Colleagues remember fallen officer

Man killed in off-duty accident

By JOE GORMAN / Tribune Chronicle
YOUNGSTOWN — Work for officers in the Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit turned personal early Thursday when one of their own died in an accident on Salt Springs Road.

Detective Sgt. Rob Deichman, 40, who had been on the department for nine years, was killed after the unmarked police car he was driving ran into a semi hauling a water tank about 3:25 a.m. in the 2700 block of Salt Springs Road.

Deichman was off duty but drove a city car in case he had to answer a call, police Chief Jimmy Hughes said. Deichman was not answering a call when he was killed.

The driver of the semi, David Feliciano, 38, of Berlin Center, was not injured.

Because it was one of their own officers involved, Youngs-town police gave the investigation to troopers from the Canfield Barracks of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Still, a number of officers were huddled around Deichman’s computer Thursday, eyes red as they remembered Deichman, who had been a detective sergeant since January 2006.

His supervisor in the AIU, Detective Sgt. Patricia Garcar, said Deichman loved his job and worked either AIU or traffic details for almost his entire time on the force. She said Deichman wanted to go to school to specialize in accident reconstruction.

‘‘He loved doing what he did,’’ Garcar said.

Garcar also remembered a man who liked darts, was a fan of the Chicago Bears and was also always good for a laugh.

‘‘He does very good imitations of other people,’’ Garcar said. ‘‘Forty-year-olds aren’t supposed to die.”

Deichman was also the father of two daughters, and she said he spoke of them often.

Lt. William Rafferty, head of the Traffic Bureau, said, ‘‘If he was there (accident scene), he’d want to take the case and do the investigation.’’

Hughes said at a news conference attended by members of the state patrol and Mayor Jay Williams that Deichman was out earlier in the evening but he did not say where he was, only that it was a long time before the accident. He said Deichman was on duty Wednesday until about 4 p.m. Hughes also said it is not yet known if Deichman was wearing a seat belt. The officer was heading home when he was killed, Hughes said.

Deichman was traveling east on Salt Springs Road as the truck was pulling out of a drive when Deichman collided with it, Hughes said.

Coroner’s tests also will include toxicology tests, which are standard in any kind of fatal accident, Hughes said.

‘‘I don’t see a bad guy here in this accident,’’ Hughes said. ‘‘What happened here is an accident.’’

Lt. Chris Heverly of the state patrol said any information gathered in the investigation will be given to prosecutors, who will then decide if charges need to be filed.

Hughes said Deichman will be missed.

‘‘I think he was a great guy,’’ Hughes said. ‘‘He was fun. He was energetic. He loved his job.’’

Officers did not know that a colleague was involved in the accident until they arrived, Hughes said. He said counseling will be made available to them should they need it.

‘‘That’s a big blow. It’s a shock,’’ Hughes said.

Williams said his prayers are for Deichman’s family and he asked residents to pray for Deichman and other city workers who put their lives on the line. He said when the phone rang at his home with the news he knew before he picked it up the news wasn’t good.

‘‘Anytime the phone rings at 3 a.m. or somewhere around there you know the news isn’t good,’’ Williams said.

Garcar said Deichman is a native of Colorado. Hughes said he is survived by his parents and two siblings.



jgorman@tribtoday.com