SEATTLE (AP) — City officials have identified a Tacoma, Washington, police officer who was fatally shot during a domestic violence call as Reginald “Jake” Gutierrez.
Police Chief Donald Ramsdell told reporters Thursday the 45-year-old Gutierrez had been with the department since 1999 and had extensive experience dealing with domestic cases.
He says Gutierrez was highly respected and had a great deal of integrity.
The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon after a woman approached animal control officers and said her husband had locked her out of their house and taken her phone. The officers called police.
Ramsdell says Gutierrez and his female partner went into the home, and Gutierrez was shot as he headed up the stairs to speak with the suspect.
The female officer shot back and ran from the house, taking the wife to safety.
The suspect was shot and killed after an 11-hour standoff in which he used two young children as human shields.
Ramsdell declined to identify the shooter, saying the investigation was still active.