Events

Breakfast on the Bridge

Breakfast on the Bridge, a 38-year tradition, is an opportunity for individuals who work with children and families in West Hartford to kick off a new year of collaboration. It signifies the start of the school year, gives old friends a chance to catch up, and provides an opportunity to meet new people and share ideas. Each year, the annual Build No Fences Award is presented to an individual who sees no boundaries and works collaboratively with child advocates to support young people and families.

The 2026 Breakfast on the Bridge was held on Wednesday, September 9 at the West Hartford Town Hall. 

This year’s Build No Fences Award recipient holds a job that is hard to put on org chart, because it doesn’t sit neatly inside one department. It sits between them — between the police department and the school, between a hallway and a home, between a kid having a bad day and a kid having a bad year. That's the job of Lauren Rieger, a School Resource Officer in West Hartford. 

Lauren is often the first thread in a much larger net — teachers, administrators, town officials, and the Bridge — all of whom depend on someone noticing early and knowing exactly who to call next.When Officer Rieger notices something — a pattern of absences, a disclosure in the hallway, a fight that's really about something at home — that observation doesn't stay isolated. It moves. It goes to the school counselor. It goes to an administrator. In the cases that call for it, it goes to the Bridge Family Center, and a family gets connected to support before things escalate into a crisis.

Lauren's supervisor, Sgt. Joseph Hopkin had these kind words to say about her: "It is no surprise that Ofc. Rieger was nominated by the Bridge staff to receive the Build No Fences award. For the past three years, Ofc. Rieger has been an integral member of the Community Relations Division, making a meaningful impact on both the division and the community we serve.

Lauren’s passion for community policing has been evident since she joined the department in 2016. Her ambition and commitment to building strong relationships have made her a true collaborator and an important part of positive change and growth within the division.

Through her dedication and willingness to work across traditional boundaries, Ofc. Rieger consistently builds bridges, creates meaningful partnerships, and continues to strengthen the relationship between our department and the community. These qualities embody the very spirit of the Build No Fences Award".