May 5, 2004 – Police Officer Cuthbert Chapman was laid to rest on Wednesday in a solemn ceremony attended by hundreds of friends and family.
About a hundred fellow officers, in full dress uniform, their badges marked with black mourning sashes, stood silently saluting their fallen comrade. Flags flew at half-staff as people across the territory remembered the policeman affectionately called "Kimba."
Family members and friends began gathering at Government House in Christiansted early Wednesday morning for the first public viewing of the body. Police officers and other law-enforcement personnel filed past the casket, some saluting, some stoic, others overcome with emotion. Chapman was the first police officer killed in the Virgin Islands since 1991.
Following the Government House viewing Chapman's body was transported to Peter's Rest Seventh-day Adventist Church for the a second viewing and the funeral service. Traffic was briefly halted as the procession of more than 30 vehicles wound its way through the streets of Christiansted.
At the church, the main hall and balcony were quickly filled as hundreds of mourners arrived to pay their last respects to the officer who gave his life protecting innocent bystanders.
Chapman died on April 26, nine days after being hospitalized with gunshot wounds sustained in an April 17 robbery attempt at the Wendy's restaurant in Sunny Isle Shopping Center, where he was working as an off-duty security officer.
Born on St. Kitts on Sept. 22, 1958, Chapman moved to St. Croix when he was 2 years old. He attended St. Croix Seventh-day Adventist School and graduated from Central High School in 1977. He received a degree in electronics technology from Augusta Technical School in Augusta, Ga. A 12-year veteran of the police force, he was married and the father of four sons.
In his funeral message, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull expressed sorrow for Chapman's family and outrage at the "cowardly attack" that caused the officer's death. Chapman's "heroic actions prevented greater loss of life due to his courageous reaction under frightening, tragic and hostile circumstances," Turnbull said.
Police Commissioner Elton Lewis remembered Chapman as an officer with an immense sense of personal pride, a gentle spirit and a commitment to professional standards. "These characteristics will serve as the guiding light for the changes desperately needed," Lewis stated.
A drive to raise money for a family relief fund and a reward fund was initiated on April 29. As of Wednesday, $31,000 had been received for the family relief fund and $20,000 for the reward fund.
As of Wednesday, no suspects had been arrested. Lewis said he would enlist federal assistance, if needed, to bring those responsible for the killing to justice.
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