West Valley City police are mourning the death of 25-year-old Officer Cody Brotherson, who was killed in the line of duty early Sunday morning. He was struck by a stolen vehicle around 3 a.m. on Sunday. Brotherson’s funeral is set for 10 a.m. November 14 at the Maverik Center in West Valley City.
West Valley City Police Chief Lee Russo says the investigation is ongoing and it’s unclear whether the suspects meant to hit Brotherson.
Russo says all three suspects are juveniles and in custody. No other information about them has been released.
“The investigation itself is rather complex,” Russo says, “because of the manner of death with a vehicle impact, that accident has to be reconstructed. There are some very complex measurements and computations that have to happen. It’s not something you can do overnight.”
The Unified Police Department is handling the investigation. Brotherson is the first West Valley City police officer killed in the line of duty in the city’s history. He is the second officer killed in Utah this year.
Chief Russo remembered Brotherson as a young officer who had aspired to serve his community. Russo told reporters on Monday that he and his wife had recently run into Brotherson and his family outside of work.
“We probably talked for 40 or so minutes,” Russo said. “We’re laughing, and Cody the whole time was talking about work and how excited he was and what it was like being a police officer and achieving his dream. And his brothers just beamed over him and what he was telling us, and you could just see how proud they all were.”
Cody Brotherson leaves behind his parents, two brothers and a fiancée.
His patrol car is parked behind West Valley City Hall, where Russo says the community can pay respects. A candlelight vigil will be held there on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
