A celebration of life, with full police honors, were held at Eastlake Church on April 20 for Chula Vista Police Department Assistant Chief Phil Collum, Badge 544, who passed away on April 12 from a rare form of cancer. Collum served 29 of his 34-year law enforcement career with the CVPD. Collum was 54 years old.
Chief Roxane Kennedy said that this was something she never expected to have to do.
“How do you say goodbye to someone that you loved that I spoke with every single day and spent time with?” she said. “Phil was more than my second in command, he was my friend, my partner at work, William [Lopez] at home, me at work, my right hand, and my trusted advisor. As my assistant chief he was supposed to take my place one day and be called Chief Collum.”
Kennedy said Collum and she spent 29 years together at the CVPD.
“We often laughed, had fun together. It was a successful relationship,” she said. “Today is a testament that Phil was an exceptional person and was respected and admired by all who knew him. Phil loved the Chula Vista Police Department and gave his heart and soul to this organization and to our community. I know. I saw it every day. Phil put others before himself and was one of the most kind and compassionate individual that I have ever met.”
Kennedy said on April 4, they held an inspirational support rally for Collum at the police department.
“With just a two-day notice, hundreds of people showed up. Officers, firefighters, PD and professional staff, city employees and community members all lined the streets in the parking lot of the PD holding handmade signs of support to tell Phil how much they loved him. Little did anyone know that Phil would be admitted into the hospital immediately following the rally and placed in hospice. Phil was so happy to see everyone and during the rally he reached over to William, grabbed his arm and said, ‘Thank you.’ It was a beautiful tribute for a beautiful person,” she said.
Kennedy said Collum was diagnosed in November 2023 with a rare form of cancer, soft tissue sarcoma.
“Phil courageously battled this rare form of cancer, but after just five short months, God called him home,” she said. “Phil had the most amazing attitude as he battled this cancer, and I will never forget the day when Phil came into my office to share the news with me that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Phil, with his smile, always with a positive outlook, told me the cancer was stage 4. As he saw my expression, he tried to comfort me.”
Kennedy said Collum told her no matter what happened, it would be okay, and that he has lived a blessed life.
Kennedy said Collum’ police academy friends made a video that she was able to share with him the morning before he passed.
“This video was hilarious,” she said. “It was really fun for me to watch as old friends reminisced about their long-ago academy days. They shared that Phil would pick them up every day in his red Toyota supra and he only had two CDs in his car, En Vogue and TLC, and laughed as they mentioned by the end of the academy, they knew every song on those darn CDs. And then, all I could picture was seeing them all singing together ‘Don’t’ go Chasing Waterfalls.’”
Kennedy said when Collum returned to San Diego in 1994, it was a “lucky day” for the CVPD when he became Officer Collum. And how lucky for her when she was assigned as his field training officer. She said he was a “dream come true” for an FTO.
“Phil was recognized in the beginning as extremely intelligent and a hard worker,” she said.
“He developed a reputation of fairness and ethical professionalism that helped him rise through the ranks from officer, agent, to sergeant. Then as a true trailblazer, he became the department’s first Black lieutenant in 2009, police captain in 2018, and assistant chief of police in 2022. Phil was extremely proud of all his service and roles.”
Kennedy said Collum was passionate about his work as a law enforcement liaison with the San Diego Pride Parade, board member for the California Police Officers Association. He was also a member of the California Police Chiefs Association, and a member of the National Organization of Black Law Executives, also known as Noble, and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
“Through the years Phil received numerous accommodations from his peers, supervisors, and the community,” she said.
Collum received numerous letters of appreciation and commendations from his peers, supervisors, and the community. He was the recipient of the 1997 Scottish Rite Civic Award, the 1999 Elks Lodge Civic Award, the 1999 Veterans of Foreign War Civic Award, the 2007 Elks Lodge Civic Award, the 2015 Department Exceptional Service Award, and was named one of the 2023 Persons of the Year by LGBTQ San Diego County News. Collum also recognized by the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus as a 2023 Pride Honoree for his unwavering commitment and dedication to the LGBTQ+ community.
Kennedy went back to 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, where Collum soon received the nickname, “Captain COVID.”
“That was because of all his emails and instructions related to COVID,” she said. “No one wanted that title, but Phil gladly took it because he knew we needed to deal with this. During COVID, the world was evolving daily, and Phil took the lead in writing the COVID policies for the department that changed as we all know, daily.”
Kennedy said Collum left an indelible mark on the University of San Diego’s Law Enforcement and Public Leadership (MS-LEPSL) program.
“On April 12, before Phil passed away, from his bedside, William, John, and I were joined by Captain Nicholas from the La Mesa Police Department and Dr. Erik [Fritsvold], the academic director from USD. In recognition of his selfless investment in the success of others, the USD MS in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership program has made the decision to rename the LEPSL award for academic excellence as the Phillip Collum Award for Leadership and Academic Excellence.”
