Sgt. Ben Bertram of the Charlestown Police Department in Indiana was killed last Wednesday night after he lost control of his police cruiser while engaging in a high speed chase with a suspect. Now, the heartbreaking way Bertram spent his final hours has been revealed, and it’s showing the world just what kind of person he really was.

Hours before the fatal chase, Bertram was shopping for a group of local first-graders in his community at his town’s annual Christmas with a Cop event.

“I think he liked the camaraderie of just being with the department and seeing the smile on those kids’ faces,” said Charlestown Officer Adam Clark, the organizer of the event. He added that Bertram, 33, had attended every event in the nine years they have been happening.

“He brightened the room as soon as he came in,” Clark added. “He was interacting with everybody, making jokes, making people laugh. That is what I’ll remember; those are my best memories.”

“He was a good man. We’ll miss him. Everybody is going to miss him big time,” said family friend Alan Washnock. “As a police officer, I’d say he was probably the most courteous and polite police officer I’ve ever known.”

Police Chief Keith McDonald described Bertram as a talented K-9 officer who enjoyed spending time with the dogs and training them after work.

“He took it seriously and he put thousands and thousands of hours into that program,” McDonald said, later adding, “He was the officer that you just never got complaints on. I’m going to sorely miss him.”

“He loved dogs. He had Kubo when I met him. He just got a new dog and that was just his life,” Abbott added.

Please keep Bertram’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.