Police Chief dies while attending Police Chief Conference

MARSHALLVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The city of Marshallville is mourning the loss of its police chief.

“Chief Wheeler was dedicated to his job, he was one of those that loved policing,” says Marshallville Assistant Police Chief Darrin Simpson.

Marshallville Police Chief Jarques Wheeler went to Savannah for a police chief conference last week and fell ill while staying at the Holiday Inn hotel in Savannah. He called 911, according to Simpson.

When paramedics arrived, they found Wheeler unresponsive in his hotel room. He was taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center and placed on life support, added Simpson.

“His family met with us in Marshallville yesterday and they talked to us briefly, but after the meeting they called two hours later and said they were informed he had gotten worse,” continued the Assistant Police Chief.

Wheeler’s family took him off life support Tuesday, and he died around 9:30 p.m.

Chief Wheeler was from Unadilla and was a Fort Valley State University graduate. He also had a masters degree from Albany State University.

Lt. Anthony Brown has been friends with Chief Wheeler since grade school. He says he respected Wheeler’s authority.

“Although he was the boss, he was willing to listen, because we all have a level of experience that we can help each other as well as the community,” says Brown.

Marshallville Mayor Bill Massey says he and his staff are still in shock.

“He’s a part of our family,” says Massey. “He’s been here for two years as our chief of police. He’s doing a great job, and it just hurts me, he was only 42-years-old and that’s too young to have something like this happen.”

Chief Wheeler was very active in the community. He supported education and teaching children safety.

Fort Valley State University head start program instructor, Jannetta White says Chief Wheeler taught her students safety rules.

“It was exciting for the children, and the chief was just as excited as they were,” says White. “When we would go out to the playground Chief Wheeler would meet us there sometimes. He would talk to them about different things. He would ask different ones ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?'”

As the city mourns, residents say Chief Wheeler’s legacy will never be forgotten.

Funeral arrangements for Chief Wheeler are pending.