Running 4 Heroes honors fallen Connecticut State Police trooper with 1-mile run

MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A somber run with an important message was held at the Connecticut State Police Academy in Meriden on Friday.

Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was killed on Interstate 84 in Southington during a traffic stop on May 30.

Morgan Blann, a member of Running 4 Heroes from New Jersey, a national youth group, came to run a mile in Pelletier’s honor as they do for all first responders who give the ultimate sacrifice.

“To help honor them, as well as to help support their family members who are currently grieving,” Blann said. “It just means so much to be able to give them that comfort.”

Pelletier’s widow, Dominique, joined several local first responders in the run.

“Definitely feeling inspired, also running along with his wife made me a little bit prouder,” Patrick Forde, a member of the DOC canine team, said. “And obviously, the little girl just having the heart and being so young and just having to do this was inspiring to me.”

“It’s nothing short of moving, is what it really comes down to,” Connecticut State Police Sgt. Luke Davis said. “To show how much people in the community actually care about the work that law enforcement does in public service.”

Morgan said she hopes to be a K9 officer like Pelletier someday.

On Friday, in the shadow of his name on the state law enforcement memorial, she said her mission for now is to make sure we never forget.

“I just want people to understand just how much they do and how much they sacrifice every single day for us.”

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