Monroe Lost a Gentle Man with a Huge Heart

Two cars collided on Barn Hill Road late on a Sunday in July, 36 years ago. Town ambulance workers and police officers arrived to administer first aid, but a driver was trapped inside one of the vehicles, which had burst into flames.

Sergeant Robert J. Wesche risked his own life, entering the car and pulling the accident victim to safety.

"Such raw courage was rare to see," Mr. and Mrs. Eugene F. O'Hara wrote in a letter to the editor, praising Wesche and officers who responded to the emergency call. "The people of Monroe should be proud to have men like Sgt. Wesche and officers Wrabel and McCarthy on the police force. Thank you gentlemen for a job well done."

Robert Wesche devoted his 40-year-career in law enforcement to saving lives, whether it was through his work as a police officer or as a state-certified instructor for CPR and first aid.

Wesche, who was Monroe's police chief for more than two decades, died Friday morning. He was 78. He is survived by his wife Margaret, their two sons, a daughter and several grandchildren.

First Selectman Steve Vavrek sent out a message about Wesche's passing on his listserv, and those who knew him at Monroe Town Hall, Edith Wheeler Memorial Library and the police department were saddened by the news.

"I used to clerk for his police commission," said Vida Stone, the first selectman's administrative assistant. "He's a kind, gentle man and I'll miss him very much. He was a great man. I miss him terribly."

"He had to be one of the most fair police officers and bosses that you'd ever want to work for," said Capt. Michael Flick. "He had a huge heart. He really did. And he cared about the community."

Wesche rose through the ranks of the Monroe Police Department in its earliest days. He was the town's first-ever lieutenant and its first captain, before being named the third chief in Monroe's history in 1978, a position he held for over two decades.

"He was very welcoming when I came to town and immediately offered any help he could provide me from his years of experience in town," said Chief John Salvatore. "When I had a long prevailing issue, I didn't hesitate to contact him for the background and history of it. He never hesitated to share his recollections."

'He sang a good tune'

Wesche was known around town for his kind, friendly demeanor and for his involvement in community groups and his church, Good Shepherd Lutheran.

Linda Suhr got to know Wesche through her time as a member and former chairman of the Police Commission. And when she taught at Fawn Hollow Elementary School, when Wesche — then a police officer — worked as a substitute teacher on his days off.

"He was just a very nice person. Just a very nice person," Suhr said, while working at Edith Wheeler Memorial Library Friday afternoon. "He was friendly and I got the feeling he enjoyed life. He always had a smile for everyone, so you had a feeling that whatever he was doing, he was happy."

David York, a counsellor at Masuk High School, got to know Wesche, through York's worked as a volunteer fireman for the Stevenson Fire Co. Wesche taught CPR courses there. The two men also sang together.

During the Ecumenical Thanksgiving and Good Friday services, choirs from a variety of faiths performed together. Wesche was in the Lutheran choir and York was in the Methodist choir at his church. 

"He sang a good tune too. He was a good singer," York said of Wesche. "Bob and I were in the bass section together."

"He was always a gentleman, always kind and, when appropriate, always had a good story to bring a chuckle," York added. "There was always a certain dignity to him."

"He believed in fairness and he believed in giving people a second chance," Flick said. "He saw the good side of everybody."

"He's a great old community guy, who would bend over backwards to help anybody," First Selectman Steve Vavrek said of Wesche.

Vavrek remembers when Wesche helped Monroe Jaycees, and said Wesche always stepped up for volunteer organizations in town.

In 1961, Wesche won the Monroe Jaycees' Distinguished Service Award "for his outstanding work with young people in the community."

One of the organizers of Monroe EMS

"When I went to Masuk in the 70s, he used to be a substitute teacher," said Steve Wolf, a town custodian. "That's how I knew him. He was a good guy. It seemed like all of the students liked him when he subbed for a teacher. He was a regular guy."

York said Wesche was a longtime member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Career Education, which assisted with Career Day, Alumni Day and a shadowing program at Masuk.

In addition to working as a substitute for Monroe Public Schools, Wesche taught law enforcement courses at a local college and CPR and first aid to first responders. In fact, Wesche was one of the organizers of the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service.

"He always was the CPR trainer," said York, who is also the town's Emergency Management director. "He really pressed us to do as well as we could, so we would be ready to provide him and anyone else quality care."

Proud to be a Monroe Police Officer

Wesche was an auxiliary police officer in February of 1958 and became a police officer on July 8 of the same year, which was only six years after the Monroe Police Department was incorporated.

He worked under Monroe's first police chief, J.J. Tufano and the second, Regis Desrosiers, before being sworn in as chief himself on June 1,1977.

Wesche retired on July 8,1998, but he never lost his attachment to the organization.

"He was always proud to be a former member of the Monroe Police Department and was active in all of the social police festivities, the family Christmas parties, the Tip-a-Cops and other Connecticut Special Olympics fundraisers," Salvatore said.

Wesche was a lifetime member of state, county and international chiefs of police associations, according to Salvatore.

As someone who was part of the Monroe Police Department for 40 years and chief for over 21 of them, Salvatore said much of the organization's culture must be a reflection of Wesche's service and commitment to the town.

Under Chief Wesche, Salvatore said Monroe was one of the first police departments to have the DARE program, as well as one of the leaders in offering it in elementary, middle and high school.

Salvatore also credits Wesche with forging the strong relationship between the Monroe Police Department and the school system.

"He was into community policing before it was an industry term," Salvatore said. "He was proud of his community."