Bruce VanderJagt

Denver Police Department — Denver, CO

Felonious

End of Watch November 12, 1997

Age 47

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 144 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 73

Incident

Police Officer Bruce VanderJagt was shot and killed while assisting another agency in an attempt to apprehend burglary suspects whom they had chased into Denver during a 30 mile pursuit. As Officer VanderJagt was approaching the apartment, in the 3300 block of South Monaco Parkway, the suspect opened fire on him with a fully automatic SKS rifle. He was struck several times in the head and torso. He was pronounced dead at 3:58 pm at Denver Medical Health Center. The suspect was found dead at approximately 4:30 pm from a self-inflicted gunshot wound from Officer VanderJagt's weapon. The initial suspect who committed the burglary, which eventually led to Officer VanderJagt's murder, was sentenced to life in prison for her role but was later released to a halfway house. Officer VanderJagt had served with the Denver Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-D820784B
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer VanderJagt gave the Denver Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer VanderJagt.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Denver Police Department

Location Denver, CO

Platform Identity dpd.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 12, 1997

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 47

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; SKS

Offender Committed suicide

Police Officer Bruce VanderJagt is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Denver Police Department, 55 of 74 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 74.3% of this agency's fallen.

Denver Police Department

of 74 officers

74.3% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious