Officer dies; police press manhunt

"It's a shame, in this day and age, that people go to that extreme to survive," he said of the robbery and killing. "Here's a man desperate enough that he'll shoot a cop. He'll shoot anyone."

Some residents expressed resentment of the intense police presence in West Oak Lane.

"It's harassment," said Ken Smith, 42, who was cruising the neighborhood on a scooter. "No way they can stop everybody. [The killer] is not around here anymore. I think they're just wasting taxpayer's money flying around here and breaking into people's houses."

Audrey Brooks, 47, a resident of 16th Street, was among those who were struck by the resources devoted to searching for the killer of a police officer, compared with the hunt for a more common homicide.

"At least I feel safe for a change with so many police officers," she said, as two patrol cars flew by with their lights flashing. "They stopped some boy right out here and patted him down."

Cassidy, the third Philadelphia police officer to be shot this week, was universally lauded for his decency and gentleness.

"He was a gentle giant," said Assistant District Attorney Richard Sax. "He was so tall in stature and so low-key and mannerly. I know he always remembered my first name when we'd pass in the halls, even five to 10 years after we prosecuted together."

In October 1995, Sax and Cassidy worked together on the trial of a cocaine user. It was during a police-corruption scandal involving some 39th Police District officers. Cassidy, then assigned to the 39th, found himself and his partner the targets of a defense theory that they had planted drugs on the defendant.

Cassidy was not angry about the attack on his integrity, Sax recalled.

"Chuck always had a professional demeanor," Sax said. "I remember that he was not flustered or angry."

The defense tactic failed, and the defendant was convicted.

Cassidy Fund

Members of the Police Department's 35th District have established a trust fund for the family of Officer Chuck Cassidy, killed Wednesday in the line of duty.

Contributions can be made in several ways:

By mailing a check payable to the Charles Cassidy Family Memorial Trust Fund, 901 Arch St., Philadelphia 19107

Donations can be taken to the 35th Police District, 5960 N. Broad St., Philadelphia

Donations may be taken to any of the following Police and Fire Federal Credit Union branches: 901 Arch St., 7604 City Ave., 8500 Henry Ave., 3338 S. Broad St., Leo Mall at Byberry and Bustleton Avenues, 7500 Castor Ave., and 3330 Grant Ave.

Reward Posted

A $115,000 reward has been established for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man who killed Officer Chuck Cassidy. Police ask that people with information on the gunman call the Homicide Division at 215-686-3335. They can also call the Citizens Crime Commission of Delaware Valley at 215-546-8477.

Contributing to this article were Inquirer staff writers Gene D'Alessandro, Jennifer Lin, Dwight Ott, Lita Prout, Joseph A. Slobodzian and Susan Snyder.