Tears hovered in the eyes and voices of city and police officials Wednesday as they remembered the life of Aberdeen Police Corporal Bret Ellis, who died after a long battle with cancer.
Police badges were banded with two black ribbons with a blue one in the middle, a mark of mourning for one of their own.
Aberdeen Deputy Police Chief Dave Timmons bit back tears as he remembered the life of Bret Ellis. Timmons may have done the background checks both on rookie officer Ellis and the woman who would become his wife, (former Aberdeen) police officer Becky Ellis when they were young cops who fell in love at work.
“He was an amazing officer, a lot like his Dad” (former Aberdeen Police Chief) Bill Ellis, said Timmons.
“You knew when Bret Ellis was at work because the coffee was like mud,” Timmons said, illuminating the life of the 19-year-veteran vividly as mourning can.
Tears filled the eyes of Finance Director Kathryn Skolrood. “He was so easy to work with … he had the greatest smile,” she said. He was only 45, and one of the very few police officers in Aberdeen to die so young, she added.
Chief Bob Torgerson’s eyes reflected deep sadness as he spoke of a department that is grieving the loss of “our very dedicated officer and friend.”
“The Aberdeen Police Department is saddened and grieves the loss of Bret Ellis. Our hearts and love go out to the Ellis family.” he added.
Timmons said Torgerson wrote a letter asking that Ellis’s badge number, 2-Lincoln-5, which stands for Aberdeen, Corporal, number 5 in police lingo, to be retired. To stand alone in time in memory of Bret Ellis.
Capt. John Green directed those wanting to contribute to a memorial fund for the Ellis family to gofundme.com, a crowdfunding site for friends.
Once at the site, type in the words Team Ellis and a smiling Ellis, proudly holding a giant fish, will pop up. By 11 p.m., 333 Facebook friends had contributed $3,100. Donations can also be made at Twin Star Credit Union under the Aberdeen Police Guild account.
Mayor Bill Simpson choked up several times as he remembered the Ellis family, who have lived next door to him for years. During his remarks at the Aberdeen City Council meeting, he recalled the delight of the children as (former chief) Bill Ellis would toss a large salmon over the fence on returning from a family fishing trip.
The mayor asked for a moment of silence in memory of his neighbor’s son.
A graduate of Aberdeen High School, Ellis also served in the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, his two young children, his father and mother and many others in his personal and professional family.
Close family surrounded Ellis at the end, according to his friends. He was in hospice care after bouts of chemotherapy for the protracted cancer that had been discovered during a surgical procedure.
“He was a well respected member of the Aberdeen Police Department who represented his family, (the) City of Aberdeen, and the Aberdeen Police Department at the highest level at all times. He was a wonderful man, Husband, Father, and Police Officer and will be sorely missed,” wrote Capt. Green on behalf of the members and families of the department.
Services are still being planned.
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