Veteran Vallejo police officer killed during pursuit of bank robbery suspects
VALLEJO, CA - A Vallejo police officer has died after being shot during a foot chase with an individual being pursued in connection with a bank robbery.
Authorities confirmed the name of the officer as Jim Capoot of Vacaville. He was 45.
Vallejo Police Department Sgt. Jeffrey Bassett said the officer was responding to a bank robbery reported at 1:36 p.m. at the Bank of America branch on Springs Road.
Officer Trent Cross with the California Highway Patrol says the police officer spotted the robber's SUV on Interstate 80 and pursued it into a neighborhood north of the Solano County Fairgrounds. When the officer stopped the vehicle on the 100 block of Janice Street, at least one person in the SUV fled and the officer continued the chase on foot. There was a confrontation and there was at least one shot fired, according to witnesses.
Earlier reports had one individual in custody and one at large, according to authorities. There is a search underway in the neighborhood for the shooter.
The Vallejo Times-Herald reports the bank robbers were described as black men wearing Halloween masks.
After joining the Marines at age 17 in 1986, then joining the California Highway Patrol in 1990, Officer Jim Capoot joined the Vallejo Police Department in 1992, reports the Vallejo Police Officers Association newsletter.
During his career with Vallejo police, Capoot received two Medals of Courage, two Life-Saving Medals and various other departmental recommendations. Capoot also saved the lives of two people by administering CPR, said the VPOA.
Over the past 10 years, Capoot supervised the Vallejo Junior Safety Patrol program, teaching children to act as cross guards throughout the city, He helped train over 500 children.
Capoot is survived by his wife Jennifer and their three daughters.
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