Officer Charles Cassidy
Officer Chuck Cassidy was someone I used to chat with every morning. Everyone in the local stores knew him from his daily stops. He talked to people, and got to know them a little bit. He only recently celebrated his 25th anniversary as an officer for Philadelphia.
He will be missed.
I am so sick of the violence.
Officer Shot During Philly Holdup Dies
PHILADELPHIA —
A police officer shot during a robbery shop died Thursday morning, and his killer remained at large. He was the third city officer shot in the span of four days.
Chuck Cassidy, 54, was shot in the forehead Wednesday at a Dunkin' Donuts when a hooded robber spun from the counter and fired at him as he walked in the door, according to an employee.
The 25-year police veteran died at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said.
"This is a sad day for the city of Philadelphia," Johnson said.
The gunman went into the shop and demanded money just before Cassidy opened the door, according to witnesses.
Police released portions of a chilling videotape that shows the hooded robber pushing aside two customers and waving a gun as he approaches the counter. It also shows him grabbing Cassidy's pistol as he fled.
Investigators said they were not getting good leads; a $115,000 reward was announced Thursday for information leading to an arrest. The department also established a trust fund for Cassidy's family.
Johnson said video showed the gunman running through the shop's parking lot with a distinctive gait, almost as if he had a limp.
"We still have an armed and dangerous man out there in the streets of Philadelphia," Johnson said.
In a statement Thursday, Cassidy's family said they were "deeply appreciative of all the support and prayers from the police, the clergy, the community and many folks we don't even know."
The officer came in twice a day for a large coffee with cream and sugar, shop employee Sandra Kim said. "He's always nice to all the employees," she said. "The officer was just coming in for a cup of coffee like normal."
Johnson said the officer was doing a routine check on the shop, which had been robbed Sept. 18 _ possibly by the man who killed Cassidy. He said he didn't think the robber got away with any money.
Police on Thursday displayed a photo of a distinctive jacket worn by the robber in the September case. The hooded jacket has a stylized cartoon drawing of a basketball player.
A prayer service for Cassidy was scheduled for Friday morning at City Hall.
___
Associated Press writer Kathy Matheson contributed to this report.
Officer Charles Cassidy
Officer Chuck Cassidy was someone I used to chat with every morning. Everyone in the local stores knew him from his daily stops. He talked to people, and got to know them a little bit. He only recently celebrated his 25th anniversary as an officer for Philadelphia.
He will be missed.
I am so sick of the violence.
Officer Shot During Philly Holdup Dies
PHILADELPHIA —
A police officer shot during a robbery shop died Thursday morning, and his killer remained at large. He was the third city officer shot in the span of four days.
Chuck Cassidy, 54, was shot in the forehead Wednesday at a Dunkin' Donuts when a hooded robber spun from the counter and fired at him as he walked in the door, according to an employee.
The 25-year police veteran died at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said.
"This is a sad day for the city of Philadelphia," Johnson said.
The gunman went into the shop and demanded money just before Cassidy opened the door, according to witnesses.
Police released portions of a chilling videotape that shows the hooded robber pushing aside two customers and waving a gun as he approaches the counter. It also shows him grabbing Cassidy's pistol as he fled.
Investigators said they were not getting good leads; a $115,000 reward was announced Thursday for information leading to an arrest. The department also established a trust fund for Cassidy's family.
Johnson said video showed the gunman running through the shop's parking lot with a distinctive gait, almost as if he had a limp.
"We still have an armed and dangerous man out there in the streets of Philadelphia," Johnson said.
In a statement Thursday, Cassidy's family said they were "deeply appreciative of all the support and prayers from the police, the clergy, the community and many folks we don't even know."
The officer came in twice a day for a large coffee with cream and sugar, shop employee Sandra Kim said. "He's always nice to all the employees," she said. "The officer was just coming in for a cup of coffee like normal."
Johnson said the officer was doing a routine check on the shop, which had been robbed Sept. 18 _ possibly by the man who killed Cassidy. He said he didn't think the robber got away with any money.
Police on Thursday displayed a photo of a distinctive jacket worn by the robber in the September case. The hooded jacket has a stylized cartoon drawing of a basketball player.
A prayer service for Cassidy was scheduled for Friday morning at City Hall.
___
Associated Press writer Kathy Matheson contributed to this report.