Fallen Cowlitz County deputy honored with memorial
Apr 24, 2019, 10:31 AM | Updated: Apr 25, 2019, 7:07 am
A memorial service for slain Cowlitz County Deputy Justin DeRosier was held on Wednesday on the University of Portland campus.
A procession preceding the service began at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds.
Derosier, a 2012 graduate of Washington State University, was shot on April 13 in Kalama while he was examining a motor home that was blocking part of a road.
“He loved his job,” said Cowlitz County Undersheriff Darren Ullman, fighting back tears. “He was incredibly good at it.”
He was airlifted to PeaceHealth Medical Center in Vancouver where he later died during surgery before his wife and parents could arrive.
Derosier graduated from Kelso High School in 2008 and was made a Cowlitz County sheriff’s deputy in 2016.
“He had that presence that couldn’t be overlooked,” said Ullman. “And he will be with us forever. And he’ll be truly missed.”
The suspect in Derosier’s death, 33-year-old Brian Dellaann Butts, was fatally shot by police officers after he ran out of the woods with a firearm on April 14. Click here to read more.
