Cpl. Christopher Kent Paschal, age 37, passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, at the Bristol Regional Medical Center.

Chris was a dedicated police officer who started as a road officer and became a K-9 officer. He was also a member of the Smyth County Sheriff's Office Dive Team & Emergency Response Team (SERT). In 2007, he and his K-9 partner, Ben, graduated from the Virginia State Police/Southwest Law Enforcement Academy's Narcotics & Dog Handling School.