Golf tourney raises money for daughter of slain officer

A community and brotherhood came together to play golf for a special purpose.

A community and brotherhood came together today in Bridgeville to play golf for a special purpose.

Georgetown Police Officer Chad Spicer was fatally shot in the line of duty last September during a car-turned-foot chase that started with a report of shots fired at a local McDonald’s restaurant.   He was just one day shy of his one-year anniversary serving in his home-town police department.

Spicer, who was 29 years old when he was killed, had sole custody of his then 3 year old daughter Aubrey.

Proceeds from this first annual Spicer Memorial Tournament will go into a trust fund for Aubrey, who is now being raised by Chad Spicer’s parents.

Georgetown Police Chief Bill Topping was among the 64 golfers who hit the course in honor of Spicer.  Remembering the fallen officer from his force is something he takes seriously.  Just look down and you’ll notice the Chief  has a tattoo with Spicer’s name, and the Georgetown Police shield on his calf.

“He loved his job and he loved being a police officer,”  Topping said. “He was a police officer here in Bridgeville for some time, it was where he started out.  So it’s fitting that we have this tournament here in his honor,” Topping said.

Dorothy Harper, Vice President of Brookfield Homes, helped facilitate the tournament at Heritage Shores Golf Club.  She first met Spicer when he was an officer in Bridgeville, and she was driving too fast.  She later came to appreciate his efforts for keeping a watch on the new community her company was building.

“We had a personal relationship with Chad Spicer and we felt for the benefit for his young daughter anything we could do to assist with her future would be a great thing,” Harper said. “Golf is kind of our business here, so just put the two together.”

Harper expects this first annual tournament will put $10-$15,000 into Aubrey’s fund.

With the tournament planned as an annual event from here, there will be a yearly reminder of just what Spicer sacrificed while doing his job.  And an entire community will be looking out for little Aubrey’s needs as she grows up.

“We’re here basically because we don’t want to let the memory of Chad fade from the people’s minds in Sussex County and the State of Delaware.  So anytime we get a chance to honor him and honor his name we’re going to do just that,” Chief  Topping said.

Two people have been arrested in connection to the fatal shooting: Derrick Powell for allegedly firing the fatal shots, and Christopher L. Reeves who allegedly drove the car.