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Police Officer Bruce VanderJagt | Denver Police Department, Colorado Denver Police Department, Colorado

Police Officer

Bruce VanderJagt

Denver Police Department, Colorado

End of Watch: Wednesday, November 12, 1997

Bio & Incident Details

Age: 47

Tour: 11 years

Badge # Not available

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: 11/12/1997

Weapon: Rifle; SKS

Suspect: Committed suicide

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Officer Bruce VanderJagt was shot and killed while assisting another agency in an attempt to apprehend burglary suspects they had chased for 30 miles into Denver. As Officer VanderJagt was approaching the apartment the suspect opened fire on him with a fully automatic SKS rifle and he was struck several times in the head and torso. He was pronounced dead at 3:58 pm at Denver Medical Health Center.

The suspect was found dead at approximately 4:30 pm from a self-inflicted gunshot wound from Officer VanderJagt's weapon. The initial suspect who committed the burglary, which eventually led to Officer VanderJagt's murder, was sentenced to life in prison for her role but was later released to a halfway house.

He is survived by his wife and two year old daughter.

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Officer VanderJagt,

We've never met, but we share the same last name. There's probably a good chance we're related somehow. I remember hearing about your story through the media, and later seeing the disgusting image in Time magazine with your name; my name; carved into the side of a dead pig. I was 17 at the time, and now at 32 I still think about it from time to time. I wanted to contact your family at the time and give my condolences, but I didn't know how at the time. I was on here looking for someone else, and remembered your name. Here you are.

To the VanderJagt family from the west coast VanderJagts, my condolences for your loss. It would have been nice to meet you Bruce,

-Sean VanderJagt, son of Jon VanderJagt and grandson of Peter VanderJagt
Portland, OR

Sean VanderJagt
unknown
April 26, 2012

 

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