Denver Police Department, Colorado
End of Watch: Wednesday, November 12, 1997
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 12, 1997
Weapon Used: Rifle; SKS
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Police Officer Bruce VanderJagt was shot and killed while assisting another agency in an attempt to apprehend burglary suspects whom they had chased into Denver during a 30 mile pursuit.
As Officer VanderJagt was approaching the apartment, in the 3300 block of South Monaco Parkway, the suspect opened fire on him with a fully automatic SKS rifle. 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.
Officer VanderJagt had served with the Denver Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and two-year-old daughter.