Answering the call to serve and protect often takes a toll on first responders. The Believe 208 5K remembers first responders lost to suicide, raising awareness about the issue.

Sunday in East Hartford, the emotional event was held to recognize that struggle and sacrifice.

Believe 208 was founded by Trish Buchanan in honor of her husband Paul, who took his own life in 2013. Paul Buchanan was an East Hartford police officer with 24 years of service. Believe 208 is named to reflect Paul’s badge number.

Believe 208 works with CABLE, the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement, to provide resources and raise awareness about suicide. This is the fourth year of the race. For more information, click here. 

West Hartford police have arrested two juvenile suspects accused of burglarizing unlocked vehicles.

Police said the suspects were stopped on Clifford Drive. Both were on juvenile probation and wearing GPS monitoring ankle bracelets.

The suspects, who were not identified due to their ages, were charged with burglary, larceny and conspiracy charges and released to their guardians.

Drivers are reminded to always lock their vehicles and store valuables out of sight.

A pedestrian was rushed to the hospital after being struck by a car outside RHAM High School in Hebron overnight.

Tolland County Emergency dispatchers confirmed the person was hit by a car on Wall Street near the school and transported via LifeStar to Hartford Hospital.

The road was closed for several hours while police investigated but has since reopened.

No other information was immediately available.

A 27-year-old Naugatuck woman was killed in a crash on May Street early Sunday, according to Naugatuck police.

Police said that Brittany Schuld was driving in the area of 994 May Street around 12:50 a.m. when she crashed off the road into a utility pole. She suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on scene.

The Naugatuck Valley Accident Reconstruction Unit has been called in to investigate. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Naugatuck police at 203-729-5222.

Repair crews were called in to restore the downed power lines. Residents in the area should avoid the crash site and may lose power while crews work on the repairs.

New England Patriots Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft is speaking out about the recent comments made by President Donald Trump over criticizing NFL players who chose to protest during the national anthem.

Kraft released a statement Sunday saying he was deeply disappointed by the tone of Trump's comments.

Nearly 20 players from the Patriots took a knee during the playing of Sunday's anthem, as a loud chorus of boos rained down from the Gillette Stadium crowd both before and after the anthem’s conclusion. 

Among the Patriots who took a knee were Devin McCourty, Trey Flowers, Brandin Cooks, Brandon Bolden, James White, Malcolm Butler, Stephon Gilmore, Alan Branch, Duron Harmon and Malcom Brown. 

Tom Brady could be seen linking arms with several players, including Philip Dorsett and Matthew Slater. Slater was inactive for the game.

Trump said during a rally Friday that NFL players should be fired for kneeling during the national anthem.

"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, you'd say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. Out! He's fired,'" Trump said.

He followed with two tweets on Saturday saying, "If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!"

"NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S."

The tweets caused a firestorm among NFL players, including Patriots Devin McCourty and Nate Solder.

Quarterback Tom Brady, who is also friends with the president, seems to be neutral based on an Instagram post.

Kraft has been friends with the president for some time and even gave Trump a customized New England Patriots Super Bowl LI ring following the team's visit to the White House in April.

Windsor Locks police have arrested a man accused of selling pills and other drugs in their town.

Police arrested 19-year-old Joshua Welch on narcotics charges on Tuesday. He is suspected of selling over 300 illegal pills in town.

According to police, when investigators executed a search warrant they found 576 illegal pills, 223.8 grams of marijuana, and around $727 in cash. They also discovered narcotics packaging and equipment used in the preparation of drugs for sale.

Welch was charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell. He also faces charges on a previous warrant regarding the previous sale of pills. He was held on a $100,000 bond and is next due in court on Oct. 13. 

Despite a rushed timetable and the daunting task of pulling together enough votes, the White House is planning on a Senate vote on the “Graham-Cassidy” health care bill this week, White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short said on Sunday’s “Meet The Press,” NBC News reported.

He claims they are aiming for Wednesday.

“There are millions of Americans who will benefit from this bill,” Short said. “In fact, we think every state will benefit.”

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who decides when the Senate could address the bill, has said they “intend” to vote this week on the legislation that’s aimed at restructuring the U.S. health care system and repealing some of the signature elements of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Route 8 north is closed near exit 13 in Shelton due to a serious accident involving a motorcycle, according to Connecticut State Police.

Police said a car and a motorcycle are involved and serious injuries been reported. The highway is closed in the area and traffic is being diverted off exit 13. Drivers should avoid the area if possible and slow when approaching.

No other information was immediately available. Check back for updates.

President Donald Trump's son-in-law and top adviser, Jared Kushner, used his personal email account while communicating with White House colleagues, Kushner's lawyer said Sunday.

In a statement, the lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said Kushner used the account in fewer than 100 emails during Trump's first eight months in office.

"These usually forwarded news articles or political commentary and most often occurred when someone initiated the exchange by sending an email to his personal, rather than his White House, address," Lowell said. "All non-personal emails were forwarded to his official address and all have been preserved in any event."

The use of private email for official business loomed large in Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential bid. Clinton used a private server while she was secretary of state, and, amid apparent efforts to hide the email system, State Department and intelligence officials asked federal authorities to determine whether she'd jeopardized classified information.

After his racially charged confrontation with athletes and sports teams about kneeling during the national anthem, President Donald Trump is getting a much-needed morale boost from his supporters who see the refusal to stand for the anthem as a show of disrespect, NBC News reported.

Trump made a fiery declaration on Friday that National Football League owners should "fire or suspend" players who kneel, which was met with criticism and protests on the field Sunday.

Republican strategists say Trump found an issue that reminds his supporters where he stands on cultural issues at a time when his allies are lining up against him, his effort to dismantle "Obamacare" is hanging by a thread and the president is teaming up with Democratic leaders.

"He is giving lots of red meat to his base to fire them up before a crucial election," GOP strategist John Feehery said of the Alabama Republican Senate runoff, which pits Trump-backed Sen. Luther Strange against anti-establishment favorite Roy Moore. "I am fascinated by how the Democrats are falling into Trump's trap and fully backing the protesters."

A police investigation is underway in New Haven Monday morning.

There is a scene on Rosette Street near Wilson Street. An NBC Connecticut crew on scene reported seeing cruisers, officers, and the area is marked off with police tape.

Officials have yet to release any information on the situation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Massive budget cuts loom over the University of Connecticut as the state continues to operate without a budget for an 87th day.

The state House of Representatives and state Senate passed the Republican-backed budget, which Gov. Dannel Malloy has vowed to veto. On Monday, he took his fight against that spending plan to UConn’s Avery Point campus in Groton, the campus UConn officials said they will have to close if this version of the budget passes.

"We cannot allow this budget to take a gigantic step back for the University of Connecticut and roll it back from the wonderful progress it has made throughout its history,” Malloy said.

The budget contains $300 million in cuts for UConn over the next two years.

UConn officials said the proposed cuts could lead to increased tuition, closing regional campuses and chopping financial aid.

UConn President Susan Herbst and UConn students holding “I Love Avery Point” signs attended the governor’s news conference.

Meanwhile, Republicans are defending their budget.

"… (W)e have been giving UConn billions of dollars over multiple years. But now when solving a budget deficit totaling billions upon billions of dollars, when core social services are in jeopardy of being slashed, all areas of government have to scale back and live within the state’s means" State Senator Heather Somers (R-Groton) said.

"Well, it's getting a lot of publicity because president Herbst is out there making it sound like it's Armageddon and you know the truth of the matter is of this $200 million that she doesn't want to absorb but she can, look if she has a solution, I want to hear her solution," said Senate Republican Leader. Len Fasano.

Spending cuts will be triggered on Oct. 1 if no budget is passed and the governor has expressed doubts that legislators will make that deadline. 

East Windsor police are investigating a boat fire in the area off Plantation and Wapping Roads Sunday.

According to police, when crews responded they found a boat on fire in a pond. A witness reported that two vehicles left the area at a high rate a speed.

The vehicles are described as a red pickup and a white pickup towing a trailer. Anyone with information on the vehicles or the fire is asked to contact East Windsor police at 860-292-8240.

A missing Windsor woman has been found alive near Sunrise Park in Suffield after an extensive search by local and state authorities.

A Silver Alert was issued for 57-year-old Karen Leonard on Sunday. Police said on Monday that Leonard’s vehicle was found in Sunrise Park in Suffield and crews searched the mountains of the Metacomet Trail.

Police said that Leonard was found alive and was rushed to the hospital for emergency care. No other details on her condition were released.

The Connecticut State Police Trooper One helicopter and K9 units assisted with the search.

Police had said that Leonard was not the type to go missing.

A damaged dam remains a potential threat to thousands of people's lives in northwest Puerto Rico Monday, with a flash flood warning put in place Friday continuing through Monday afternoon, NBC News reported.

Guajataca Dam threatens western Quebradillas and eastern Isabela municipalities after Hurricane Maria slammed the U.S. territory, with the National Weather Service warning, "Stay or be swept away."

Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Saturday that 70,000 people could be in danger if the dam failed and urged residents to evacuate, but local officials said only a few did so. The mayor of Isabela said just over 200 people were in shelters.

"We hear a lot of commotion and everybody's running," said David Castro, who learned about the dam from neighbors. "But there's no communication. We didn't know where to go."

Police estimate at least 30 people were arrested when they refused to move away from the doors at the Ribicoff Federal Building on Main Street in Hartford as part of a protest against the deportation order of Meriden residents Franklin and Giaconda Ramos.

The Ramos family has been in the US for over 20 years and raised two sons in Connecticut.

Monday’s rally was meant to serve as part of an emergency appeal to let the Ramos family stay in the US. If they are not granted an extension, they will have to leave on Friday.

Holding signs and locking arms, dozens of protestors sat in front of the doors Monday morning.

“We have worked, we have paid taxes, we have no criminal record. Even then we have no opportunity,” said Erick Ramos, one of the couple’s sons.

Erick Ramos’ parents emigrated from Ecuador 24 years ago. Franklin was detained after a raid at his work in 2012. Ever since, he’s worn a GPS monitoring device and had regular check-ins with ICE. This summer, he and his wife were told they would be deported by Friday, Sept. 29.

ICE spokesman Shawn Neudauer released the following statement on the matter:

ICE spokesman Shawn Neudauer released the following statement on their case:

“On Aug. 1, Franklin and Giaconda Ramos, illegally present citizens of Ecuador, were notified during a routine office check-in that ICE intended to proceed with their court-ordered removal from the United States. Both individuals have final orders of removal issued by a federal immigration judge in 2005. In August, both applied to ICE for stays of removal, and both were denied by the ICE Field Office covering Hartford. However, recently an immigration court granted the couple a stay of removal in furtherance of their legal proceedings.

After reviewing both cases earlier this year, and in a further exercise of discretion, ICE chose not to place either in custody, allowing them the chance to make timely departure arrangements or to continue to seek relief before the courts.”

Neudauer added that ICE respected the protests.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion peacefully without interference," he wrote.

Their other son Jason was in the line of protestors.

“We are holding a line for the people that could not be here, for the people that were torn apart from their families, the people here that are living in fear,” Jason said.

Among the crowd of supporters were members of the Reyes family. Their father has been seeking sanctuary in a New Haven church for seven weeks.

“We’re just asking for a second chance for him and other families that are going through this. It’s very painful,” Fanny Reyes of New Haven said.

Protestors were warned that if they did not move from in front of the building that they would be taken into police custody. Jason Ramos was one of the dozens of people arrested. The group is hoping their stand of solidarity means something.

“This nation is a nation built by immigrants. We are here to participate, here to collaborate, we are here to build. We are not here to terrorize anybody. We are here to build families, to build the American dream,” Jason said.

On Sunday more than 100 people gathered for a candlelight vigil for a mother who police say was shot and killed in her home in Newington last week.

People arrived at Mill Pond Park wearing purple, which was Patricia Torbicki’s favorite color.

Torbicki was remembered as a proud mother.

“She was lively. She was funny. And she really loves her son a lot and she was always a big supporter of everything he did,” Barbara Soucy of New Britain, said.

This was a chance to hold onto memories of how the 46-year-old lived her life, not how she left.

Police say a neighbor found Torbicki lying in the doorway of her home on Gilbert Road appearing lifeless on Thursday morning.

Investigators discovered she had died after being shot in her head and lower extremities. Her death was ruled a homicide.

At the vigil loved ones were stunned by her sudden passing.

Her co-workers at a union in Hartford say the office will not be the same.

“Real nice person. We don’t know how we are going to function on the job not seeing her tomorrow. It’s sad,” Monica Harris, a co-worker, said.

And members and leaders at Mill Pond Church recalled her devotion to faith.

“She had been singing in our praise team, teaching the kids, much loved and will be greatly missed,” Joel Rissinger, Mill Pond Church pastor, said.

Officers say her husband, 45-year-old Michael Torbicki, was seriously hurt and is considered a suspect.

He was taken into custody hours an hours-long standoff with police.

Newington police have not yet provided updates on his condition or the case.

The Department of Transportation will be removing trees damaged by gypsy moth caterpillars along Interstate 95 in Old Lyme.

Trees throughout southeastern Connecticut were infested by these gypsy moth caterpillars earlier this year, and the fungus that usually kills the caterpillars was slow to take effect, leaving widespread damage.

There are severely damaged trees along the highway. Removal efforts begin Monday between exits 74 and 70. Drivers should expect to see parts of the right lane closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

It’s estimated that 170 trees, mostly oak trees, are damaged so severely that they will not survive.

The DOT is removing them to ensure they’re not a dangerous problem for drivers later.

Crews and a licensed state arborist are going to be using machinery to remove these trees.

There will be signs to direct drivers around the work zone and avoid that right-hand lane.

Although this process is scheduled to last for the next two weeks, it all depends on the weather, which could slow the process down if there aren’t the right conditions.

Officials say once the damaged trees are removed they will be able to regrow naturally.

Drivers should expect some delays in the area while the work takes place.

Westport police have arrested an Oregon man accused of taking money from Fairfield County residents in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy and not delivering on the emergency generators he’s alleged to have promised.

Police said 56-year-old John Mech, of Seaside, Oregon, offered to sell and install generators at several homes in Fairfield County in 2012, during the clean up after the storm, but he never delivered what he promised.

In one case, Mech collected a down payment of $6,000, and requested another $9,750 to be paid when the work was done, police said.

Over several months, Mech failed to provide the victim a generator or perform any installation, police said.

After repeatedly trying to resolve the issue with Mech, the victim filed a police report and the department obtained an arrest warrant for Mech in December 2013.

Police said there are outstanding warrants for Mech from the Monroe Police Department and the Stamford Police Department for similar allegations. Police said the victims lost differing amounts of money.

After the warrants were active, Mech appeared to flee the state to avoid prosecution, according to police.

He was taken into custody on Sept. 15 in Seaside Oregon after local wildlife, game control arrested him for an illegal fishing violation, police said.

After officials learned who he was, an extraditable warrant was issued and Mech and he was taken into custody. Stamford Police later transported him back to Connecticut for six counts of third-degree larceny and four counts of home improvement violations.

Mech was held on a $55,000 bond from the Stamford Police incident and detained by Department Of Corrections.

On Thursday, Westport police processed Mech while he appeared at Norwalk Superior Court for the charges of third-degree larceny and home improvement violation.

He was given a court appearance date of Oct. 2 and held on $10,000 bond.

Mech was returned to the custody of the Department of Corrections and is currently detained in Bridgeport Correctional Center on $61,000 bond.