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Growing memorial for fallen Officer Diego Moreno
Tatevik Aprikyan reports
UPDATE:
Kent Police Officer Diego Moreno.
The officer killed in the line of duty Sunday has been identified by family members as Officer Diego Moreno. He is survived by his wife and his two young children.
Moreno was a hostage negotiator and an eight-year veteran with the Kent Police Department. In 2016, he was recognized with an Exceptional Duty Award after saving an elderly woman from a fire.
Moreno grew up in Venezuela and was fluent in Spanish often helping detectives and other officers with translations. Moreno was also a defensive tactics instructor and taught new officers about the software they use in their jobs.
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Kent officer killed in the line of duty
Kent officer killed in the line of duty
KENT, Wash. -- An 8-year veteran with the Kent Police Department died Sunday morning while trying to stop a fleeing driver. The deadly crash shut down State Route 516 for several hours.
A preliminary investigation by the Washington State Patrol found the officer was deploying spike strips near Reith Rd. and Kent Des Moines Rd. when he was struck by a Kent patrol vehicle.
The officer in the patrol car was critically injured in the collision as well. He was taken to a Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.
The suspect also crashed. One person was taken into custody.
Kent police said in a news release that officers were pursuing a red truck seen leaving a parking lot where gunshots were reported just before 2 a.m.
"Make no question about this, were it not for the actions of this suspect or suspects, this officer would be alive today. It's directly because of the suspect or suspects' actions that led to the officer's death," WSP Captain Ron Mead said at a news conference at Kent City Hall.
The Kent Police department released this statement:
Kent police have not identified the officer who was killed.
SR 516 was closed in both directions from Washington Avenue North to West Meeker Street, cutting off travel west of SR 167.
If you are a witness or have any video, photos or information on the initial shooting incident, please contact the Kent Police Department's tipline at (253) 856-5808.