Local police officers are remembering the late Paxton Police Chief Robert Mortell, who was killed in the line of duty 30 years ago Thursday.

Mortell was responding to a group of armed burglary suspects in Holden when he and his tracking dog spotted the men and followed them into the woods near Route 31. Mortell was shot at nearly a dozen times and struck twice.

Former Paxton Police Chief Bob Desrosiers was a patrolman at the time. He recalls Mortell as a funny guy who also took his job seriously.

"He loved police work so much,” Derosiers said. “He loved to catch bad guys. He took his job so seriously. He wanted everyone in town to sleep safe.

“I'm thinking of everybody that misses him and hurts just as much as I do 30 years later. All his friends, all his family. Bobby, we all miss you."

Michael Souza was convicted of first-degree murder in Mortell's death and can't seek parole. Jamie Richards, was convicted of second-degree murder and was denied parole last year. Kenneth Padgett was also convicted of second-degree murder, but was granted parole in 2023.