From Deseret News archives:
North Salt Lake officer dies of injuries
On Monday morning officer Charlie Skinner, 30, suffered severe head injuries after crashing his patrol car into the concrete base of a restaurant sign during a police pursuit. His twin babies were only 3 weeks old, and he was just settling into the new house he had bought with his wife.
Friday evening, just after 7 p.m., Skinner was removed from life support.
Sgt. Gary Koehn with the Bountiful Police Department, who is Skinner's father-in-law, told the Deseret News that he was surprised when Skinner began showing an interest in law enforcement, but once Skinner had his uniform, it all made sense.
"He liked the sense of duty," Koehn said. "He loved the uniform and being visible as a source of help to his community."
William Fisher, 30, was the man police officers were pursuing the night of Skinner's crash. Later, Fisher rolled his vehicle in Salt Lake City. He was not seriously injured and is in the custody of state corrections officers for investigation of stealing a car, a series of warrants and a probation violation, said Sgt. Mitch Gwilliam with the North Salt Lake Police Department.
Koehn was at the scene of his son-in-law's accident on Monday morning, and he recalls seeing the pictures of his two young grandchildren among the wreckage.
"He only had his kids for three weeks," Koehn said. "But for those three weeks he never wanted to set them down. They would sit and play for hours. Even at work he took those kids with him in his thoughts."
Skinner had always been a soft-spoken man with a great sense of humor, Koehn said. But as Skinner settled into his work with the police, Koehn saw Skinner come out of his shell. Then Skinner had his kids and, Koehn said, "he beamed with joy as a father."
Tragedies such as this are never easy for a department, Gwilliam said. It is difficult for the officers to return home to their wives and kids, knowing that another officer can't.
"This has been pretty traumatic for the department," Gwilliam said. "We had an officer die doing the work he said he'd do."
The various departments that cover Davis County have a history of working closely together, Koehn said. As Skinner lay unconscious in his hospital room, it wasn't uncommon to find a group of officers, as many as 50, sitting in the waiting room outside.
A bank account to assist the Skinner family has been set up at Zions Bank in the officer's name, Gwilliam said.
E-mail: cnorlen@desnews.com
Recent comments
Pray for the family of the lost officer. Pray for the living who...
Hollywood love? | Nov. 9, 2008 at 11:42 p.m.
I am so sorry for your loss. May God be with you and the family.
Skippy | Nov. 9, 2008 at 5:27 p.m.
And how do you know that Brent and Lola aren't supporting them with a...
Re: To Brent & Lola | Nov. 9, 2008 at 1:22 p.m.
- Haws playing like a veteran 12:36 a.m.
- Hot Rod behind mic for Lakers 12:35 a.m.
- Jazz go up against 'the best' 12:33 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:26 a.m.
- Bobcats stun high-flying Nuggets 12:23 a.m.
- Utes finally get to host Michigan 12:18 a.m.
- Flash apologize, offer refund 12:12 a.m.
- Editorial: Leave the economy alone 12:12 a.m.
- Dishonest global warming scientists 12:12 a.m.
- Tensions in Ceuta 12:12 a.m.
- BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
- Yet again, we learn BCS is a big joke
- Snow brings big chill
- Cougars in better mood about bowl
- Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
- Williams' late jumper tops Spurs
- Ranking the bowl games
- $2M error could mean layoffs
- Witness: Mitchell stalked victims
- Expert calls Mitchell delusional
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
278 - Letters: Global warming a lie
214 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
205 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
165 - Cougars going back to Vegas
148 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
143 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
119 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
110 - Harpring's NBA career is over
99 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
99
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer Joyce Gannon offers the following advice...
It will be good to hear "real play by play or even as analyst with Joel...
i hope hot rod gets confused while doing the play by play and thinks he's...
The BCS bowl team match-ups aren't what you think. First, yes the top two...
Even Ed Gein was found competant to stand trial.
So Bronco's okay with the churches "standard bearers" spewing hatred. Wierd....
By putting TCU & Boise together that means that the other 3 BCS games will...
Ticky... Tacky...
The DNews requests the lists from the region coaches. Ask your coaches why...
This story brings back memories of an Ogden base ball team, who promiced if a...
GO UTES!!!


