T. William Knapp

T. William “Chief” Knapp, 81, of Wethersfield, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2017 surrounded by his family. Born January 10, 1936 he was the son of the late Albert L. and Marjorie (Wells) Knapp. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his first born son, Kyle W. Knapp.

A graduate of Wethersfield High School (1954), he entered the military in 1955 and served in the US Army’s 48th Infantry Scout Dog Platoon, 1st Infantry Division where he trained Army dogs. He attended Hillyer College, the University of Hartford and the University of Virginia. He became a Wethersfield Police officer (1958) and rose to the rank of Chief of Police (1974-1989). He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1975 and then was appointed by Governor William O’Neill (1989) as Executive Director, Police Officer Standards and Training Council (The Connecticut Police Academy) where he was instrumental in establishing the “Minimum Standards for the employment and basic and in-service training of all police officers in the State of Connecticut.” Reappointed to that position by Governors Weicker, Rowland and Rell, he retired in 2003. Chief Knapp also served for 19 years as the Executive Director/Secretary of the Police Association of Connecticut. Dedicated to public service his entire adult life, he served on too many state and local commissions, Boards of Directors and Boards of Governors to mention here. Most importantly, he was President of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association and the Wethersfield Police Benevolent Association, Wethersfield Firefighters Association, the Wethersfield Game Club, Inc. and Secretary of the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners for the State of Connecticut. He was also a charter member of the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial in Meriden.

His passion, aside from his love of his children and grandchildren, was his love of hunting, fishing, firearms and shooting; he hunted all over North America and Africa. He was also very proud of donating blood (31 gallons) both whole and through pherisis. A strong believer in this country, its Constitution and all ten of its amendments, the one that got him “ready to fight” was the cherished 2nd Amendment. A Son of the American Revolution and a 32nd Degree Freemason he was also a member of the Wethersfield/Rocky Hill Lodge #2308 B.P.O.E. An avid fan of UCONN Women’s basketball and UCONN football, he loved tailgating before every game as a family function. He always loved the mystery of “what does the ‘T’ in your first name stand for? It was disclosed at his retirement party as “Theron” which is the Greek word for “the hunter”. He is survived by his sister Beth Knapp of Wethersfield and his “almost adopted” sister Henrietta Gollin of Cromwell, his two brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Monica Knapp of Colchester and Larry and Gail Knapp of Danville, California. He also leaves his three sons, each a pride of his life; his Wethersfield Police Officer son, Eric and his wife Eileen, Theron and his wife Jackie and John and his wife Rachel, his step-daughter, Dawn and her husband John Coggins and his daughter-in-law, Laura DeSantis. Chief Knapp leaves his eight grandchildren, Jason, Dylan, Abigail, Andrew, Alexa and Caroline along with his step-grandchildren, Wynter and Eamon Coggins. In addition he leaves his nieces and nephews; Lynn, Steven, Tamsen and Kelley.

Funeral services will be Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 10 a.m. in First Church of Christ, 250 Main Street, Wethersfield. Burial will immediately follow at Village Cemetery, Wethersfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 from 3-7 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, 209 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06032. For online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com.