A Colorado Police officer recently died of injuries sustained from a forty-foot fall during a pursuit earlier this month. Police officers were attempting to apprehend carjacking suspects on foot, when officer Julian Beccera fell over the side of a bridge during the pursuit.
Beccera initially survived his injuries and had been listed in critical condition since the fall on February 2. 9 News reported the brave police officer was placed on life support Friday while surrounded by friends and family. Sadly, Beccera succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Saturday evening. The City of Fountain Police Department initially wrote in a Facebook post:
FPD Officers performed a TVI on the suspect vehicle on South Academy just east of Hartford Street. The driver jumped out of the vehicle and began to run from officers on foot. While officers were trying to apprehend the suspect, an FPD Officer fell over the bridge and landed 40 feet below. The suspect attempted to jump off the bridge to elude officers at which time the officers grabbed him to prevent his escape and fall. As the suspect was hanging over the bridge he repeatedly stated, “let me go, I want to die.” The officers were able to pull him up to safety and place him into custody without incident.
…The Fountain Police Officer injured in this incident is Officer Julian Becerra. Officer Becerra has been employed as sworn officer with the Fountain Police Department for 4 ½ years and is currently assigned to the Patrol Division as a K9 Officer. Our thoughts and prayers are with Julian and his family during this difficult time and we pray for a speedy recovery.
Donations can be made to the Becerra family by following this link: https://csppa.org/fallen-officer-relief-fund/. When completing the online donation form, please check the “Designated” box and enter Julian Becerra in the “Designated Officer Name” field.Our heartfelt thanks go to the Southern Colorado Law Enforcement Foundation for their continued support of law enforcement officers across the Southern Colorado region.We are so thankful to the surrounding law enforcement agencies for their outstanding support through difficult time. Thank you to all the Fire and EMS personnel for the quick response and the lifesaving aid you provided. Thank you to the Flight for Life crew and all the hospital personnel for taking amazing care of our officer. We are indebted to you.
“This is a tough time for our city, and I want all of our police officers and first responders to know we are standing with them,” Fountain Mayor Sharon Thompson stated. “The suspects that Officer Becerra was pursuing the night he was gravely injured were felons with multiple active warrants for their arrest. They should never have been out on the street in the first place.”
“It breaks my heart because I know he’s a young guy and he’s got a young family. He left behind a community,” said Shelly Raposa. “I grew up in Fountain and I just kind of felt the need. I just wanted to pay my respects. It’s not often it happens in Fountain.”
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