Officer Christopher Russell Marano

Officer Christopher Russell Marano | Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona
Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona
Officer Christopher Russell Marano

Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona

End of Watch Thursday, December 17, 2009

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Christopher Russell Marano

Officer Chris Marano was struck and killed by a patrol car involved in a vehicle pursuit as he laid out spike strips.

Members of the Arizona Department of Public Safety attempted to stop a vehicle bearing stolen license plates. The vehicle failed to stop and fled. A pursuit ensued, reaching speeds of over 100 Miles Per Hour. Officer Marano was laying out spike strips on Loop 101, near 56th Street in Phoenix, when he was struck and killed by a patrol car involved in the pursuit.

The pursuit continued and the suspect was eventually located by a canine after she bailed out of her vehicle. In September 2011 the woman was found guilty of murder and two other charges in connection with Officer Marano's death and was sentenced to serve her natural life in prison.

Officer Marano had served with the Arizona Department of Public Safety for 3-1/2 years. He is survived by his wife and four daughters.

Bio

  • Age 28
  • Tour 3 years, 6 months
  • Badge 6759

Incident Details

  • Cause Vehicle pursuit
  • Weapon Automobile
  • Offender Convicted of murder

spike strips, stolen vehicle, vehicle pursuit

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I am a School Resource Officer in Wickenburg, AZ and I only know of the life and service of DPS Officer Christopher Marano because 3 of his 4 daughters are students in our school District, Saleen and Savanna are in high school and Bella is at our middle school. I recently met Bella and Christopher's widow, Shelly at one of Saleen's Volleyball games. Shelly is working as a K-9 handler for a hospital system and the girls are wonderful, very involved in school, Sananna is active in our Police Explorer unit.

I didn't know Bella when I first met her a the Volleyball game when she bounced down from the bleachers when she saw me in uniform and came right over and thanked me for my service. I thanked her for her support and she continued to come back and tell me her name and we became friends. She then introduced me to her mom and that is when I learned that she was Savanna and Saleen's sister. It all became clear at that point why she had picked me out and why she was so friendly. Bella is Italian for beautiful and the name befits her.

I'm writing this reflection so that Christopher, and his fellow DPS officers and friends, may somehow learn about the love and beauty of the family he left behind. As an SRO in their schools, I am looking over them with admiration.

Joe LaheyOfc. SRO
Wickenburg Police Dept.

November 10, 2020

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