PHOENIX — Officials with the Phoenix Police Department announced on Tuesday that one of the department's sergeants died.
Sergeant Tom Craig, who had been on the force for 26 years, died on Sept. 3 due to a "medical issue," according to officials.
Sgt. Craig was a loving father and husband, who supported his kids and enjoyed helping people in the neighborhood and community.
"He lived his life to its fullest, no matter what. Nothing was going to get in his way. His family was his number one. He really just worked to support them and give them whatever they wanted in life," said K'Lee Arredondo-Forbes, a family friend of Craig.
Arredondo-Forbes coached Craig's twin girls in high school softball, but also shared the same career, being a Tempe Police officer.
"We would talk about work and the differences with Tempe and Phoenix. I would always give him a little bit of crap about when are you retiring...and the last time we talked, he had about a year and a month left," said Arredondo-Forbes. "His lifelong dream was to buy an RV and travel with his wife. And that's what he was looking forward to."
A memorial for Sgt. Craig shows just how many people he impacted on and off duty. He could be both serious as a law-enforcement officer but was just as likely to photobomb a picture with a silly expression.
The family confirmed to ABC15 that Sgt. Craig's death was due to issues related to COVID-19, with the virus taking "him within a month."
