CHULA VISTA, Calif. — A beloved police officer in Chula Vista died Friday evening after a short battle with a rare cancer, police Chief Roxana Kennedy announced in a release.
Assistant Chief Phil Collum was a "trailblazer" during his 29 years in the Chula Vista Police Department, "recognized from the beginning as an extremely intelligent leader and hard worker," a news release from the department said. He worked throughout his career to connect the department to the community and bring innovation to policing.
He died surrounded by family and friends, including his husband, William Lopez, according to a news release from the police department.
"Collum will be remembered not only for all of his accomplishments and charitable works, but also for being an amazing husband, loyal friend, and passionate leader," the release said. "He was a true hero in every sense, and he will be greatly missed by his family, the community, and the Chula Vista Police Department."
Collum was born in Alexandria, Virginia, but mostly grew up in San Diego. He started working in law enforcement during college in Santa Cruz, first as a Community Service Officer and later as a police officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department. He returned to the San Diego region in 1994, when he joined the Chula Vista Police Department.
Collum went on to become the first African-American to serve in the department as a police lieutenant, police captain and assistant chief of police.
He led the creation of a Community Engagement Division in 2022 to help maintain strong relationships with the Chula Vista community and bridge gaps between marginalized communities and law enforcement. He was active in the community in his personal life, too, volunteering along with his husband, William Lopez.
“I find excitement in being part of a team making positive change for my community and for those around me," he told the LGBTQ San Diego County News in 2021.
He helped the police department modernize through using innovative police technology, the release said.
Collum won several awards throughout his career that spanned many roles at the department. He was named one of the 2023 Persons of the Year by LGBTQ San Diego County News, won the 2015 Department Exceptional Service Award, received the 2015 Department Exceptional Service Award and more.
Outside of the department, Collum served on the Board of Directors for his church and traveled monthly with Lopez to Tijuana to volunteer at orphanages with the Corazon de Vida Foundation.
A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 20 at Eastlake Church.
In lieu of flowers, Collum's family is asking people to contribute to a scholarship fund in his legacy. The Phillip Collum Scholarship Fund aims to provide university tuition to young people Collum became close with over the years. It was set up in partnership with Corazon de Vida, which supports orphans and abandoned children in Baja, Mexico.