Police officer killed by friendly fire remembered

Officer James Davies killed by friendly fire

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Lakewood Police Officer James "Jim" Davies was killed in the line of duty in the early morning hours of Nov. 9, 2012.
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Posted: 11/11/2012
Last Updated: 189 days ago

DENVER - A 35-year-old Lakewood police officer who was accidentally shot and killed Friday by another officer is being remembered as a focused, undaunted public servant.

Police said James Davies was in the backyard of a home when an officer behind a fence in another yard mistook him for an armed suspect and issued unspecified commands. Davies, who was in full uniform, was shot after he failed to respond.

Sgt. John Hitchens, who oversees the special-enforcement team of which Davies was a member, said "Jim was so single-mindedly focused on doing the job the best he could, he could not be exasperated."

Davies leaves behind a wife and two young children.

The Denver Post reported the last time a Colorado officer was killed by friendly fire was in 1984.

Lakewood police arrested 37-year-old Joe Anthony Ruiz in connection with the case. He was arrested on on suspicion of possession of a weapon by a previous offender and tampering with physical evidence.

Meanwhile, The Post reported the name of the officer who shot Davies is Devaney Braley, an 11-year veteran of the Lakewood Police Department.

7NEWS Reporter Jaclyn Allen tried to talk to Braley at his home, but a Lakewood police officer met her at the door and said Braley would not be commenting.

Lakewood police would not confirm Braley was involved in the shooting, but did confirm he was involved in another fatal shooting in 2009.

The suspect, 25-year-old Eugene Valarde, was accused of pointing a gun at Braley. The Denver district attorney cleared Braley of any wrongdoing.