Read the obituary for Chicopee police officer Angela Santiago
The 33-year-old was killed in a motorcycle crash in Connecticut while off-duty.
Loved ones and colleagues are mourning the death of a six-year veteran of the Chicopee Police Department, who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Connecticut while she was off-duty.Angela Santiago, 33, died Tuesday. At the time of her death, she was assigned as the school resource officer at Chicopee High School, according to the police department.“Our hearts are hurting … we will never forget Angela,” the department said in announcing her death.
https://www.facebook.com/ChicopeePoliceDepartment/posts/1403627263156730?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBFDueD2QnepheDQAyqIdFP1sCcpdo429dfRzSxWlMjym3gpLwBK2-r6cJ8EJ_CrGEUrCZtyewhpgvIuwHKKWCefiYrMj0j65VivsnDyKLQlHuvIwsV7WV3MYq8YtqxrsBazgxyXLuCBWotW33x0osNEbxHTp3CWZnqsA3v_G_O79kwevSmgaOOW2NBhZi8QxXWbt8AjiFT6B4kXbGIhI03fslTXDuWIa_SclJePurvT0FV0Yps2QsvP_7qhx__A6-T12toim0EtsP_03EjPonCLIJxqueNnvFOthSjW01Zm4Vty2ccuQ_L8Lq2Ug7c5Z31qrObAF7zZOIp2Jn-zGu2dQ&__tn__=-R
https://www.facebook.com/ChicopeePoliceDepartment/photos/a.278670595652408/1403947243124732/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCT0liu8LfzX-meOiakyCD-nMxfCyKqBKCOk0sErK33FLQHiX710T05kIp4SRUq7yldtGZDhWfsIepjZajWs9Tgq9JxALCwTDgRHTc56tqmodEx6oSjTbRie9Z0swAnJq6XK3ybTMSJgpsPd-BeEoa391gOZUs8W_f3WhMgAmwYmOonniCX1ZZK2ZyVK7HO0PDmrjlojt-FF5r4vnXEsHJQqVOHWwyIjkgj9JyfM3CbdH5wD-h3FtrZj323F0VBOFvOmGM48K-xWfVWAID0HVZvA73E2kTFaYdT39o9cQ32P0kcRL9gnCzomGImXMoDszVTfyX2zIrITOIwipzyTWzM-Q&__tn__=-R
https://www.facebook.com/ChicopeePoliceDepartment/videos/370190333955613/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBeY0MtlUBQal9JnJJ0UJbSIXL5PPxPRmjhxZbYdFC-Ij5C6-bVk8L2Ckjt9ES3qwkrDcLH1nnak2Xj-nJSb-22suLhQcvDLN9Og_Hkuqpi4fKleqVHGzcGkUx67mvFwMZfumTb5Jur6x2T4hIXRRM1xonGROBKHY-HMJ64_74pD9oScg7fhWkAZfMqERnIEXnD8jSsi072QVyKPPVkWwL9He-pBtLeWI5ap0YXezelFhqQi2RU28TdRssIhc5juwhov_515MTN9UN5pBAblOfp3TzFz2wuRbnC9WYqrVmtlgEKK8eWcuoayJ7Obxet8F292kZteMWm5sjfWSf9AbYpepqrW-4KT5VfMQ&__tn__=-R
According to her obituary, Santiago was a graduate of Chicopee High School and joined the U.S. Army in 2005. She served until 2019 and was a veteran of the Iraq War, her loved ones wrote.
“Angela is a decorated soldier, with an extensive military background to include multiple deployments and missions, Air Assault School and Army Combatives school just to name a few,” they wrote. “Angela also earned the top fitness score during her basic combat training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, where she still holds the record.”
Connecticut police are still investigating the circumstances around the crash that killed the Chicopee officer, MassLive reports. The investigation so far indicates that for an unknown reason, while exiting Interstate 91 southbound at Exit 44 in East Windsor, Santiago lost control of her motorcycle and struck a concrete jersey barrier in the median.
Chicopee Police Chief William Jebb described Santiago as always smiling and very outgoing, the outlet reports.
“She was young and very energetic and very involved in her community,” he said. “She was everything you would want in a police officer.”
Angela Santiago.
Read the full obituary for the 33-year-old officer, shared by Grise Funeral Home, below:
Angela Santiago, age 33, passed away unexpectedly on June 16, 2020. She was born on June 2, 1987 in Springfield, Mass. Daughter of Raphael F. Santiago and AnnMarie Correa. Angela was a graduate of Chicopee High School, Class of 2005. She attended college briefly before enrolling in the United States Army. She served from 2005-2019 and was an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran. Angela then worked for the Chicopee Police Department as a School Resource Officer. In 2018 she was honored with a Save Award and in 2019 she had received a Certificate of Recognition for efforts in saving a human life. Angela is a decorated Soldier, with an extensive military background to include multiple deployments and missions, Air Assault School and Army Combatives school just to name a few. Angela also earned the top fitness score during her basic combat training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, where she still holds the record. She is survived by her father Raphael F. Santiago and his wife Kathleen of Springfield; her mother AnnMarie Correa and her husband Pedro of Ludlow; her Godparents Bobby and Maggie; her siblings, twin sister and best friend Shavonne Santiago and her partner Samantha Langevin of Chicopee; brothers, Jeremy McGarry of Chicopee, Nathan Correa and his wife Dominique of Chicopee and Joshua Santiago and his partner Alyssa of Chicopee; sisters, Tatyana Correa and her partner Joel Perez of Chicopee, Brittany Santiago and her partner Dave Markham of Springfield, Bethany Santiago of Springfield and Chrystina Tillinghast and her partner Juan Gonzales of Springfield. She also leaves her beloved girlfriend Lauren David of Springfield and their beloved K-9 fur-baby Malikai, Godchildren Leo-Kai and Charlotte along with many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, extended family, friends and co-workers who will miss her dearly. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, June 21, 2020 from 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St., Chicopee. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club, 580 Meadow St., Chicopee, MA 01013.
To view the Live Streaming funeral ceremony please click Here.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com