Police Officer James Lowell Capoot

Vacaville gym owner ‘charges on’ to honor fallen officer Jim Capoot

Posted on January 16, 2021
The Reporter News

Vallejo Police Officer Jim Capoot’s motto was “Charge On.”

After he was killed in the line of duty chasing an armed robbery subject in 2011 his wife and daughters started a foundation in his name, taking that motto as its guiding vision.

Through its successful and ever-growing annual golf tournament, they have raised funds that have helped youth, high school and college sports programs in several counties.

With sports programs shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Capoot family turned their attention to Vacaville’s Dulon “Coach Mugz” Stevens, a fitness trainer who owns Fitness Explosion.

Jennifer Capoot, Jim’s widow said that she would see Stevens’ social media posts of him moving fitness equipment in and out of the downtown gym during the pandemic so he could continue to run his business.

“I’m like, wow, what could I do to help, I felt so bad, Jennifer Capoot said.

What she did was call her three daughters, Jillian, Jaime, and Justine telling them she was going to honor Stevens with a 497 Award. That was Jim’s badge number.

“He’s the epitome of “Charge On” right now,” Jennifer Capoot said. “We were really excited to help him out.”

“He’s training local athletes and keeping people motivated, we wanted to help,” Justine McKenna, Jim’s youngest daughter said.

Stevens was very humbled and excited to receive the award, saying that he is planning on starting a scholarship with the funds to help several of the young athletes he trains.

“The money will be used to help out a struggling athlete or student,” Stevens said. “I’m looking to take that and keep Jim’s name involved and make it bigger.”

The Capoots saw much of what drove their husband and father in how Stevens works with his young athletes at his gym.

“This is what dad was all about,” said Jaime Trujillo, Jim’s middle daughter. “If you needed help, he’d help you, if you were working hard, he’d reward you.”

“I’m glad I’m following in his footsteps,” Stevens said.

Retired Police Officer
NYPD

January 16, 2021