According to Police Chief Link Strate, a police officer from Arvada, Colorado, died while responding to a disturbance early on Sunday.
Dillon Michael Vakoff, 27, was “killed serving his community,” Arvada police said.
Vakoff and another officer responded to a scene with a “large family disturbance,” Strate said at a news conference, and the two “arrived to a chaotic scene with multiple people in the street.”
“The initial two officers tried to separate several belligerent and uncooperative individuals when the suspect began to fire and shot a female victim,” Strate said. Gunfire between a suspect and police ensued, and both Vakoff and the suspect were shot.
The other cop on the scene made an effort to aid Vakoff, but ultimately failed. Vakoff was brought to a hospital, where he eventually passed away.
The suspect was taken to a hospital where he is currently being held by police and is expected to make a full recovery, according to Strate.
The suspect was taken to a hospital where he is currently being held by police and is expected to make a full recovery, according to Strate.
Police stated that the female victim, who was also taken to a hospital, is expected to live. At this point, he said, it is unclear whether she was involved in the event.
“This is an ongoing active investigation and the information we have at this time is preliminary,” Strate said. “But in an effort to be transparent with our community, we wanted to provide you with some details from this morning’s incident and line of duty-death.”
According to Strate, Vakoff joined the agency in 2019 and previously served as a staff sergeant in the US Air Force.
He was, Chief Strate said, “an example of everything that is good about a police officer. He was training towards becoming a SWAT officer, and without a doubt, would have continued to have a positive impact on his community.”
“This is a tragic loss to this community, to this department, but most significantly to his family and loved ones,” Strate said. “His service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Arvada, Colorado, is roughly 10 miles northwest of Denver.
