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West Valley City • Three teenagers remained in police custody on Monday in connection with the Sunday death of West Valley City police Officer Cody Brotherson, who was hit and killed by the suspects' car during a police chase.
"The investigation itself is very complex because of the manner of death with a vehicle impact," Police Chief Lee Russo said Monday. "That accident has to be reconstructed and there are some very complex measurements and computations that have to happen. It's not something you can do overnight."
As investigators continue to investigate the crash scene — including determining whether the driver struck Brotherson intentionally — Russo said their police force and community continue to mourn the first officer killed in the line of duty since the city was formed in 1980.
Brotherson's patrol car, adorned with a blue memoriam sash, a photo of the officer and blue and black roses, is now parked at Fairbourne Plaza, just west of City Hall, and will remain there for several days as a focal point for condolences. It will also be where a vigil will be held on Wednesday at 7 p.m., Russo said.
"We're going to ask the community to come out and share their grief with us," the chief said.
Brotherson's funeral will be held next Monday at 10 a.m. at the Maverik Center, located at 3200 S. Decker Lake Drive (about 2000 West).
The Utah 1033 Foundation, a nonprofit that gives financial support to families of officers who die on duty, said Monday in a news release that it had given a check for $25,000 to Brotherson's family.
He had been on the police force for three years. Russo on Monday recalled a chance meeting he had with the young officer last month, when he saw Brotherson at an Oktoberfest celebration he attended with his wife. Brotherson spoke of how excited he was to achieve his dream of being a police officer, as his brothers stood beside him, proud.
"Thirty-two years ago that was me," Russo recalled telling his wife. "I looked at this young man and said, 'He's got a bright future ahead of him.' And yesterday I got a phone call. And it was over."
Brotherson, who is the second Utah police officer to die in the line of duty this year, leaves behind a fiancée, two brothers and his parents.
Events leading to his death began a little after 3 a.m. Sunday, when officers saw a silver BMW coupe with Florida plates that they deemed suspicious. The saw three people walking from the car to the Boulder Pines Apartment Complex, at 1535 W. 4040 South, and watched as the trio allegedly stole a vehicle.
The officers tried to stop that vehicle, but the driver punched it on 4100 South, heading west. Officers threw tire spikes near Redwood Road, but that didn't stop the suspects.
It appears that Brotherson, who pulled his car over near 2200 West, was attempting to lay down another set of tire spikes when the suspects' car hit him. The chase lasted less than a minute.
Brotherson died at the scene, about 50 yards west of his police car.
The suspects' vehicle was run off the road and became disabled, Russo said. The three — ages 14, 15 and 15 — ran and were later arrested, apparently without injury.
Jenny Brotherson, Brotherson's mother, on Sunday described her son as someone with a loyal heart who would do anything for those he loved.
"Our amazing and beautiful son, brother, nephew, friend and boyfriend wanted to be a police officer his entire life," Brotherson said as she stood outside the family home in West Valley City surrounded by the officer's loved ones. "That dream was realized three years ago but was cut short this morning."
She said the family is proud of what Brotherson did with his life and thanked the West Valley City Police Department and its officers for their support.
"As a family, we ask that when you see a police officer, you give them the support and respect that they deserve," Brotherson said.
Fallen officer to be honored during Wednesday night vigil in West Valley City
West Valley City police Officer Cody Brotherson's patrol car — adorned with a blue memoriam sash, a photo of the officer, and blue and black roses — will be parked at Fairbourne Plaza, just west of West Valley City' city hall, 3600 S. Constitution Blvd. (2700 West), for several days as a focal point for condolences.
That will also be the location of a vigil Wednesday at 7 p.m. Brotherson's funeral will be held Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at the Maverick Center, located at 3200 S. Decker Lake Drive (about 2000 West).