Captain Chad Allen Reed Sr., a dedicated officer with the Dixie County Sheriff's Office, tragically lost his life on January 14, 2010, in a shootout with a suspect wanted for multiple murders. Reed, who was 33 years old at the time of his death, was involved in an incident that began when the Hernando County Sheriff's Office issued an alert for a suspect involved in the murder of two elderly women and the shooting of two other women in Hernando County.
The suspect's vehicle was spotted in Dixie County, and deputies, including Captain Reed, began to follow it with the intention of stopping it in a rural area.
The situation escalated when the suspect suddenly pulled into a gas station and opened fire on the deputies. During the ensuing shootout, both Captain Reed and the suspect were wounded. They were transported to Shands Hospital, where Captain Reed succumbed to his injuries. The suspect, identified as John Kalisz, was later apprehended and faced multiple charges related to the incident.
In the aftermath of Captain Reed's death, John Kalisz was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. On February 10, 2011, Kalisz pled guilty to the murder of Captain Reed and was sentenced to life in prison. Additionally, in January 2012, Kalisz was convicted of the two murders in Hernando County and was subsequently sentenced to death. He remained on death row until his death in 2015.
Captain Reed's death was a significant loss to the Dixie County community, where he had served with honor for 13 years. He was a graduate of the FBI National Academy and was well-respected by his colleagues and the community. Reed is survived by his wife and two children, and his legacy continues to be honored by those who knew him.
