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Detective Kyle Bombace, Danbury Police Detective Dan Trompetta and DEA Special Agent Rodney George were each awarded a Medal for Meritorious Service for their roles in obtaining a confession from Alex Garcia, 37, of Danbury. U.S. Attorney Tracy Dayton received a Commissioner’s Recognition Award.
Garcia, a former gang member, pleaded guilty in June to a firearms charge in connection with the murder of Mark Rebong, 28, of Newtown on Jan. 17, 2000. He will be sentenced in September.
Rebong was killed as he drove to work at a local hotel on the No. 2 exit ramp off of Interstate 84. A rifle round struck Rebong and his vehicle, and he was transported to Danbury Hospital, where he died.
Over the next 15 years, the State Police Western District Major Crime Squad spent significant manpower, resources and collaborative efforts to find the killer. They were hampered by minimal evidence and a lack of witnesses. For more than 15 years, Trompetta and George worked on other investigations that provided information related to Rebong’s murder. Bombace worked with them and coordinated with Dayton.
Garcia was charged with the crime in October 2015. Rebong was killed in an apparent case of mistaken identity in a gang fight between Garcia’s gang, the Latin Kings, and a rival gang, The Crips. Rebong was not involved with either gang. Garcia was also sentenced in 2007 to 40 years in prison for a stabbing and shooting at a Danbury public housing complex that seriously injured three men.
The Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to those who render service with a high degree of alertness, perseverance and superior judgment in the performance of a difficult task resulting in the protection of life, recovery of property, the prevention of – or solving of – a major crime or the apprehension of an armed or dangerous person. The Commissioner’s Recognition Award is presented by the agency commissioner to a person who has been instrumental in helping the State Police accomplish their job of public safety for all.
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