June 2025 marks ten years since Hutto police officer was killed
June 2025 marks ten years since Hutto Police Sgt Chris Kelley was killed
Kelley was run over by a suspect attempting to drive off with his patrol car
His legacy lives on in his family, coworkers and the Chris Kelley Foundation
HUTTO, Texas - The blue light that shines on Hutto Police Officer Chris Kelley's memory hasn't dimmed after 10 years.
Community members continue to honor the ultimate sacrifice he made.
The backstory
Kelley served in the United States Air Force and then eventually became a sergeant with the Hutto Police Department.
On June 24, 2015, Kelley was killed.
Law Enforcement officers to pay tribute to fallen Hutto Sgt. Chris Kelley
A hope for healing after the funeral of Sgt. Chris Kelley
Hutto PD honors fallen police officer Chris Kelley
Kelley was trying to arrest a man when the suspect got into the driver's seat of the patrol car and ran him over.
The man accused of killing him, Colby Williamson, went on trial in 2017. He was convicted and sentenced to prison.
What they're saying
"It means that his life is not going unnoticed, that his servant heart meant the world to the community, to the police department and to all of us just as much," Chris Kelley's widow, Michele Kelley, said.
An eternal blue glow burns not just in memory, but in gratitude.
"Everyone was drawn to Chris. I don't think Chris didn't have a friend in this police department," Hutto Police Department Lt. Josh Bellenir said.
Kelley was known for his sense of humor.
"He always kept things lively. There was never a dull moment," Lt. Bellenir said.
He was also known as a leader in the department.
"We all knew he was going to be a chief here one day," Lt. Bellenir said.
"I tell people that it feels like yesterday, but also feels like a lifetime ago," Kelley said about Chris's death.
She said it was a time when strangers were united by tragedy.
"I think that through the tragedy, though, people were able to embrace not only the police department and police officers as human beings, but it was also able to help them be served at hearts and for them to see some beauty in the tragedy," Kelley said.
Kelley's family in blue continues to remember him.
"His fingerprints, his memory, his legacy is on everything that we do in this department and what we have done and what we will continue to do," Hutto Police Department Chief Jeffrey Yorbrough said.
"We're never going to let his name be forgotten," Lt. Bellenir said.
Dig deeper
To continue his legacy, Michele started the Chris Kelley Foundation.
"We continue to help first responders and military members in need financially. We also provide school scholarships, so it means a lot to be able to help the next generation as well as help those who serve us each and every day," Kelley said.
They hold an annual 5K. This year's is on June 21st at 7:30 p.m. at the Brushy Creek Amphitheatre in Hutto. There will be live music, a silent auction, and a memorial for fallen officers.
"Just like the day that we brought Chris home, the community was there when we were heading to the Catholic Church. There wasn't a single empty space on the side of that road as we were escorting Chris to the church. The 5K is just as tremendous because all these years later, and we still see many of the same faces that were lined up along the road, holding the blue flags, wearing the shirts and yeah, 7610, that's a number that we don't forget," Lt. Bellenir said.
Though his shift is over, his courage lives on forever lit in blue.
"Sergeant Christopher Dan Kelly, end of watch June 24th, 2015," Kelley said.
The Source
Information in this report comes from reporting/interviews by FOX 7 Austin's CrimeWatch reporter Meredith Aldis.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump to expand push to whitewash ‘woke' museum exhibits on slavery
President Donald Trump reportedly plans to expand his push to whitewash 'woke' museum exhibits on slavery and American history beyond the Smithsonian. After Trump tweeted that the Smithsonian is too focused on 'how bad slavery was,' the White House said it would eventually seek to use its power over funding to force other museums to toe the line on Trump's views about history. Trump will hold the Smithsonian 'accountable' and 'then go from there,' an unnamed official told NBC News. Trump this week renewed the attack on the Smithsonian that he unleashed this month when he ordered a sweeping review of its exhibits, policies and staffing. He suggested the revered cultural institution, which is an independent organization but receives significant funding from the federal government, is too focused on the evils of slavery. 'The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our country is, how bad slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been,' Trump wrote on his social media site. 'Nothing about success, nothing about brightness, nothing about the future.' Trump compared the push against the Smithsonian to his effort to force colleges and universities to bow to his policy goals including ending diversity programs, cracking down on student protests and curbing foreign students. 'I have instructed my attorneys to go through the museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with colleges and universities where tremendous progress has been made,' Trump added. The White House ordered up a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions ahead of the country's 250th birthday, with a goal of aligning the institution's content with Trump's more-rosy interpretation of American history. In a letter sent Tuesday to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, the White House laid out in detail the steps it expects the organization to take as part of the announced review. The examination will look at all public-facing content, such as social media, exhibition text and educational materials, to 'assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals,' according to the letter. 'This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,' the letter said. The Smithsonian has said it's reviewing Trump's proposals and vowed to cooperate. It includes 21 museums, 14 education and research centers and a zoo and is considered the world's largest cultural organization of its kind.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
I sold $3K in gold via wire transfer, but then the buyer got their bank to reverse the payment. What can I do?
Buyer-beware scams are in the headlines every day, but a growing number of buyers are ripping off businesses by reversing charges on their purchases. This is a seller-beware scenario. Imagine you run a precious metals store and a customer wants to buy $3,000 worth of gold via wire transfer. You verify their identity, complete the sale and hand over the gold. All by the book, right? Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Not quite. A month later, the customer calls their bank to dispute the charge, claiming they were tricked into buying the gold by a third party. The bank is convinced by the customer's story, cancels the wire transfer and withdraws money from your merchant account, leaving you without payment — and your store down $3,000 worth of gold, which is hard to trace. The same thing can happen with customers who request the reversal of electronic fund transfers (EFTs) or credit card charges. Such transactions are called 'friendly fraud" or "chargeback fraud." The customer may indeed have been the victim of a scam, or be pulling off a scam themselves. Either way, your business is left with a loss. Unfortunately, it's not an uncommon occurrence, particularly for businesses dealing in precious gems and metals, which are frequently targeted in scams. Here's what happens and how to protect your business. Banks often side with customers in cases of alleged fraud Banks typically allow chargebacks or payment reversals only under certain conditions: Unauthorized transactions. The customer claims they didn't authorize the purchase. Billing errors. The charge was duplicated, incorrect, or charged in the wrong amount. Fraudulent activity. The purchase was made under false pretenses or through deception. Failure to receive goods or services. The item was never delivered, was defective, or didn't match the description. In many cases, banks default to protecting the consumer, especially when fraud is alleged. However, with wire transfers, often considered final and irreversible, the rules are more complicated and the reversal takes more time. Read more: Nervous about the stock market? Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you're not a millionaire. Some banks will allow customers to file a complaint and launch an investigation, especially if they claim they were defrauded or coerced into making a purchase. If the bank believes the customer acted in good faith, it may choose to reverse the charge, even if the merchant did nothing wrong. That's what makes this type of situation so frustrating for business owners. What to do if your business falls victim to this scam Once a bank reverses a wire transfer, it's tough to undo. So be proactive. If a bank contacts your business about potential fraud, respond promptly. Providing proof, such as receipts, can help your case before the funds are reversed. After funds are reversed, you still have a few options: Dispute the reversal. Provide documentation showing the customer authorized the purchase and received the goods. This could include signed receipts, invoices, tracking data, or even video footage. File a police report. If the customer's story involves criminal fraud, getting law enforcement involved may help clarify who's actually at fault. Seek legal action. If the bank won't reverse its decision, the business may consider small claims court or civil litigation to recover the funds. Consult with the bank. Each bank has its own internal process. Sometimes, escalating the issue to a higher level of review can change the outcome. To avoid issues in the future, consider implementing more advanced due diligence processes for high-dollar sales — especially for gems and precious metals, which are frequently targeted in scams. You can leverage technology in your business's fight against friendly fraud. A number of companies offer AI-based fraud prevention software, including Signifyd — designed to protect online retailers — and Arctic Intelligence. Arctic Intelligence advises training staff to identify questionable purchases. They should ask for proof of the source of funds for any big transaction, particularly with a new client, and report suspected money laundering to law enforcement. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump expands 50% tariff on steel and aluminum to 400 additional product types
The Department of Commerce announced that President Donald Trump's 50% tariff on imported steel and aluminum products has been expanded to cover more than 400 additional categories. The expanded tariff list, published Friday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and entered into the Federal Register on Tuesday, took effect Monday. The new duties now apply to a wide range of goods, including auto parts, electric vehicle components, railcars, marine engines, construction equipment, wind turbines, cranes, chemicals, plastics, and household items such as refrigerators, freezers, dryers, and furniture components. 'Today's action expands the reach of the steel and aluminum tariffs and shuts down avenues for circumvention — supporting the continued revitalization of the American steel and aluminum industries,' Jeffrey Kessler, Commerce Department Secretary for Industry and Security, said in a news release. The move follows petitions from U.S. steelmakers, including Cleveland-Cliffs and Nucor, urging the administration to broaden import duties to cover more derivative products. Industry experts said the expansion marks a significant shift in how steel and aluminum imports are regulated. 'Auto parts, chemicals, plastics, furniture components — basically, if it's shiny, metallic, or remotely related to steel or aluminum, it's probably on the list,' Brian Baldwin, vice president of customs at Kuehne + Nagel International AG, wrote on LinkedIn. In 2024, the U.S. imported nearly $33 billion worth of steel and aluminum, according to SteelRadar. Canada remains the largest supplier, followed by Brazil and Mexico. The Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) estimates the tariffs will affect 4.7% of Mexican exports to the U.S. 'Aluminum and steel are vital for the manufacture of products ranging from utensils to airplanes and railroad equipment,' IMCO researcher Isaac Cruz wrote earlier this year. 'U.S. manufacturers benefit from competitive prices that would be lost if tariffs were implemented; the same is true for American consumers and families.' Mexico has requested an exemption from the new tariffs. 'We're discussing the application of tariffs on steel products because they're stretching the boundaries and adding more things, and that could hurt us,' Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's economy secretary, said on Saturday, according to Opportimes. 'But, at the end of the day, what do we want to achieve? A position (on tariffs) for Mexico that's better than any other country.' The post Trump expands 50% tariff on steel and aluminum to 400 additional product types appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
