Roll of Honor
Eric Emiliano Zapata
Incident
Officer Eric Zapata was shot and killed after responding to reports of shots fired call in the 1400 block of Hays Park Avenue.
Another officer had also responded to the call and approached a man standing on a porch. As the officer asked the man if he had heard any shots, the man suddenly pulled out a gun and exchanged shots with the officer.
The subject then ran between two houses, where he confronted Officer Zapata. More shots were exchanged, and Officer Zapata was struck in the head and chest. The man then committed suicide.
Officer Zapata had served with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for ten years.
Survivors
He is survived by a daughter, two sons, his mother, father, sister, brother, and fiancé.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-65BFDA90- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Public Safety Officer Zapata gave the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Public Safety Officer Zapata.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Public Safety Officer Eric Emiliano Zapata is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eric Emiliano Zapata's cause is highlighted.
How Eric Emiliano Zapata Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eric Emiliano Zapata is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Eric Emiliano Zapata was killed by rifle; sks.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw.