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He was found dead in his car in Seaside Park in Bridgeport on Dec. 4 as a result of a suicide.
Lattanzio will be remembered for being “a great guy with a huge heart,” his obituary said. "The Bridgeport Police Department suffered a profound loss, and he will never be forgotten by his brothers and sisters in blue.”
He had always wanted to be a police officer.
"His fellow officers knew this fact and after 17 years, Tommy stayed dedicated, passionate and above all professional from the top of his hat to the tip of his shined shoes," his obituary said. "He always did the right thing and was the epitome of a good cop.
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"Tommy worked undercover in some of Connecticut's worst neighborhoods. One particular assignment that was expected to last a few months lasted nearly two years since Tommy excelled in this capacity," his obituary said. "He loved the group environment that being on the narcotics team entailed and was a joy to have around the office.”
His obituary said Lattanzio "was a very humble and proud man who always put the team and job first before his own needs. Tommy took pride in dedicating his life to helping people that could not help themselves. Tommy was generous, caring and would often check in with his fellow officers (friends) on their well-being to ask if they needed anything. He loved books, animals, music and was an avid concert-goer. He possessed a strong compassion for animals, taking in strays as his own or trying to re-home them to friends."
Lattanzio, a Bridgeport resident and a former Rocky Hill resident, was born in Hartford.
He is survived by his mother Lorraine; a sister and brother-in-law, Laura J. and Richard McNamara; three nieces, Lia, Jenna and Caitlee; and many cousins, aunts and uncles. He was predeceased by his father, Gino Lattanzio.
In lieu of flowers, his family has requested memorial donations be made to the Bridgeport Connecticut Animal Control, 236 Evergreen St., Bridgeport, CT. (203-576-7727 or animal.shelter@bridgeportct.gov.)
Calling hours will be from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield. A memorial service will be held at noon in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Road, Bloomfield.
For further information or to make an online condolence, visit www.farleysullivan.com.
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