COLFAX, N.C. — A community is mourning the loss of a Greensboro police officer after he was killed in a shooting at the Sheetz gas station on Sandy Ridge Road in Colfax.
Sergeant Philip Dale Nix was off-duty Saturday afternoon when he saw a crime in progress, tried to stop it, and was shot. Coincidently, another off-duty officer and a Guilford County paramedic were on the scene. They rushed to help Sgt. Nix, but he later died at the hospital.
Sgt. Nix served the city faithfully for 23 years.
Detective Haven Nickelson said Sgt. Nix "Loved the community, and obviously, that situation was a result of his love, because he was trying to protect his community.”
During his time with GPD, Sgt. Nix worked as a Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Detective, Patrol Corporal, Patrol Sergeant, Police Training Officer, Financial Crimes Detective and his most current assignment was as Supervisor of the Family Victims Unit.
As Supervisor of the Family Victims Unit, he served as part of the Elder Justice Committee and the Domestic Violence High Risk Team and routinely assisted with the Friends Against Fraud and Vital Signs Programs.
Monday, WFMY News 2's Amber Lake sat down with three detectives who worked under Sgt. Nix in the Family Victims Unit.
They explain that Nix was a role model to many, and left a lasting impact in the unit.
"He was the Family Victims Unit. The amount of work, and dedication that he put into his career and into the community to protect vulnerable communities, and protect innocent people, it’s unmatched," said Detective Rom Hoontrakul.
He was also a Team Leader for the Peer Support Team for over 12 years and was the current Assistant Team Leader of the GPD Honor Guard.
Sgt. Nix had been a member of the US Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Identity Theft Task Force.
He was also one of Guilford County’s leading experts on Non-Fatal Strangulation Investigation.
Detective Caroline Holliday worked under Sgt. Nix.
She said he was a man of integrity.
"Sgt. Nix was always about doing the right thing in everything that we do. Whether people are looking or not, it’s always about doing the right thing,” Holliday explained.
Sgt. Nix received his BA from UNCG and was awarded several awards including the Greensboro Merchant Association’s Crime Prevention Award, his Department’s Superior Service Bar, and an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate.
Greensboro Fire Department said Sgt. Nix had several family members currently in the GFD and other family members who have retired from the GFD.
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