Wyckoff Resident, Midland Park Police Officer Killed In ATV Crash Buried: Report

Christopher Birch, a Wyckoff resident and Midland Park police officer who was killed in an ATV accident July 6, was buried Monday following his funeral.

Midland Park Police Chief Michael Powderley told the 200 people at Christ Episcopal Church in Pompton Lakes that Birch was a kind, compassionate man who earned the respect of the community and the department, The Record reported.

“As a cop, he was everything you could have asked for and more,” Powderley said. “Chris was adored by his fellow officers, and he had an impact in our lives that we’ll carry with us always.”

Birch was killed July 6 when he failed to negotiate a left turn while driving an ATV too fast and crashed into a boulder, the website reported. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Birch married his wife, Karen, three months ago and was excited to start a family, the website reported.