Cowlitz County deputy killed while investigating disabled vehicle

LONGVIEW — The Cowlitz County sheriff’s deputy shot in the line of duty Saturday night has died, and a manhunt for the “suspect or suspects” is ongoing, according to Clark County investigators. Sheriff’s officials Sunday afternoon identified the fallen deputy as Justin DeRosier, 29.

Authorities previously said they had found a person of interest in the shooting, but they announced Sunday afternoon that at least one suspect is still being pursued. They did not disclose any names.

DeRosier died at PeaceHealth Medical Center in Vancouver a short time after he arrived there by LifeFlight helicopter, the sheriff’s office reported.

DeRosier leaves a wife and a five-month old daughter, his first child. He is a 2008 Kelso High School graduate and has been a deputy for the Cowlitz Sheriff’s Office since 2016. He also is a criminal justice graduate of Washington State University (2012).

DeRosier “was a Kelso boy,” County Sheriff Brad Thurman said. He is a member of a family with deep Cowlitz County roots. His grandmother, Darlene DeRosier, was a long-time Cowlitz County auditor. Reached by phone Sunday afternoon, DeRosier was too upset to comment.

Visibly emotional himself, Cowlitz County Undersheriff Darren Ullmann said the fallen deputy’s daughter is “always going to know what an incredible man her father was.”

“Most of us have known him most of his life. There were few cops who want to be a cop more than Justin did. He loved his job. He was incredibly good at it. And as you can imagine, as I’m obviously showing, this is very personal for our agency. … I had a lot of hope and plans for Justin. I saw him working his way up in this department very rapidly. … Justin was a bull in a china shop. … he had a presence that couldn’t be overlooked. He will be with us forever. And he will be truly missed.”

More than a dozen members of the Patriot Guard riders and American Legion appeared by the Sheriff’s office Sunday afternoon to form a flag line in honor of DeRosier. A community vigil in honor of DeRosier was planned for 7 p.m. Sunday at Martin Dock at Lake Sacajawea in Longview.

The shooting occurred near the 100 block of Fallert Road, near Kalama River Road, shortly after 10 p.m. The area where the shooting occurred remained closed at midafternoon Sunday except for local traffic only on Fallert Road. Investigators are asking the public to avoid the area unless absolutely necessary. There was no timeline for reopening the road.

DeRosier was dispatched to a disabled motor home blocking the roadway on Fallert Road. A short time after arriving, he was shot. He had reported over police radio that someone was shooting at him. Kalama police officers responded to rescue and bring him to nearby Haydu Park for life-saving efforts and to await the flight to the hospital.

“Life-saving efforts were made at the scene by responding officers. The deputy was transported by LifeFlight but regrettably, the deputy succumbed to his injuries a short time after arriving,” according to a sheriff’s press release.

“It is devastating for all of us,” Sheriff Thurman told The Daily News Sunday morning.

He said all sheriff’s personnel were sent home, except for those investigating the shooting, and other law enforcement agencies are covering the county during this period of grief.

The shooting is the first in-line-of-duty death in the agency’s history, which stretches back to the middle of the 19th century, Thurman said.

The Clark County Major Crimes Unit and several other agencies are investigating the case, Clark County Sheriff’s Office Commander John Horch said. That includes evidence from a search warrant authorities served at a nearby residence after the shooting, he said.

DeRosier was hired in 2013 by the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office and served as a SWAT team operator and boat operator. In 2016 he joined the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, where he had served as a patrol deputy and boat operator. He was in training to enter the Drug Task Force in July, Thurman said.

In January, DeRosier and deputy Justin Taylor took shifts for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office after a deputy there, Daniel McCartney, was killed in the line of duty.

Clark County authorities are asking anyone with information relating to this shooting to please call Sergeant Todd Barsness with the Clark County Major Crimes Unit at 360-577-3098 or todd.barsness@clark.wa.gov.