Show Low Police Officer Darrin Reed was laid to rest today. Officer Reed, age 50, was a 10 year veteran with Show Low Police Department. He was scheduled to retire in February.
Thousands came to pay their respects to Officer Reed. A viewing was held at the Owens Livingston Mortuary,followed by a procession from the mortuary to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Stake Center.
Officer Reed and other officers responded to a suspicions person call at a motel but were unable to locate the subject. They were called back to the location after leaving the initial call. When Officer Reed and other officers arrived, they located the man who then fled on foot. During the ensuing pursuit, the man produced a handgun and fired, striking Officer Reed.
Officer Reed was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his wounds.
The subject fled the scene and was later located in the Pinetop-Lakeside area, where he was barricaded in a cabin with a teenage hostage. After several hours of negotiation, the subject was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire.
Officer Reed was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He had previously served with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years.