Rocky Mount Police remember Jason Maxey

By Candice Nelson
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: October 13, 2008

We’re learning more about the life of a local police officer who was killed in a crash over the weekend while he was off duty.

Roanoke Police say Rocky Mount Police Officer, Jason Maxey, 34, died when his car and another car crashed around 2 a.m. on Saturday on Route 220 just past the Elm Avenue exit.

Maxey just finished his sixth year with the police department in September.  Lt. Bill Engel said it’s tough for the department.

“It’s not every day that you lose somebody that you work with, especially when you lose a real good friend like Jason was to everybody,” he said.

The flags at the department are half-staff to remember a man who was working his way up for Rocky Mount.

“He was also starting to spearhead a lot of investigative work to a different level.  I mean, he was advancing very much within the department; he was one of our senior patrolmen,” Engel said.

The Rocky Mount Police Department is making many of the funeral arrangements. At the request of the family, Maxey’s service will focus on his time there as an officer. He also served the country.
 
“He’s a national guardsmen; he was also in the Navy. He has several friends in the Roanoke Valley and even outside the state of Virginia. So we’re anticipating quite a few coming from different agencies,” Engel said about the funeral service.

All to support a family who lost their only child – a man who supported so many others on the force.

The other man involved in the accident, Brooks Leisure, 25, is listed in fair condition. No charges have been filed yet, and the cause is still under investigation.

Maxey’s funeral will be held on Sunday at Franklin County High School at 2 p.m.