In the winter of 1986, a dedicated 30-year-old male Denver Police Officer named Patrick Joseph Pollock was tragically killed in the line of duty. On December 12th, what began as a lunch break for Officer Pollock and his partner quickly turned into a fatal confrontation. A call came in reporting an armed robbery across the street from the restaurant where they were eating on East Colfax.
Responding immediately, the two officers witnessed a pair of suspects fleeing the scene and began to
chase after them. The pursuit split, with Officer Pollock chasing one of the men into a nearby residential area. As he ran through an open gate, the suspect, who was on parole, ambushed him. The man fired his weapon, striking Officer Pollock in the head.
In the immediate aftermath, Officer Pollock's partner confronted the assailant. The suspect was shot and killed at the scene by the partner, Officer Dan Saracino. Officer Pollock, a seven-year veteran of the Denver Police Department, was rushed to surgery but ultimately succumbed to his wound. The suspect was later identified as Jackie Jones. Because the suspect was killed at the scene, no arrests were made in connection with Officer Pollock's death. He was survived by his mother and brother.
