of all 169 deaths in CT, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.9% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Watertown Police Department has 11 officers remembered here, Frank among them.
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Paul Mendelssohn
Mar 8, 1903
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Daniel J. Lane
Aug 7, 1913
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John F. Donahue
Aug 2, 1920
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William J. Stokes
May 2, 1925
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Matthew J. McNally
Nov 20, 1930
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Edward F. Ryan
Jan 27, 1933
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John E. Palmatier
Jul 20, 1941
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Frank D. Romano
Nov 22, 1958
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Leonard J. LaManna
Nov 18, 1961
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Walter T. Williams, III
Dec 18, 1992
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Bruce Hanley
Dec 13, 1997
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Watertown Police Department are honored on badge.nw.









