ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – The heartbroken wife of a St. Louis police officer killed in the line of duty is mourning his loss and asking for prayers from the community.
Officer David Lee, a traffic officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, was responding to a crash Sunday morning on Interstate 70 when police say a drunken driver fatally hit him.
The 44-year-old officer was with his wife, Tonya Lee, for 26 years and married for 19. He is also survived by his two children, ages 23 and 18, KMOV reports.
“My husband did not deserve this,” Tonya Lee said. “My husband did the right thing.”
Police say that David Lee was behind his patrol car retrieving traffic cones for the crash when the driver, identified as 24-year-old Ramon A. Chavez-Rodriguez, lost control of his car and spun out, hitting the officer. David Lee died of his injuries that afternoon.
“This young man,” Tonya Lee said. “I do want you to know we forgive you, baby. We forgive you, but you did destroy my family. I know God is gonna deal with you.”
Charging documents state Chavez-Rodriguez was driving at least 71 miles per hour in the five seconds before the incident, while the posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour. It was also raining at the time.
Chavez-Rodriguez was charged with driving while intoxicated – death of law enforcement or emergency personnel, exceeding the posted speed limit and operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license.
At the hospital, Chavez-Rodriguez had his blood drawn. Police say the blood draw showed a blood-alcohol content of .10 about two hours after David Lee was hit.
“You done broke a whole city’s heart,” Tonya Lee said. “My husband was loved.”
She describes her husband as always being happy and having a calming presence.
“He was our hero,” Tonya Lee said. “He had a big heart, a huge heart. I told him, Lee, everybody just loves him. He’s special. He’s just a special person. Heart of gold.”
David Lee was born and raised in St. Louis and was a graduate of Pattonville High School. His younger sister, Danielle Williams, says he was always her protector, and he did the same for his city in his 18 years with the police department.
“Walnut Park ain’t easy,” Williams said. “But he came back and wanted to clean up his city. We gotta do better as a people, man.”
It was David Lee’s infectious smile and heart of gold that his family wants the community to know about.
“My brother was kind,” Williams said. “He didn’t judge. He loved you for whoever you were – no matter white, black, green, yellow, purple, gay, straight. My brother loved everybody.”
Tonya Lee says her husband was an incredible father to his 23-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter, and major life events without him are going to be tough.
“Her dad’s not gonna be there for her prom,” Tonya Lee said. “Her dad’s not gonna be there for her graduation, her homecoming.”
Police Chief Robert Tracy and several other officers went to visit with the family Monday. While Tonya Lee is thankful for them, she says she wants to see changes made to keep officers safe.
“Come up with something that could prevent another family heart from being broken,” Tonya Lee said. “We hurt. We love you, Lee. If I would’ve known you was gonna leave, I would’ve loved your harder. But I don’t even know if I could’ve loved you harder. I loved you from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head.”
The family is asking for prayers but say they feel peace knowing David Lee is in heaven.
“I’m trying to hold it together,” Tonya Lee said. “I’m hurt.”
Visitation and funeral services for David Lee will be held Oct. 5 at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis.
Backstoppers, an organization that provides support to the families of first responders killed or severely injured in the line of duty, is assisting David Lee’s family.
Court records obtained by KMOV show Chavez-Rodriguez was on probation for a previous domestic assault and DWI case in St. Charles County. At the time of his last arrest, police said he was living in the country illegally.
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