Viewing Held For BSO Deputy Killed In Motorcycle Crash
POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) – Hundreds of Broward Sheriff's deputies gathered at a Pompano Beach church Monday evening to say farewell to Deputy Christopher Schaub.
Schaub, a BSO motorcycle deputy, was killed in the line of duty last week from injuries he suffered in a collision with a car. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
Schaub, 47, spent 22 years with BSO.
Despite a steady rain and storm clouds overhead, a parade of Broward Sheriff's deputies and law enforcement officers paid their respects to Schaub.
Sheriff Al Lamberti said Schaub's closest friends in the agency -- the motorcycle deputies -- decided to do something unprecedented for Schaub. They are making sure no one will ever again use Schaub's radio number 44.
"Retiring his number, I think the deputies decided it was a good way to pay tribute to him that nobody would ever use the radio number 44," Lamberti said.
It is the ultimate sign of remembrance for a deputy known for his persistence, his dedication to solving cases and his passion for helping his community. BSO says Schaub's personnel file is full of commendations from his peers and the public. He was also named Employee of the Month several times.
"When you bleed green, Chris bled green," Lamberti said. "There's no doubt about it -- his passion for the agency as a whole. He wasn't just a good guy. He was a really good guy."
Those who knew him said Schaub decided late in his career to become a motorcycle deputy but it was something he couldn't wait to do.
"He used to ride beforehand," said Deputy David Roberts. "We would do escorts for charities and he would be in there for the charities before he got in motors on his personal bike. He was a great rider then and he's a great rider right now."
Roberts said Schaub was one of his first training officers when he joined BSO a decade ago.
"He was very involved," Roberts said. "He loved his job. You could tell from day one. He did everything the right way."
Schaub was part of a law enforcement legacy. Schaub's father was an officer in New Jersey and Schaub's son, Tim, works for BSO.
Schaub's friends and colleagues say BSO lost a brother.
"Police work was his life," said Sgt. Michael Devita, who worked with Schaub in BSO's detective unit. "It's what we all do. We get into this line of work not for the pay and benefits but because we enjoy what we do."
Deputy Schaub also leaves behind a daughter and several siblings.
The funeral for Deputy Schaub will be held Tuesday at Calvary Chapel in Fort Lauderdale at 11 am.
The procession leaves Kraeer Funeral Home around 10 in the morning.
The procession will continue through Pompano Beach, make a brief stop at City Hall on Atlantic Boulevard, head south on Powerline Road and end at Calvary Chapel.
For several hours in the morning roads will be shut down and traffic could be tied up.
