ESTES PARK, Colo. — An Estes Park police officer was found deceased in his home on Thursday evening as a critical incident response team began to investigate a domestic violence accusation against him.
On Thursday around 2:30 p.m., the chief of the Estes Park Police Department contacted the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office with a request for the Eighth Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) to help his agency with an incident. The chief said a report had alleged that a current Estes Park police officer had committed domestic violence on Sept. 17 in town limits.
The CIRT was initiated, with the sheriff’s office as the lead investigative agency.
Authorities interviewed the officer's family members about the allegations and learned the man was at his home in the 1800 block of Cherokee Drive with two other family members.
Authorities tried to contact the officer, but were not successful so they drafted search warrants. The two family members were safely removed from the residence.
At 9:15 p.m., the authorities were able to enter the home, where they found the officer deceased, according to the sheriff's office.
The Larimer County Coroner's Office identified the officer Friday as Eric Rose, 61. His cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and manner of death was suicide, the coroner's office ruled.
Estes Park city leadership said Eric Rose was a captain with the police department and expressed devastation at his suicide. Police Chief Wes Kufeld said Rose had been with the department for more than 26 years.
"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," Kufeld said in a statement.
"We are without words to describe the pain we feel," said Estes Park Mayor Wendy Koenig. "Estes Park is a small town, and many of us have known Captain Rose and his family personally for decades. Please join us in sending thoughts and prayers to Eric's family. Our hearts also go out to his fellow Police officers and Town staff, who are all suffering a great loss."
The CIRT is continuing the investigation.
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