APD officer involved in motorcycle crash passes away
*Update 9/6* The Greater Austin Crime Commission has established the Amir Abdul-Khaliq Family Fund to accept donations on behalf of his family. You can donate in two ways.
To make a secure online contribution use the "donate" link at austincrime.org.
You can also contribute in person at any Chase Bank location in Central Texas (you can find locations here) or via wire transfer. Please provide this information:
Greater Austin Crime Commission
Amir Abdul-Khaliq Family Fund
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Routing number 111000614
Account number 877696976
It has been a heartbreaking Labor Day for the Austin Police Department. One of their own, Senior Police Officer Amir Abdul-Khaliq, was laid to rest. He spent 17 years with the force and was most recently assigned to APD's highway enforcement command.
As they wear their uniform on Labor Day, it holds a different meaning. It's in honor of Senior Police Officer Abdul-Khaliq. He's a man that those who knew him said had the biggest heart.
"He always did the right thing. He would give you the shirt off his back if he had to," says Senior Police Officer Chris Frierson, Austin Police Department.
Not only is Officer Frierson a long-time friend, he was the first to respond to the accident scene.
It was September 1 when Abdul-Khaliq was guiding a funeral procession through North Austin. Police say a driver made an illegal left turn cutting through the procession and that's when Abdul-Khaliq was hit.
Abdul-Khaliq passed away on September 4. It's been hard for his brothers and sisters in blue.
"Just as a testament to the kind of person that he is: when he woke up on Thursday morning, had he known that he was going to be involved in a serious accident that day and later die on a Sunday, he still would have came to work that day. He still would have put his uniform on, come to work and did his job. That basically sums up the type of person that he is," says Frierson.
46-year-old Abdul-Khaliq was escorted from the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office to a mosque on Labor Day afternoon.
Hundreds of people were in attendance from police officers, to family, to friends, to members of the Muslim community.
One by one, they all lined up to say their goodbyes. Inside the mosque was filled to capacity for the service, a testament that he was loved and respected by many.
Then officers got back on their motorcycles to escort Abdul-Khaliq to his final resting spot, the Islamic Center for Greater Austin Cemetery.
"What stands out the most about him is that he is real true to his faith. I mean that speaks volumes about who he is and how he carries on his life," says Frierson.
Chief Art Acevedo met with Abdul-Khaliq at the hospital shortly after the crash. Chief Acevedo says Abdul-Khaliq was alert and talking, but within hours things took a turn for the worse. Abdul-Khaliq reportedly lost a lot of blood, prompting the family to call for donations.
Acevedo had hoped for a different outcome.
"He's a guy that you'll never hear anyone say anything bad about. Selfishly, I want this man to recover. We want him back on this department. He's a leader. He has a heart of a servant, the heart of a guardian. So we need him," says Chief Acevedo.
Moving forward, they know Abdul-Khaliq will forever be by their side.
The crash is still under investigation. Officers cited the woman for failure to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle.
APD released a statementregarding Abdul-Khaliq's death:
Despite his valiant fight, it is with deep and heavy hearts that early this evening Senior Police Officer Amir Abdul-Khaliq succumbed to his injuries from a motorcycle crash earlier in the week. Abdul-Khaliq has been with the Austin Police Department for 17 years and was most recently assigned to APD’s Highway Enforcement Command. Prior to joining APD, Abdul-Khaliq served in the Marines. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with his family. Officer Abdul-Khaliq was an individual that we all loved and served as a great role model for his children, his peers and our community.
The department appreciates all the tireless efforts that the staff from University Medical Center at Brackenridge Hospital provided and their heroic efforts. At this time, the details honoring Officer Abdul-Khaliq are being planned and when that information is available we will share with everyone. Thank you again to all who donated blood, provided support and offered prayers. Please continue to keep Abdul-Khaliq, his family and our APD family in your thoughts and prayers.