Colorado Officer Down

**Cochese** · 09-21-06, 12:13 AM

Damnit.

Thoughts and prayers to you and your coworkers Pat (CO_Cop)

http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?O...7-c589c01ca7bf

AURORA - The police officer who was shot and killed on Wednesday was a 24-year veteran of the force and had received the medal of honor from the department.

Additional Resources...
Aurora police officer gunned down, suspect in custody
Watch the press conference by Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates on the death of Det. Michael Thomas. September 20, 2006.

Det. Michael D. Thomas was shot while he was in his personal car stopped at the stoplight at Peoria Street and Montview Boulevard at around noon.

Police say a bullet entered his left side and he was pronounced dead at just after 12:30 p.m. at the University of Colorado at Denver Hospital.

Thomas was working a training day and was heading from one training center to another when he was shot.

"We are in mourning," said Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates. "This is about as hard as it gets for those of us in policing."

Police arrested a suspect shortly after the shooting.

Oates says another police officer, two Department of Corrections officers and several citizens that were passing by helped apprehend the suspect.

Oates says after a struggle 27-year-old Brian Allen Washington, of Denver, was taken into custody and a handgun was recovered.

Washington has an extensive criminal history and Oates said he was wanted by the Denver Police Department on another shooting on September 18th.

Police say he shot at a woman in her car at 33rd Avenue and Pontiac Street.

Oates says there is no evidence it was a road rage incident.

Washington was booked on the charge of first degree murder. The Adams County District Attorney's office will make a decision about filing in the next 72 hours.

He is currently being held without bond and is scheduled to be in Adams County District Court Thursday afternoon.

Aurora Police ask that any witnesses to the shooting contact them at 303-739-6106.

Thomas worked in the K-9 and narcotics divisions with the Aurora Police Department before becoming a detective in 2005. He was given more than a dozen awards by the department and was given the department's medal of honor in 1992.

"He was beloved by the department," said Oates. "I had a friend of his tell me today that he was known in the department as among the hardest working detectives."

"Mike was a great guy and this is a huge loss," said Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer.

The police department planned to hold a private memorial for officers on Wednesday night.

Three other Aurora Police officers have been killed in the line of duty, all in the 1980s. Debra Corr was killed in 1981 while trying to arrest a drunk driver; Thomas Dietzman, Jr. died at the police firing range in 1985; Edward Hockom was killed while trying to arrest a robbery suspect in 1987.

**CO_Cop** · 09-21-06, 12:22 AM

Yeah, Everyone in the Department is shocked by this. He was on his way to the driving track from the academy. One of our instructors was the one that fought him along with the other civilians who helped take this fuckhead in custody.

RIP Mike Thomas..

**121Traffic** · 09-21-06, 12:23 AM

Damn....Dispatch has been updating us all day on this. I hate shit like this, and can only hope that the mother fucker fries. If they can only link the officer to the suspect, they can hopefully get the 1st degree charge to stick.

RIP brother.

**Coloradocop** · 09-21-06, 01:54 AM

My day off today, I was in the mountains, just now heard about this... The piece of shit who shot him was apparently involved in a shooting in my district on Monday (I've been off since Sunday, so I don't have any details on that one yet). Hope they give him the needle, wish they could still give him a noose.

RIP Det. Thomas... our thoughts will be with his family and the rest of you at Aurora PD.

**deputysykes** · 09-21-06, 02:19 AM

Thoughts and prayers

**Pedro56** · 09-21-06, 03:41 AM

RIP Brother.

**121Traffic** · 09-22-06, 11:54 AM

Pat, do you have any details on his funeral on TUesday? I know where it's being held and the time, etc, but that's it. Is it department and family only? Full LE procession?

If at all possible, another honor guard officer at my department and I were thinking about coming down and showing support. Please let us all know the details.

Prayers with you guys.

**gozling** · 09-22-06, 12:10 PM

wow... i am so sorry.

**Cochese** · 09-22-06, 04:46 PM

121, I will be there as well if you go. I just need to leave Fort Collins early. That is, if it's open to other departments..

Originally Posted by 121Traffic

Pat, do you have any details on his funeral on TUesday? I know where it's being held and the time, etc, but that's it. Is it department and family only? Full LE procession?

If at all possible, another honor guard officer at my department and I were thinking about coming down and showing support. Please let us all know the details.

Prayers with you guys.

**121Traffic** · 09-23-06, 10:28 AM

Okay, our agency received a teletype today. Other agencies welcome, full procession to Fort Logan to follow.

APD is asking one officer from each department replying to be the "Point of Contact" for your entire department. That person should advise Aurora how many cops are coming, and how many dept cars will accompany them. They are also asking that officers arrive as a group with their department rather than individually in order to facilitate placement in the procession, etc.

If we don't hear from Pat, I will get all the info from the teletype tonight at work. The funeral is on Tuesday at 1100. More details to follow.

**Cochese** · 09-23-06, 04:05 PM

It sounds like my department has already "picked" the designated participants... I'll see what I can do.

**Coloradocop** · 09-24-06, 03:10 AM

Originally Posted by Cochese

It sounds like my department has already "picked" the designated participants... I'll see what I can do.

sounds like things are shaping up the same way over in my dept. So I doubt I'll be in attendance at this point myself. I hope you or 121traffic will end up being able to make it there...

**121Traffic** · 09-24-06, 10:48 AM

Even if you aren't slated to ride in the procession, I don't see anything to keep you from going to show support.

Here's the text from the teletype, verbatim:

FROM: A12 TO: CRIME+
09-01632 AURORA PD CO 09/22/06
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN COLORADO AND SURROUNDING STATES
REFERENCE: FUNERAL FOR AGENT MIKE THOMAS

THE FUNERAL FOR AGENT MIKE THOMAS WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY,
SEPTEMPER 26, 2006 AT 1100 HOURS, AT THE HERITAGE CHRISTIAN CENTER
LOCATED AT 9495 EAST FLORIDA AVENUE, DENVER, COLORADO.

THERE WILL BE A PROCESSION TO FORT LOGAN FOLLOWING THE FUNERAL.

WE REQUEST THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM YOUR AGENCIES:

APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF CARS THAT WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESSION.

CARS THAT WILL BE ATTENDING THE FUNERAL, BUT NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESSION.

APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES FROM YOUR AGENCY.

REQUESTING CARS FROM JURISDICTIONS COME IN GROUPS NOT INDIVIDUALLY.

PLEASE LET US KNOW OF ANY DIGNITARIES WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THE FUNERAL.

WE ARE ALSO ASKING THAT YOU MAINTAIN A SINGLE POINT-OF-CONTACT WITHIN YOUR AGENCY. PLEASE HAVE YOUR POINT-OF-CONTACT E-MAIL ANY ISSUES OR QUESTIONS TO LT.JEFF TURNER AT JTURNER@AURORAGOV.ORG.

WE ARE REQUESTING TRAFFIC CONTROL ASSISTANCE AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING JURISDICTIONS:

ARAPAHOE COUNTY
DENVER
CHERRY HILLS
ENGLEWOOD
SHERIDAN

PLEASE COORDINATE WITH LT. JEFF TURNER AT PHONE NUMBER 303.739.6326OR BY EMAIL AT JTURNER@AURORAGOV.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, UNDERSTANDING, AND OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

/S/LT. HARRY GLIDDEN

AUTH PD AURORA COLORADO 10:18:54 MT KJB

**CO_Cop** · 09-27-06, 12:37 AM

Sorry, couldn't get you the info.. I just moved last week and I have not been able to check my email and LEF. The funeral was today and man was it emotional. Pretty cool to see all that support for one of our own. Kinda the same show of support for Jared Jensen out of the CSPD last January. Well, I got some interesting pictures if anyone want to see..

Thanks.

Pat S.

**121Traffic** · 09-27-06, 07:25 PM

The service was beautiful. I was especially impressed with APD's vigilance and preparing for the worst with their men up on the roof with binoculars. There were thousands of cops standing in that parking lot, and it would have been easy for some asshole to open fire from a nearby apartment. Let's not forget the huge Islamic "community center" only a couple blocks away...

Service was beautiful, and I was glad they found a facility that fit everyone in. It was pretty emotional. I was surprised to hear Gene Colwell's (sp?) name among those that helped apprehend the guy! He is a name often tossed around my department...guess he was a well-like Patrol/SWAT guy with us before heading out to Aurora.

The procession was breathtaking as well...the idea to keep all 750 cars on MAC 3 (Multi Agency Channel) to monitor progress was a good one, and I was always amazed when I heard my current location in relation to the lead car when they were broadcasting their's.

A (poor) picture of the procession, taken from my POV in the Expedition's driver seat.

Sorry for your guys' loss...know that we're all with you, brother.