Estes Park Police Captain Commits Suicide
Estes Park CO Sept 27 2021
A longtime Estes Park police officer was found dead at his home Thursday night after coming under investigation for an allegation of domestic violence.
Friday afternoon the Larimer County Coroner’s Office identified the officer who died as Capt. Eric Rose, 61, and said he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound of the head.
The coroner’s office said the manner of death was suicide.
The town’s police chief, Wes Kufeld, contacted the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Thursday afternoon and asked for the Eighth Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) to assist his agency in investigating the allegation.
After the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Team and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team attempted to contact the officer Thursday night to serve a search warrant, they found him dead in his residence.
“Captain Eric Rose was a dedicated officer with our department for over 26 years, and a highly respected member of our command staff. He began his law enforcement career with our agency, when we hired him in May of 1995,” Kufeld said in a news release the town of Estes Park issued after the coroner’s report.
“He was a born leader who was always community-focused and service-oriented. He was a pillar of the community-oriented policing in which our department prides itself,” Kufeld said. “As Emergency Manager he led our community through floods, fires and so much more. His work positively impacted the safety and sustainability of our community for its residents and visitors. This entire situation is a shock to our team, and I can’t begin to describe the heartache we are feeling. Please keep Eric’s family in your hearts and prayers,” he said.
“We are without words to describe the pain we feel. Estes Park is a small town, and many of us have known Captain Rose and his family for a long time.
