Authorities: Officer’s body recovered after police cruiser goes into Mobile River
UPDATE: Authorities said the body of an Alabama Port Authority police officer has been recovered after her police cruiser plunged into the Mobile River early Thursday morning.
Port Police Officer Kimberly Sickafoose died while on patrol, the Alabama State Port Authority reported.
Mobile Fire-Rescue crews and Mobile police responded after the cruiser went into the river at about 2:30 a.m. A search-and-rescue operation resulted in the discovery of the officer’s body in the vehicle.
“The thoughts, prayers, and support of the entire Port community are with her family,” Port Authority spokeswoman Maggie Oliver said in a statement.
Port Authority Director John Driscoll wrote in an email to employees that Sickafoose “always had a kind word, a smile, and a story to share (usually about her family or beloved labrador retrievers). She was a bright light and will be deeply missed.”
Oliver said the port police hired Sickafoose in 2016. Before that, she was the police chief of the Silverhill Police Department in Baldwin County, where she was known Kim Wasdin.
Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack noted Sickafoose’s passing at an event Thursday honoring fallen law enforcement officers.
“We lost another officer this morning in Mobile with the Alabama Port Authority Police Department,” he said. “Please keep her family in your prayers.”
The Port Authority statement reads, in part:
“The thoughts, prayers, and support of the entire Port community are with her family.
“In an email to staff earlier this morning, Director Driscoll shared, ‘Officer Sickafoose always had a kind word, a smile, and a story to share (usually about her family or beloved labrador retrievers). She was a bright light and will be deeply missed.’
“Grief counseling services are available for Port Authority employees. While an investigation of the incident is ongoing, there is no evidence of foul play or any danger to the public.”
Updated at 4:08 p.m. with additional information.
Reporter Brendan Kirby contributed to this report.
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EARLIER STORY:
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A search and rescue operation was mounted this morning after an Alabama Port Authority police cruiser plunged into the Mobile River, according to authorities.
This happened about 2:30 a.m., and Mobile Fire-Rescue crews and Mobile police responded.
FOX10 News will have more on this developing story.
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