Police in Avon say they can't find anything in the personnel records for Sgt. Thomas Jacius, or in his recent behavior, that suggested he could turn to violence against his own family.
On Sunday, August 28, Jacius shot his wife, Doreen, to death at their East Granby home, then killed himself, according to state police. His motive remains a mystery.
Monday, Avon police released its extensive personnel file for Sgt. Jacius, built up over his 25 years on the force. Much of it consists of documents suggesting an exemplary career.
"Having gone through the files, and speaking with everyone here," says Avon Police Chief Paul Melanson, "I can tell you there is nothing to indicate that he was capable of anything like this. We all continue to come to grips and try to make sense of this selfish and senseless act of violence that has shaken all of us to our very core."
Melanson says there's no indication of mental health concerns in Jacius' records. He says those types of concerns are now top of mind for police administrators-- even though they're something no one talked about when he started in police work thirty years ago:
"In these past several years, it has been on the forefront of the things we talk about... in making sure that anybody who identifies somebody as having a risk, be it a significant event in their life-- a divorce, financial issues-- that we ensure they get the counseling and help they need."
Melanson says under the state's new Police Accountability Bill, officers are required to attend a mental health screening (the state officially refers to this as a "behavioral health assessment") every five years. Jacius had not yet had his turn for that screening.
Doreen Jacius was the popular director of the East Granby Public Library. The couple leaves two grown daughters, Sarah and Amanda. A GoFundMe account to support the young women has raised almost $100,000.
