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Police Department and
Community Mourn Loss of Officer
By
Brianna Boyd
Editor, Dixon Tribune
The Dixon Police Department, along with many
others in the community, is mourning the loss of one of their own this
week.
Police Sergeant Charles “Chuck” Coates passed
away unexpectedly Sunday morning at an area hospital following a brief
illness. A father of three, Coates was 41 years old and a 15-year member
of the police department.
News of his death spread quickly through town
on Monday and shocked and saddened the hundreds of people who knew him,
both in his capacity as a police officer and through his work as a coach
and mentor to youth.
“I’m at a loss of words at times,” said
Police Chief Don Mort. “Chuck was not only a co-worker, he was an
individual I had developed a friendship with. He was a guy who impacted
a lot of people and this is a tremendous loss to our department and the
entire community. All of us at the police department are stunned.”
According to Mort, Coates appeared healthy
when he worked his last shift at the police department on Feb. 22. The
next day, he fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. He passed away
six days later.
Just last month, Coates was recognized at a
Dixon City Council meeting for 15 years of service to the city. Hired in
1993, Coates worked as an investigations sergeant and became the
community action awareness officer more than four years ago. As head of
community action awareness, Coates coordinated the cadet program, the
reserve officer program, the local neighborhood watch and other
community outreach activities. He was also the department’s public
information officer.
In recent months, Coates was assigned to
patrol and was the current president of the city’s Police Officers
Association.
“He wore a lot of
hats,” Mort said. “Chuck was always the individual that whenever you
needed him, he was there. He was a leader, in all aspects. He was the
individual that my staff looked up to. A leader is someone who cares
about others before he cares about himself and that truly describes
Chuck. That’s why I describe this as a tremendous loss.”
Prior to joining
the Dixon department, Coates was employed with the Yolo County Sheriff’s
Department and the Solano County Sheriff’s Department.
Earlier this
week, Mort described Coates as a compassionate and respectful
professional, and a dedicated father to his three children. His daughter
attends college in San Luis Obispo, while his two sons are students at
Dixon High.
In addition to
his work as a police officer, Coates was also recognized in the
community through his dedication to the city’s youth.
He was a youth
football coach, a Dixon High varsity football coach, and a youth
baseball coach. He was also active in many of his children’s school and
extra-curricular activities.
William Soares, a
fellow coach, said he considered Coates a brother. Their sons are
friends and they have known each other for years. Soares said he
nicknamed Coates “Chuckles” because he always made him laugh.
“It saddens my
heart to have a man so young and so full of life and giving – not just
to his own children, but to all children, as well as adults – pass away
so soon and in his prime,” Soares said. “He was like a big kid himself.
If you were around him and you saw his demeanor and his joking, life was
fun and exciting for him. He was like a big teddy bear.”
Coates also had a
special way of communicating with children and teenagers, both on the
field and off. Soares said his friend was able to break down a barrier
that exists between some youth and law enforcement and become the mentor
that so many teenagers need.
“He showed them
that the law can have compassion and be human,” Soares explained. “The
kids looked up to him, not only as an officer but as a human being. They
respected him and they admired him. I know that every child he has
impacted, both at the high school and those who have graduated, will be
in awe of the time he devoted into their lives. It will always be
remembered.”
A memorial
service for Coates is scheduled for noon on Thursday in Denverton Hall
at the Dixon May Fair.
A memorial fund
has been established for his children at Dixon’s First Northern. |
