The high schooler didn’t care much for the grind of practice, said Sen. Joe Booth, R-Georgetown, his coach more than a decade ago. Instead, Spicer became the kicker for Sussex Central High School. But sitting on the sidelines and debating strategies and performances with the coach wasn’t enough. Booth said Spicer occasionally got the itch to mix it up on the gridiron.

“He could get in there and scrap, for sure,” said Booth, chuckling. “But I always thought Chad was more concerned about how others were doing, rather than himself.”

A native son of Georgetown, Spicer was born Aug. 23, 1980. He grew up in the heart of Sussex County, cutting grass with Sam Walker, his best friend, playing tee-ball and wrestling.

Kirk Rogers grew up and wrestled with Spicer. His father Dave coached both, but often told Spicer he was too nice to his opponents.

“He could get pinned in 20 seconds, no problem,” Kirk said. “He was just happy to be out there.”

He graduated Sussex Central in 1998. Allison Funds, who described Spicer as her high school sweetheart, said his infectious laugh made him popular among his classmates.

“It wasn’t like funny-dorky,” she said. “It was hearty. It was a good, hearty laugh.”

Funds said she met Spicer at a family friend’s 50th anniversary party. When Spicer asked her to dance, she was nervous she’d step on his feet – she had more than a few inches on him. Though you couldn’t tell it by looking at him, Funds said, he had a few moves up his sleeve.

“He could dance,” she said, laughing. “He could really tear it up.”

She said Spicer had an instinct for protection.

“His passion was for his family and friends,” she said. “He was very family-oriented. If Chad was your friend, you were set.”

She said it made him an even better father to Aubrey, his 3-year-old daughter.

“She was like his entire life,” Funds said.

Funds said Spicer’s home was a nexus for his friends, who would drop by even when he wasn’t home. As a grown man, he still brought friends by for a home-cooked meal.

Booth said Spicer’s family has roots deep in Georgetown. Spicer grew up alongside men and women he would eventually work with at Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI), Bridgeville Police Department and Georgetown Police Department. They were his neighbors. They were his friends.

Walker and Spicer spent autumns hunting deer together. He said Spicer’s popularity was natural. “He had a personality everyone was drawn to,” he said.

Booth said Spicer will be remembered for his inexhaustible kindness for other people.

“He joked and smiled, and that’s how he’ll be remembered – someone who could put a smile on your face,” Booth said.

A passion for police work

Funds said becoming a police officer was a longstanding ambition for Spicer.

“He always wanted to be a cop,” she said.

After graduating from Delaware Technical & Community College in 1999, Spicer worked as a correctional officer at SCI. Warden Mike DeLoy said Spicer worked irregular hours at first, filling in for officers on vacation.

It wasn’t long before Spicer rose in the ranks, eventually winning a slot on the institution’s emergency response team. He was a quick study, said DeLoy, and received a number of commendations. “To me, he was just a good, young officer,” he said. “He fit in very well here. Did a great job. Very recruitable.”

After three years at SCI, Spicer was hired by the Bridgeville Police Department. He developed a knack for spotting suspicious vehicles. On March 14, 2007, Spicer pulled over a Ford Explorer for speeding on Route 13. He noticed the driver was sweating and stammering. A search of the car revealed 5 pounds of marijuana and 208 grams of cocaine.

Funds said the bust thrilled Spicer. He had a sixth sense about drugs, she said, and aspired to work in drug interdiction.

“He didn’t tolerate users,” she said. “I’ve seen him write people off because of drugs.”

After a brief interlude in the Laurel Police Department, Spicer went to work as a patrolman with Georgetown Police Department. It was the last uniform he wore.

“We’re not used to this stuff,” Booth said of Spicer’s death. “But I wouldn’t have wanted any other officer to go in there for me.”