Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Derek Kotecki was shot and killed while investigating reports of a wanted man at a local fast food restaurant. The man was wanted for a shooting ten days earlier and for threatening police officers during the previous week.
The subject was hiding by laying in the back seat of his SUV. As Patrolman Kotecki and his canine, Odin, approached, the man suddenly sat up opened fire from a distance of about 10 feet. Patrolman Kotecki was struck in the head, abdomen, and left arm.
The man then fled, but was confronted by other officers as he attempted to climb a fence behind the restaurant. He was killed during an exchange of shots with the responding officers.
K9 Odin was uninjured but had to be muzzled after refusing to leave Patrolman Kotecki's side.
Patrolman Kotecki had served with the Lower Burrell Police Department for 18 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-923953F9- 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.
Patrolman Kotecki gave the Lower Burrell Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lower Burrell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Kotecki.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Derek Kotecki 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Derek Kotecki's cause is highlighted.
How Derek Kotecki Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Derek Kotecki is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Derek Kotecki was killed by handgun.