In loving memory of Officer Jim Capoot

Vallejo Police Department

End of Watch: 11/17/2011

Vallejo Police Officer Jim Capoot, 45, died November 17th after being shot during a foot chase with an individual being pursued in connection with a bank robbery.

Officer Capoot was a 19 year veteran police officer.

Vallejo P.D. Sergeant Jeffrey Bassett said the officer was responding to a bank robbery reported at 1:36 p.m. at the Bank of America branch on Springs Road.

Officer Trent Cross with the California Highway Patrol says the police officer spotted an SUV matching the description of one associated with robbery and pursued it on I80 and into a neighborhood north of the Solano County Fairgrounds. Capoot then pursued at least one suspect on foot after they abandoned their vehicle.

There was a confrontation and two or three shots were heard, according to witnesses. Bassett said Capoot was found shot in the backyard of a home. He had not fired his service weapon.

One individual has been arrested; his name has not been released.

The Vallejo Times-Herald reports the bank robbers were described as black men wearing Halloween masks.

Capoot joined the California Highway Patrol in 1990, and then the Vallejo Police Department in 1992. During his career with Vallejo police, Capoot received two Medals of Courage, two Life-Saving Medals and various other departmental recommendations. Capoot also saved the lives of two people by administering CPR, said the VPOA.

Over the past 10 years, Capoot supervised the Vallejo Junior Safety Patrol program, teaching children to act as crossing guards throughout the city, He helped train over 500 children.

Capoot was a former Marine and lived in Vacaville and is survived by his wife Jennifer and three daughters.