OAKLAND PARK, Fla. – Authorities are investigating the death of a recently retired Broward Sheriff’s Office sergeant who was found dead outside his home Wednesday night in what family members are calling a “freak accident.”
The victim, identified as 64-year-old Craig Bachan, had retired from BSO just 10 months ago after decades of service as both a sergeant and detective.
He had recently purchased an RV and was preparing for a long-anticipated cross-country trip to Alaska, according to his 26-year-old son Connor Bachan,
“All I know is that it was a freak accident,” Connor Bachan told Local 10 News. “There was nothing really notable that happened. It was just basically an act of God, you know.”
Neighbors on Northwest 36th Court said they saw Craig Bachan working on the newly purchased RV earlier in the day. Hours later, deputies responded to a call and found his body outside the home.
Specific details surrounding the cause of death have not yet been released by the sheriff’s office.
Craig Bachan’s sister shared a photo of the retired sergeant taken at his retirement party, calling him “an amazing deputy” who was also “an incredible son, a loving father, and a devoted brother.”
Neighbors said Craig Bachan had lived in the neighborhood for many years and recently bought the RV following his retirement.
They described him as the “heartbeat of the community.”
“Whenever anybody was struggling, he was calm,” one neighbor said. “He always said somebody has to make the decision — and it was always him.”
Just last week, Craig Bachan bought an RV in preparation for a long-awaited retirement road trip across the country to Alaska.
“He wanted to enjoy his retirement,” Connor Bachan said. “He literally called me yesterday just telling me he was driving it around town and trying to prepare for his trip. He was super excited.”
In a statement released to Local 10 News on Thursday, BSO detectives said there is no foul play suspected at this time pending an autopsy by the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office.
