Fremont police Capt. Fred Bobbitt was remembered Saturday morning as a person who beloved his household, beloved his neighborhood and will make a pal of anybody he met.
The favored police veteran died unexpectedly on Feb. 21 on the age of 54.
The Harbor Gentle Church in Fremont was packed for a “Celebration of Life” for Bobbitt. It was preceded by a service Friday evening in Tracy, the place he lived for greater than 30 years.
Lt. Michael Tegner, who began out with Bobbitt within the Fremont Police Division, used one phrase to explain his colleague and pal: Caring.
“Freddie cared about his household, his work household, victims, folks locally,” Tegner mentioned.
As soon as years in the past Bobbitt heard a pupil specific destructive feedback about police.
“That didn’t sit properly with Freddie,” Tegner mentioned.
So Bobbitt began the Constructing Bridges Program, the place law enforcement officials discuss to each sixth-grader within the Fremont Unified College District about their jobs after which work together with them on the playground afterward. Bobbitt would invariably shoot hoops with the scholars, Tegner mentioned. By this system, Fremont police have talked to about 12,000 sixth-graders through the years.
In reminiscence of his brother, Raymond Bobbitt urged these in attendance to “deliver the neighborhood and peace officers again collectively.”
Speaker after speaker described how Bobbitt had a present to make buddies of individuals he met for the primary time.
“Somebody final evening mentioned he by no means met a stranger, by no means,” Raymond Bobbitt mentioned.
To permit Fremont police to attend the companies, Hayward police and Alameda County sheriff’s deputies have been patrolling Fremont from 10 p.m. Friday by means of 6 a.m. Sunday.
Bobbitt was born in Oakland the place he attended elementary college after which Hopkins Center College and Mission San Jose Excessive in Fremont. He earned a bachelor’s diploma from Union College and a grasp’s diploma from American Army College. Whereas rising up he was an altar boy at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church and a Boy Scout at Allen Temple Baptist Church.
Bobbitt beloved sports activities, teaching his kids’s groups and attending all of their video games.
When he was in highschool, he satisfied his mom to permit him to change into an Explorer with the Fremont Police Division, beginning a 36-year profession with the company. Bobbitt labored in quite a lot of positions, together with as appearing police chief.
Bobbitt is survived by his spouse, Annabel; mom; three daughters; three sons; 4 grandsons; a brother; and a sister. His son, Frederick Michael Bobbitt, is a detective with the Fremont Police Division.
“Annabel was the love of his life,” the service program mentioned, “and he was the happiest in his dwelling life that he had ever been. Freddie’s legacy will eternally dwell on by means of his household, buddies, and numerous lives he touched in every single place he went.”
The Fremont Police Affiliation has began the Fred Bobbitt Memorial Fund to supply scholarships and academic assist for younger folks locally.