Memorial Service For Everett Officer Set For Next Week

EVERETT, WA — The public has been invited to attend a memorial for former Everett Police Department Officer Dan Rocha.

Rocha, 41, was killed Friday, shot by a suspect in the parking lot of an Everett Starbucks. Rocha had been with Everett PD for four years, starting in parking enforcement before becoming a commissioned officer in 2018.

"He served the City of Everett as a patrol officer in North Everett for most of his career and was well respected by both the community and his fellow officers," the department wrote in a statement. "His loss will forever leave a void in our agency and our community. Officer Rocha is survived by his wife, two sons and large extended family."

A memorial for Rocha has been set up for Monday, April 4th at 1:00 p.m. at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. It will be open to the public, who are invited to attend and express their condolences.

The City of Everett is also collecting donations to support Rocha's family and finance portions of the memorial the city is not legally able to fund. More information about the fund can be found on the city's website.

"There are no words to make sense of this tragedy or to ease the pain for Officer Rocha’s grieving family," said Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman. " Officer Rocha was a loving husband and father and a role model for his two sons. They should be very proud of their dad, as he gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting our community. I ask that you keep Officer Rocha’s family and the men and women of the Everett Police Department in your thoughts and prayers as we all process this horrible tragedy."

In Friday's incident, a 50-year-old man opened fire on Rocha after some kind of altercation in a Starbucks parking lot. Police said the suspect fled the area in a blue Mini Cooper and ran over the officer's body as he sped away.

According to The Everett Herald, a pursuit ended with the man crashing into multiple vehicles near 35th Street and Rucker Avenue, including a van that rolled onto its side. Law enforcement said officers arrested the man at the scene and took him to the hospital, where he remains. When he is discharged, he will be booked into the Snohomish County Jail. His identity has not been formally released.

Rocha's death came just 10 days after Pierce County deputy Dom Calata was shot and killed during a SWAT operation in Spanaway.