PO Dillon Vakoff
Officer: Arvada Police Department, Police Officer Dillon Michael Vakoff
Date: 9/11/2022 Location: Arvada, CO FACTORS (1,2,7,9,15,18,19,21)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Sonny Thomas Almanza
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Almanza was arrested in 2008 on multiple charges and pled guilty to felony assault with a deadly weapon resulting in serious bodily injury. He was originally sentenced to 15 years but that was later reduced to only six years in the Youthful Offender System. / Yes, Almanza committed numerous crimes leading up to shooting PO Vakoff.
Mental Illness: Unknown.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None reported.
Race/Sex/Age: Latino/Male/31
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At just after 1:40 a.m. on September 11, 2022, Arvada police officers responded to a 911 call of a “large family disturbance.” Upon arrival at the incident location, the officers observed a domestic dispute in the street, so they took immediate action trying to separate the “belligerent and uncooperative” people.
Actions taken by subject toward police: As the officers were trying to get the people to calm down, Sonny Almanza, the man at the center of the domestic custody dispute opened fire with a handgun, injuring a woman in the group and killing Officer Dillon Vakoff.
Reactions by the police: The other officers returned fire at Almanza, injuring him enough for police to take him into custody. Almanza was then transported to a hospital for treatment while under arrest.
How murdered? PO Vakoff was ambushed while handling a large domestic disturbance.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? This incident shows how vulnerable officers are when they are outnumbered and trying to break up a group of people arguing/fighting with each other. It is impossible for officers to keep their eyes on every person involved or to know if any of them are armed, which is why officers will order people to show their hands.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? PO Vakoff was ambushed and shot before he was able to use deadly force.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Almanza was injured in the shoot-out, arrested, taken to the hospital for treatment and has been charged with first-degree murder with extreme indifference, criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, child abuse and crime of violence.
Miscellaneous: Had Almanza’s original prison sentence not been reduced, PO Dillon Vakoff could still be alive.
