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Afghan crash victim recalled

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By RAY REYES

rreyes@tampatrib.com

Published: October 29, 2009

TAMPA - Former Hillsborough County Deputy Chad Michael wanted to help society by bringing criminals to justice.

Michael was pursuing that goal Monday when a helicopter crash in western Afghanistan claimed his life and the lives of two other special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Michael, a native of Pennsylvania who moved to Florida to jump-start a career in law enforcement, was 30.

"At first it didn't seem real," Hillsborough sheriff's communication training supervisor Alex Diaz said. "To have somebody with his whole career in front of him, to have it end like that, it's very upsetting."

Michael was a patrol deputy from 2001 to 2004, and his performance evaluations from that time showed nothing but exemplary and satisfactory marks. Supervisors noted that Michael had "an untiring work ethic," that he was "aggressive and eager to prove himself" and develop investigative skills, according to the documents.

He received commendations for foiling burglaries, arresting car thieves and testifying against a man said to be an aggressor in a domestic violence case.

Colleagues noticed a fire in Michael that eventually would lead him far from the streets of Tampa.

"He was a very ambitious guy," Diaz said. "He wanted to get his experience out on the streets, then move to a federal agency. He had aligned himself to do that."

DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark Trouville said Michael was assigned to the Miami office for six years and left in September to join a team that targets opium production in Afghanistan.

DEA operations to disrupt drug distribution networks and destroy poppy fields in the region began in 2005. The country is the world's largest producer of opium, the raw ingredient in heroin, and the drug trade is a major source of funding for insurgent groups.

Michael, his fellow DEA agents and seven U.S. troops were returning from a raid Monday at a compound thought to be harboring insurgents tied to drug trafficking when the military helicopter crashed, officials said.

For much of his life, Michael dreamed of being in law enforcement, according to his personnel file.

"I found law enforcement exciting and thought-provoking," Michael wrote in his job application for the sheriff's office. He listed his interests and hobbies as playing sports and "being tactical."

Michael's future began taking shape during his teen years as a firefighter for the Hughesville (Pa.) Volunteer Fire Department. Michael responded to fire and rescue calls at age 16 and drove ambulances at 18, Fire Chief Steven Stiger wrote in a recommendation letter to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

The fire chief added that Michael was trustworthy and showed competence and strong character.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920.

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