Sorry for the Loss of Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald, Gone Way Too Soon

Like many other caring Philadelphians, I am hurt right now over the murder of Temple University Police Officer 31-year-old Christopher Fitzgerald, husband, and father of four children. From the time I first learned of his murder on the news, my heart sank for him, for all Philadelphia police officers, for his family, friends, neighbors, and others. I don’t care what anyone says. I still believe we have more good police officers on our force than we have bad.

I know many of us are still reeling and even angry from the evil, despicable actions of five African American police officers in Tennessee who murdered Tyree Nichols in January of this year. However, those five, the White, Black, and Hispanic officers who ended up in prison after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, and some other bad seeds in police departments across the nation, do not represent the thousands and thousands of well-meaning, decent men and women of the law who deserve our support because they put their lives on the line for strangers, every single day.

My heart hurts today for the family of Officer Christopher Fitzgerald because of his senseless murder at the hands of a teenager in North Philadelphia this past weekend.

This will be the first time in the history of the Temple University Police Department that one of its officers was killed in the line of duty. I would also note that both of Christopher Fitzgerald’s parents are former members of the Philadelphia Police Department and currently working in law enforcement in Arizona.

Aside from the fact that he was a husband and father to four young children, one of the very touching things we’ve come to learn about Officer Fitzgerald since his murder is that he advocated against gun violence. He did that often in the very same neighborhood where he patrolled and worked. In his spare time, one of his passions was running. He and his running mates tied stopping the violence into a campaign to spread the word, “Stop the Violence.” He was a part of two local men’s running groups, Swagga House Run Club and Black Men Run Philly. ”We start together. We end together.” That’s the mantra for Black Men Run Philly, and members of that close-knit community of runners say they will never forget Christopher Fitzgerald, and in their memories, they will never leave him behind.

The teenage suspect, Miles Pfeffer, accused of the murder of Officer Fitzgerald, now being held at Curran-Fromhold prison on State Road in Philadelphia, comes from a family background that appears to be a privileged one. The family lives in a large mansion on an irrigation farm they own in Montgomery County. The accused appears to come from a very privileged background which begs the question, what the heck was he and his brother doing in North Philadelphia Saturday evening, February 18, 2023, trying to allegedly carjack someone’s vehicle? All the details are still not clear on what drew the brothers to Philadelphia that night. Had they committed carjackings in the city before? Do they have drug addictions or gambling addictions, and they were desperate? Was this a TikTok challenge gone wrong? But then, I say to myself, but the young man had a gun, and he used it. This wasn’t no TikTok stunt. Oh no. These young, white

See “Gone too soon” page 12 Thera Martin

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privileged teens came to Philadelphia from Montgomery county to cause some trouble, and did they ever?

Here's what else has come up about this 18-year-old now sitting behind bars probably for the rest of his natural life. Several years ago, he was charged in connection with a bomb threat case in Montgomery County at an area high school. He was charged as a juvenile in that case. Today he faces a long list of charges, and at the top of that list is murder. He was arrested 12 hours after the murder of Officer Fitzgerald at 18th and Montgomery Avenue in North Philadelphia. The teen was arrested at his family's farm in Montgomery County.

Here’s the way things started on February 18, 2023: Reportedly, Officer Fitzgerald was investigating a crime on the edge of Temple University’s Campus when he came into contact with Miles Pfeffer. There was a short pursuit, a tussle, and then the teenager shot Officer Fitzgerald. After the officer was down, it has been reported-- the teen stood over him and pumped three more bullets into him. So brazen. So cold. So vicious. I don’t care if the perpetrator was White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, or whatever; how cold-blooded to kill another human being just like that. No thought. No concern. Just kill them. That’s so wrong on every level.

Miles Pfeffer was even brazen enough to attempt to take the fallen officer’s gun off his person; but was not able to do so fast enough, so he fled. He carjacked a nearby motorist to get away from the crime scene. Pfeffer is said to live on the farm with his mother and brother in Montgomery County, while his father lives on Ridge Avenue. I guess his father’s home address could explain why the 18-year-old and his brother would be in North Philadelphia--but a visit to your father’s spot should not also entail carjackings, possible robberies, and definitely not pulling out a gun and killing someone.

'Officer Fitzgerald gave his life to selflessly serve and defend this community. The courage and bravery he displayed highlight the day-to-day sacrifices made by our Temple University Police Officers to keep our community safe. This loss leaves an enormous hole in all of our hearts. He was a father, a husband, a son, a colleague, and a friend,' Temple University Police said in a statement. 'We will share service details as soon as we have more information. In the meantime, we want to extend our deepest sympathies to Officer Fitzgerald's family and friends, especially his wife, four children, and parents. He will be deeply missed.'

From the publisher of the SCOOP USA Media Newspapers, Sherri Darden, from all the columnists, writers, sales staff, volunteers, drivers, and supporters of the SCOOP, to the Fitzgerald family, we offer you our sincere condolences over the loss of your beloved Christopher.

There will be a viewing for Officer Christopher Fitzgerald, Thursday, February 23, 2023, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Givnish Funeral Home, 10975 Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia. There will be a second viewing Friday, February 24, 2023, 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 1723 Race Street. Funeral immediately after.

Thank you, Officer Chris, for your service.