Paying respects to a fallen officer and friend

Guilford, Conn. (WTNH) - Police from all over the tri-state area and New England paid their respects to 46-year-old Detective Andy Faggio Saturday.

Faggio passed away Wednesday morning , succumbing to injuries incurred while on the job back in 2003.

While the scene is too familiar for the men and women of uniform, they admit this one is very difficult.

"It's a tribute to the family...the caring and love they have," said retired Sergeant Jo Schaller.

Schaller watched for nine years, Detective Faggio's family by his side hoping and praying he'd recover. She witnessed moments of hope when his family was around.

"He was always really alert and locked on," Schaller said. "He would follow the conversation and if sometimes you'd say something funny he'd smile."

Schaller was Detective Faggio's supervisor at the time of the horrific crash the 15-year-veteran was involved in on Jan. 31, 2003.

"Apparently, a postal truck was on the wrong side of the road and Andy clipped it and it spun him into a tree," Schaller said.

Since then, Faggio suffered serious brain injuries. Schaller says his oldest son was only four years old at the time and his youngest was just 11 months old. Sadly, the only memories of dad were him fighting for his life.

"I couldn't imagine the loss and devastation of not having that figure in your life," said retired Detective David Stephens.

Stephens says he feels fortunate to have worked side by side with Faggio.

"He had an incredible sense of humor and he knew how to integrate it with his duties," Stephens said. "If you ask anyone, there's no one else they'd rather be working a job or going into a situation with than him."

His colleagues agree, he's the true example of what a police officer should be.

"He's the kind of guy, when there's an academy class, you'd just want to say 'just watch this guy and do it like him,'" Schaller said.

Since 2006 there has been a "Detective Andrew Faggio Award" that is given to a New Haven officer who best exemplifies Faggio's characteristics of compassion and integrity in policing.