KENT, Wash. — A Kent police officer was killed in the line of duty Sunday morning in a crash during pursuit of a suspect on State Route 516.
A second officer was seriously injured.
Police and fire agencies around Washington state shared their thoughts and sympathies with the Kent Police Department Sunday morning over social media.
See those thoughts below and scroll down to read more about the incident that killed one officer and injured another Sunday, or click this link.
More information below:
Police were pursuing a suspect Sunday morning in a red truck, which witnesses identified as being involved in a shooting.
Officers chased the truck on westbound State Route 516 near Meeker Street. At one point, the vehicle made a U-turn and sped off.
Washington State Patrol officials said a Kent police officer deployed spike strips. Preliminary information is that the officer was hit by a responding officer pursuing the suspect.
A second officer involved in the pursuit was involved in a crash and rushed to Harborview Medical Center, officials said.
Kent police said that officer was in critical condition Sunday morning.
Officials said the vehicle being pursued later crashed near State Route 167 and one person was arrested. An unknown number of people ran from the scene.
Kent police said the officer killed was an eight-year veteran of the department.
A post on the department's Facebook page reads, “his contributions to our department, and positive impact on his co-workers and the community, have been significant.”
His name has not been released.
SR 516 was closed for investigation.
Cox Media Group
