A US Capitol Police recruit from Westchester County was killed and five others were badly injured over the weekend in a Georgia car crash that took place while they were off duty.
Christopher Katz, 22, of Crompond, died from his injuries several hours after the Saturday night wreck, Georgia State Patrol told The Brunswick News.
Katz’s mother, Lillian Ojeda-Katz, told the outlet in an email that her son “always wanted to be a protector of the people” and had graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a degree in criminal justice and served in the US Army Reserves as Military Police.
The six recruits had joined USCP last November and were in the Peach State for instruction at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, 75 miles south of Savannah.
“We were devastated to learn that a fatal car crash in Glynn County, Georgia took the life of one of our recruit officers over the weekend,” US Capitol Police said in a statement.
“We have wellness resources available for our entire Department during this difficult time.”
“It is a tragic day with the news that several USCP recruits were involved in that fatal accident while in Georgia and are dealing with serious injuries,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle (D-NY) said in a joint statement Monday.
“Each and every day, the Capitol Police put their lives on the line to ensure that the United States Congress, the crown jewel of representative Democracy, can safely do the people’s work.”
Lawmakers are planning to pay tribute to Katz on Tuesday when the House of Representatives returns from recess.
Officials say that a Jeep Wrangler carrying the recruits flipped over after it was struck by a Ford Escape that was trying to make a left turn off the F.J. Torras Causeway, but failed to yield the right of way.
Katz and two other passengers were ejected from the Jeep as a result of the wreck, according to The News.
