We dedicate our website to the officers who have trained with our organization.
In memory of these exceptional officers/trainers who we had the privilege of working with, each calendar year Spector Training will grant a scholarship allowing an officer to attend a Spector Training course. To apply for a scholarship, print and fill out one of the forms below, then mail/email to:
Spector Training Network
P.O. Box 622
South Windsor, CT 06074
spectortrainingnetwork@gmail.com
SGT. STEPHEN “BREZ” BRESCIANO, 1971-2020:
On October 17, 2020, Stephen Bresciano, beloved husband of Karen, and father to Joseph and Jonathan, passed away peacefully at home after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born July 30, 1971, he grew up in Manchester, CT and graduated from Manchester High School. While working full-time, Stephen earned an associate’s degree from Manchester Community College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Science in Organizational Management at Eastern Connecticut State University.
Stephen was a devoted father and husband. When his family was asked what they wanted the world to know about Stephen, the boys shared that Stephen put 100% into everything he did, especially fatherhood. He was an exemplary role model of devotion to family, living with integrity, and expecting the best from himself and others. He loved smoking a cigar while making our lawn look like Yankee Stadium, sharing old movies with the boys (often when mom was not around to object), building sandcastles at the beach, hiking in Acadia National Park, spending time at the range, and creating beautiful pens on his lathe. He was funny and sarcastic, driven and humble.
Stephen began his law enforcement career serving with the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections from 1994-1997. In December of 1997, Stephen was hired as a Police Officer with the Manchester Police Department. Stephen served the Town of Manchester for nearly 23 years, and held positions as a Field Training Officer, Traffic Unit Officer, and Firearms Instructor. Stephen was selected to the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (CREST), a multi-agency tactical team, in 2003. He served as an Operator and rose to Team Leader over his 11 years with CREST and was instrumental in establishing and coordinating the Capitol Region Special Weapons and Tactics School, a basic training course for new tactical officers from across Connecticut. Stephen was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2013, leading the department’s Traffic Unit from 2014-2018 and the Training Unit from 2019 until his retirement. Over the course of his career, Stephen earned many awards including the Medal for Distinguished Service (2004), Chief’s Citation (2006), Medal of Valor (2011), Medal for Life Saving (2018), and Medal for Meritorious Service (2020). Stephen taught classes with Spector Criminal Justice Training Network from 2016-2020. His colleagues describe Stephen as relentlessly striving for excellence, committed to his profession, and, of course, always vigilant.
A fellow officer and dear friend of Stephen, Officer Dave Williams, said the following during Stephen’s memorial service. “Over the past few months Stephen and I spoke about his legacy. I spoke about his accomplishments with SWAT School and the Firearms Instructor course he helped create. Stephen was concerned about this, as he did not want this to be his legacy. I reflected on this for a while and I did not understand what he meant. I soon discovered his true legacy. Never settle for good enough, always push to be better than what you are; always strive for perfection, not only from within yourself, but for those around you; accept support and embrace change; strong support like Stephen had from Karen, is the only way we can do what is needed when called upon. Embrace change like Stephen told me many times, ‘take what I gave you and make it better.’” THIS is Stephen’s legacy.”
“Steve believed in hard work and preparation. He had high expectations for those he worked with, but he had even higher expectations for himself. He’d never ask anyone to do something that he wouldn’t do. He was a special person, always striving to help others improve, while never looking for recognition for himself. The contributions that Steve made to our department are immeasurable. We will miss his physical presence, but his spirt will live on in all of us as we remain, Always Vigilant.” ~Chief William Darby, Manchester P.D.
SGT. DAVID E. BURS, 1958-2017:
On June 5, 2017, David E. Burs, 58 of Stratford, entered eternal rest. He leaves to cherish his memory two daughters, Danielle (Ryan) Hand of Washington, DC and Rachel Burs of IL.
Born in Montgomery, WV, David was a Connecticut resident since 1962. David was a product of the Stratford public school system playing varsity sports (football, basketball, and baseball), all-league in football, and he returned to coach women’s basketball and football as well as Pop Warner football. He attended the University of Connecticut, Storrs, playing Division One football in 1976 and 1977 and graduated in 1980 with a dual B.A. in Political Science and History, with a minor in English Composition. He received his Masters of Science degree in Health Science (Exercise Physiology) in 2009 from Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, and a PhD in Sports Medical Science from NYU thereafter.
David retired as a Stratford Police Sergeant after thirty years of service. While on the police force, he served as a Law Enforcement Instructor and a Supervising FTO; he was also an NRA Firearms Master Instructor. David taught seminars in New York, Massachusetts, Florida, California, China, Kansas City (MO/Marines MAP) and Brazil (Local, State, Federal Police). David was also a long-term substitute teacher at Bullard Havens Technical High School, CT, a former adjunct professor at CT Post College and professor at Sanford Brown College.
David competed and won two gold and one bronze medals in The International Pan American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Games (Carlos Gracie, Jr. 2003) in the blackbelt master’s division. David incorporated his love for sports and the martial arts into his police training. In 2007, David volunteered for a clinical program which dealt with scientific learning trials for creating main stream behaviors in teen and young adults with severe aggression due to Autism Spectrum Behaviors entitled On Your Mark, Inc. While there, he implemented programs designed to calm aggressive behavior through sports and exercise, as well as teaching computer and photography skills to high functioning Asperger and Savant clients. David used these same techniques when he developed training programs in the martial arts for youth who act out violently.
From 2001-2013, David taught Use of Force; High/Low Risk Motor Vehicle Stops, Arrest & Control; Police Restraints; Police Batons (Tonfa & Straight), and Field Training Programs (level one and supervisory) with Spector Training.