State leaders and law enforcement personnel from across the state are mourning the loss of two Bristol police officers fatally shot on Wednesday in what state police suspect was an ambush.

The fallen officers were identified Thursday as Sgt. Dustin Demonte, 35, who worked at the department for 10 years, and Officer Alex Hamzy, 34, who had been a Bristol police officer for the past eight years.

Alec Iurato, 26, also was shot, initially hospitalized and met by a crowd of well-wishers outside St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.

State police on Thursday said the preliminary investigation indicates the 10:30 p.m. 911 call for a domestic violence incident at 310 Redstone Hill Road was a “deliberate act to lure law enforcement to the scene.”

Shot and killed at the scene was the suspect in the shooting, Nicholas Brutcher, 35. His brother Nathan Brutcher, 32, was shot and hospitalized.

Leaders of police departments in southeastern Connecticut responded with anger and sorrow, and said the deaths are a tragic reminder of the dangers of police work.

“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts we once again bear witness to the perils of our profession,” New London Police Chief Brian Wright said. “The incident in Bristol is a stark reminder that every shift and every call for service is a matter of uncertainty that we must acknowledge and keep at the forefront of our minds. Our prayers and thoughts go out to family and friends of our fallen heroes, Bristol PD, and all those impacted by this horrific event.”

New London officers and members of other departments in the region offered support.

Ledyard Police Chief John Rich, chairman of the wellness committee of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, said he is volunteering peer support officers from his department “to be available for anything they might need in the aftermath of such a tragedy.” Ledyard is among departments with officers specially trained to help first responders handle the psychological impacts of the job.

“All of us understand the inherent danger in the job but it’s shocking when something like this happens so close to home,” Rich said. “We try to get our officers the best training possible to face what they’re going to face out there. This is just inexplicable, senseless violence against these officers. My heart goes out to them and their entire department.”

Rich traveled to Bristol on Thursday to support Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould, his close friend.

Groton Town Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro called the killing a “gut punch” that was likely to impact officers from departments across the state.

“We’re upset. It’s a cowardly act that took the lives of two officers,” Fusaro said. “It does strike home. We have a close law enforcement community here in Connecticut.”

“This is what out officers do, they strap on a badge and gun and leave their families to do a job where they don’t know if they are going to come home at night,” he said. “One officer had two kids and another on the way. Now there’s an empty seat at the table. I’m saddened. I can’t express how hurtful this is.”

Fusaro said police work can at times be a thankless job despite the sacrifices officers make. Police deaths in Connecticut may be rare, he said, but all officers encounter the same potential risks, especially when responding to domestic violence calls.

The Groton Town Police Department is offering up services of Officer Heather McClellan and service dog Chase, a Labrador retriever, to join other service dogs to aid in the mourning process.

East Lyme Police Chief Michael Finkelstein called the news of the alleged ambush “unimaginable, the kind of situation hard to fully comprehend.”

“Officers respond to a call and all of a sudden these officers are being ambushed,” he said. “Certainly it shows the dangers to officers who never know what your getting into. The reality seems a little more clear that this is something that could happen to anybody in any department in any situation.”

“We all know domestic violence calls are inherently dangerous. Here it’s something completely different, an intentional act. It’s a level of evil that is very difficult to put into context and comprehend,” Finkelstein said.

He said the tragedy also shows why officers always have to be vigilant about what’s going on around them and why, at times, they may appear to be cold and callous.

Gov. Ned Lamont directed U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff on Thursday to honor the officers. They will remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment.

“The loss of two officers from the Bristol Police Department who were killed in the line of duty while responding to an emergency call of domestic violence is a senseless tragedy, and my prayers are with their families, loved ones, and fellow officers,” Lamont said in a statement. “I also ask the residents of Connecticut to keep in their prayers a third officer who was shot while responding to this emergency and is currently in the hospital with serious injuries.

“This is a devastating reminder of the dangers that police officers face every day to protect our families and neighbors from all kinds of situations,” he said. “These officers are heroes and will always be remembered for the honorable service they provided to their town and their state. ”

Bob Stefanowski, the Republican candidate for governor, also issued a statement, saying, "My thoughts and prayers go out to the surviving officer, the families and loved ones of all three officers, the Bristol Police Department, and law enforcement across our state on this horrible tragedy.“

“The men and women of Connecticut’s law enforcement put their lives on the line every single day to keep the rest of us safe,” he said. “They deserve every ounce of our support and every ounce of our respect. A tragedy like this reminds us that we need to ensure the safety of our police officers as much as we need to protect the residents they serve."

Said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.:

“The deaths of Sergeant Dustin Demonte and Officer Alex Hamzy break our hearts and reinforce our deep and significant support for law enforcement as they brave countless dangers to protect public safety. Today is a tragic day and we must honor the sacrifice of both officers, as well as Officer Alec Iurato, who was seriously injured in the line of duty. These police heroes answered the call, as do countless other officers every hour, every day, never knowing fully what they may face. Our prayers are with the officers and their families as they navigate this incredibly difficult time.”

g.smith@theday.com