Connecticut state trooper found dead after flood

An on-duty Connecticut state trooper was found dead on Thursday after severe flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the state.

Sgt. Brian Mohl called for help around 3:30 a.m. while on duty as his cruiser was swept away by floodwaters, police said.

Responders used helicopters, divers, drones and boats to search for the officer but did not find him until after daybreak. The first responders found the 26-year veteran in a river and undertook life-saving measures in an attempt to revive him.

They took him to Yale New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

“Just a difficult time. We are trying to help the family get through this difficult time,” State Police Col. Stavros Mellekas said. 

This is the 25th line of duty death the Connecticut State Police have experienced. 

“Every line of duty death is heartbreaking and the loss of Sgt. Mohl is no different. He was outside, in the middle of the night, in horrendous conditions, patrolling the Troop L area. He was doing a job he loved and he was taken much too soon,” Mellekas said. 

The northeast has been battered with severe rain and flooding days after Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana on Sunday.

The flooding the storm caused in the northeast has killed at least 28 people.

“My message to everyone effected is, we’re all in this together. The nation is here to help. That’s the message I’ve been making clear to the majors, governors, energy and utility leaders in the region who my administration has been working closely with over the last few days,” President Joe Biden said about the situation. 

Updated at 6:42 p.m.