SGT. Michael Moran

Officer: Cortez Police Department, Sergeant Michael Moran

Date: 11/29/2023        Location: Cortez, CO             FACTORS (1,2,7,8,15,19)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Jason Campbell

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Unknown. / Yes, Campbell was driving recklessly.

Mental Illness: Unknown.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/44

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 11:30 a.m. on November 29, 2023, upon responding to a 911 call of a reckless driver, Cortez Police Department Sergeant Michael Moran conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated recklessly by Jason Campbell.

Actions taken by subject toward police: Campbell ambushed Sgt. Moran at the onset of the traffic stop, shooting at him several times with a handgun. Sgt. Moran managed to return fire before dying from his wounds while Campbell fled the scene and drove to a self-storage facility about 1 ½ miles away.  

Reactions by the police: Officers with the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and Cortez Police Department apprehended Campbell soon after at the storage facility and killed him during a gun battle.

How murdered? Sgt. Moran was ambushed and fatally shot during a traffic stop.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? NA, Sgt. Moran was ambushed while conducting a traffic stop.

Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? Sgt. Moran was ambushed and used justified deadly force as soon as he could.

Outcome for the cop-killer: Campbell was justifiably shot dead during a gun battle with back-up officers.

Miscellaneous: There is remarkably little press about Campbell’s drug, arrest, or mental health history.