Millville Police Chief Writes Tribute To Fallen Officer - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Millville Police Chief Writes Tribute To Fallen Officer

Millville Police Chief Thomas Haas released this statement Wednesday on the death of Officer Christopher W. Reeves:

It's 1:30 a.m. and I can't sleep again. I am thinking of Chris Reeves again; he was an officer of my department in Millville and he lost his life in the line of duty. That is what always is said. He didn't lose it - he gave it every day like so many others. He loved his job and always did his best to help everyone he encountered.

We have the burden to see the worst of society, then correct their problems. We console victims of crime and tragedy alike. Chris did this and beyond. He looked for people that were down on their luck or caught up with legal problems and went the one step further to help them.

I can remember when he started as a police officer. He was in the Marine Corps and a volunteer fireman in Millville. The word was out that the Police Department had hired Superman, Christopher Reeves. He was a fireball of energy - a lot start out that way and then settle into a routine; he didn't. He was always in the background working, helping others and fellow officers (right here you can add anything you want - word, phrase or event - he did it all).

As Chris matured within the ranks, he didn't change. He continued to work hard at his job and at his life. He always smiled while doing this. Fortunately for us it was contagious, and no matter what was wrong or who was there he would make each person around feel a little bit better.

Chris was married to another one of our officers, Sue, another fireball with a smile and a good word for all, sometimes unfiltered.

People sometimes forget that cops are actually human, too. We do have feelings and emotions. We can't wear it when on the job, but when alone and out of public view anything goes. The good the bad and the ugly - when Chris would talk to one person or a group or to myself this would come out. Never with any animosity to anyone - just facts - but always with that smile. God would that feel good, that smile, a little ray of sunlight in our sometimes dark world.  One thing with Chris from my perspective is he always presented a problem with a possible solution, not ‘You have a problem in this department and you better fix it.' We talked many times about the department, the union, the city, the job and sometimes about life. He always was upbeat and wanted to improve things, see last list, nothing was left untouched. Did he improve the department, city, job, life? My answer is a resounding yes.

Chris loved his family, loved his friends and loved his job. He did not say this only with words, but proved it every day with his actions. Words describing Chris abound; just Google "world greatest hero/all around good guy."

At a union meeting tonight, the members discussed selling T-shirts for Chris' son. On the shirt would be printed something like "Superman without a cape." I understand Superman, his name and his actions. The cape missing I believed was because cops aren't issued capes with their uniforms. In Chris' case, I believed that he stepped out of line at the Superman Academy to help someone and never stopped long enough to return to pick it up.

Millville has lost a great friend, a respected and dedicated police officer, a loving and dedicated family man, an uninhibited father. Yes, I believe this fits the description of Millville's Superman.