Bridgewater's First Ever Police Chief Dies at 91

Bridgewater, NJ -- The first ever police chief in Bridgewater Township, Dix Russel Michael Fetzer died on Wednesday at age 91.

Fetzer was part of the creation of the township's police department and commanded it for 22 years.

He led a very interesting life as he served in he army and was saved from being stabbed by a dog during his service.

Fetzer's full obituary:

Dix Russel Michael Fetzer was born May 24, 1924 in Milton, Pennsylvania and died on March 30, 2016 in Whitehall, Pennsylvania at the age of 91. He was the fourth child of Russel and Fannie Elizabeth DeWire Fetzer. He was predeceased by his brothers John Fetzer and Cleaver Fetzer and by his sister Bertha Fetzer Bogle.

Dix served in World War II in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska as a member of the army Explosive Ordnance Division, the bomb squad of his era. For this service he received 2 purple hearts and the bronze star. After the war he married Ann Hricik in 1945, and they remained married for over 50 years until her death in 1997. He returned to the Aleutian Islands in later years and helped the army locate and destroy leftover munitions so the islands could safely be returned to the native Aleut people.

Dix began his police career in the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles and rose to the rank of Lieutenant, which he retained when they merged with the New Jersey State Police. He also graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelors degree in criminal justice. In 1965 he became the first police chief in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey, creating the police department and commanding it for 22 years. Chief Fetzer was also active throughout this time in the International Association of Chiefs of Police, serving on its Executive Committee for many years.

Chief Fetzer is survived by his son Gery Fetzer and daughter Patricia Moreau and her husband Robert Moreau, and by his grandchildren Lynne Santoro, Jonathan Fetzer, Elisabeth Pruitt, Rebecca Ehnstrom, Lorraine Roth and Jeffrey Moreau, as well as by his 6 great grandchildren.

His funeral will be Saturday, April 2 at the Bridgewater Funeral Home, 707 East Main Street, Bridgewater. Visitation hours will be 2 to 4:30 p.m., followed by a funeral service at the funeral home at 4:30 p.m.

Dix Fetzer was a great lover of dogs his whole life – one even saved his life in the Aleutian Islands, taking a knife that was meant for him. Therefore in lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the ASPCA in his name.

(Photo, Bridgewater Funeral Home)