Remembrance - Article & Artwork by Jonny Castro
/Article & Artwork by Jonny Castro
Deputy Justin DeRosier
On April 14th, 2019, Deputy Justin DeRosier pulled up to a disabled motor home that was partially blocking a roadway in Kalama, Washington. What should have been a routine vehicle investigation, ended up with a suspect inside the RV opening fire on the Deputy. Justin managed to notify his dispatch that he was being shot at and provided the suspect’s description. Responding units found Deputy DeRosier critically wounded and defending himself with his patrol rifle. The officers immediately began lifesaving efforts once Justin lost consciousness but he passed away at the hospital a short time later. After an intense manhunt, the armed suspect was located the following day and killed. Deputy DeRosier was a six-year veteran of law enforcement and had served the citizens of Cowlitz County for the past three years. He’s the first and only officer to be killed in the line of duty in the department’s 165 year history. Justin leaves behind a wife and a five-month old daughter. He was 29 years old.
