Former Chapel Hill police officer Tom Mitchell has passed away.

After service 16 years on the force, Mitchell was medically retired in 2011 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

This December, just before Mitchell was placed into hospice care, he told his mother the only thing he wanted for Christmas was “the police department.”

Police officers from around the country responded, sending in hundreds of mementos, from patches and badges to blankets, helmets, and handcuff keys.

You can read about that here.

Longtime friend and fellow officer Eric Dallin delivered the care packages to Mitchell shortly before years end.

Mitchell passed away on Monday.  The visitation is Wednesday from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home in Sanford. The services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Center United Methodist Church in Sanford.

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