Seattle Police Department, Washington
End of Watch: Tuesday, December 18, 1984
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 23
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 18, 1984
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Released in 2011
Police Officer Nicholas Davis was shot and killed with his own service weapon after confronting a suspect who had just left a restaurant without paying the $4.55 bill.
Officer Davis had just finished his breakfast at the restaurant and was told of the offense by the manager. Officer Davis caught up with the suspect in a parking lot at the intersection of 10th Avenue and East Madison Street. Officer Davis, who was still in his patrol car, ordered the suspect to stop walking while speaking to him through the open driver's side window. The suspect then turned away from Officer Davis and began to walk in the opposite direction. Officer Davis placed his vehicle in reverse and continued to follow and talk to the suspect while calling for backup on his radio.
In a fit of rage, the suspect pulled Officer Davis out of his patrol car and succeeded in disarming him during a struggle. As Officer Davis stood back up from the ground the suspect shot him once in the chest, and then once in the back as he attempted to take cover behind a nearby building. The suspect then walked away with Officer Davis' gun but was apprehended a short time later.
The subject was sentenced to 27 years in prison but was instead committed to a mental hospital. He was released from the mental hospital in April 2011 after the hospital's budget was cut.
Officer Davis had served with the Seattle Police Department for seven years and had previously served with the Bothell Police Department. He is survived by his wife and three sons.