Chula Vista Police Department’s Assistant Chief Phil Collum passed away after a short battle with a rare form of cancer on April 12.
“It is with tremendous sorrow that Chief Roxana Kennedy announces the loss of her second in command and close friend, Assistant Chief Phil Collum. He passed away yesterday evening after his short battle with a rare form of cancer,” the department said in a news release the next day.
Collum began his law enforcement career in 1990 in Santa Cruz, California, moving back to San Diego in 1994 and hired by the CVPD in October of the same year. Since then, Collum served with the CVPD for 29 years.
“Collum was recognized from the beginning as an extremely intelligent leader and hard worker. He developed a reputation of fairness and ethical professionalism that helped him rise through the ranks from Officer to Agent, to Sergeant. Then, as a true trailblazer, he became the department’s first African- American Police Lieutenant in 2009, Police Captain in 2018, and Assistant Chief of Police in 2022.”
“As a friend of Phil Collum, our loss with his passing gives me great sadness. Assistant Chief Collum left a legacy of service and professionalism with 29 years of excellent police service to our community. His friendship, dedication, and commitment to our community will be greatly missed by many,” said Mayor John McCann.
The son of former Chula Vista council member Patricia Aguilar, Collum was born in Alexandria, Virginia, moving to San Diego as a toddler. He met his husband William Lopez in 2008 and they were married in 2013.
In addition to spending time together traveling and enjoying life, the two were extremely active in giving back to their community and those in need. Until his passing, Collum served on the board of directors and volunteered for his church, where he also put his creative and technical skills in sound and photography to work for the church’s music and media productions. He and William also volunteered every month, traveling south of the border to support orphanages in Tijuana, Mexico, as part of the Corazón de Vida Foundation.
A memorial service to honor and remember Collum will be held at Eastlake Church, located at 2355 Otay Lakes Road on Saturday, April 20, at 10 a.m. The service will be open to the public.
In honor of Collum’s memory, his family requests that in lieu of flowers, consider contributing to a cause that was deeply meaningful to him. The Phillip Collum Scholarship Fund has been established in partnership with Corazon De Vida, an organization dedicated to supporting orphaned and abandoned children in Baja, Mexico.
“Collum was passionate about providing education and opportunities to those in need, and through this fund, his legacy will continue to impact the lives of others positively.”
Collum received numerous letters of appreciation and commendations from his peers, supervisors, and the community. He was the recipient of the 1997 Scottish Rite Civic Award, the 1999 Elks Lodge Civic Award, the 1999 Veterans of Foreign War Civic Award, the 2007 Elks Lodge Civic Award, the 2015 Department Exceptional Service Award, and was named one of the 2023 Persons of the Year by LGBTQ San Diego County News. Collum also recognized by the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus as a 2023 Pride Honoree for his unwavering commitment and dedication to the LGBTQ+ community.
Collum helped make the Chula Vista Police Department one of the most recognized departments in the country, known for paving the way in modern policing, using innovative police technology to enhance public service, and above all, maintaining relationships with the community it serves. It was Collum’s directive to create an entire division focused on community engagement which he would personally lead. The Community Engagement Division was established in 2022 with his leadership and foresight.
Officials said connecting to the community was important to Collum.
“In a 2021 interview with the LGBTQ San Diego County News, when asked what excited him most about life, he said, ‘I find excitement in being part of a team making positive change for my community and for those around me.’ Collum poured his heart and soul into bridging gaps between marginalized communities and law enforcement – not just with his own department, but regional partners as well. In 2022, Collum was instrumental in repairing relationships that allowed San Diego County law enforcement to participate in San Diego Pride events once again. It was imperative to him that officers work hand-in-hand with community members and business owners to keep the public safe, and he knew it started with maintaining trust and transparency in the community.”
