Memorial Grows For Fallen Lakewood Police Officer
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - On Saturday Arvada police processed the scene where a Lakewood police officer was shot and killed by another officer Friday morning.
Lakewood police have actually turned the investigation over to several different agencies in Jefferson County.
James Davies, 35, was a 6 1/2 year veteran of the Lakewood Police Department. He was the first officer to die on duty since Lakewood became a city in 1969.
Davies leaves behind a wife and two young children and now a memorial is growing for him and the Lakewood Police Department.
The block where the shooting happened remained closed to the public. Two Arvada officers were manning each end of the block while other officers from different agencies actively investigated the crime scene.
Since the shooting involved two Lakewood officers the Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team was tasked with the investigation as an outside agency is necessary. The team has officers from every law enforcement agency in Jefferson County.
The help from other agencies is welcome, according to Lakewood police spokesperson Steve Davis.
"Imagine the anguish that the other officer is going through right now," Davis said. "We feel like we have two victims on the department, to be quite frank."
Help hasn't just come from fellow officers. In the main lobby of the Lakewood Police Department some of the flowers brought in by friends and strangers are displayed.
"I worked here for Lakewood P.D. I used to work in the records department. (Davies) would come in and I got to know him pretty good," a man said. "He was a really good guy."
The man's daughter made chocolate chip cookies for the department to show her respect.
"We're thinking about the entire Lakewood Police Department; not only the officers themselves, but all the support staff," the man said.
There are so many cards of support that police plan to make a memorial with them and display them in the main lobby for everyone to see and to remember Davies.
According to CBS4 investigators, it was not the first deadly shooting for the Lakewood officer who shot and killed Davies. Veteran Officer Devaney Braley, known as DJ, was involved in another deadly shooting three years ago in Denver. He has been with the Lakewood Police Department since 2001. His colleagues say that the 35-year-old is devastated over the shooting.
The Lakewood Police Department has set up an account to help the family of Officer James Davies. To donate, contact the Foothills Credit Union located at 7990 W. Alameda Ave., call (720) 962-8200 or visit foothills-cu.com for more information. You can also make a donation online with the City of Lakewood.
