EVERETT, Wash., March 28, 2022 – Everett District Court Judge Tam Bui set bail at $5 million for alleged cop killer, Richard James Rotter. He is facing a life sentence for the charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, 1st degree murder and 2nd degree murder. Capital punishment in the state of Washington was abolished on October 11, 2018.
Rotter was on probation and had outstanding warrants as of last Friday when Everett Police Officer Dan Rocha stopped him in the parking lot of Starbucks near 10th and Broadway across from the Everett Community College campus. A struggle ensued and Rotter shot the officer several times then ran over Officer Rocha’s body with a blue mini cooper.
Rotter led a two-and-a-half-mile chase hitting multiple vehicles to elude police. He was eventually apprehended at 35th and Rucker in Everett fifteen minutes following the brutal slaying of Officer Rocha.
The Everett Police Department has announced the official memorial fund to support the family of Officer Dan Rocha. To donated visit https://www.everettwa.gov/2847/Remembering-Officer-Rocha.
Yesterday, March 27, Officer Rocha’s body was transported privately in a movement with honors by the Everett Police Honor Guard. He was moved to a private funeral home for the family and there will not be a public viewing at this time.
With honor, we are humbled to have been able to assist the Everett Police Honor Guard with the transport of fallen Officer Rocha to a private funeral home today.
The official memorial info : https://t.co/eYlewed4Fg. pic.twitter.com/kxwpxQPiAw
— Everett Fire WA (@EverettFire) March 28, 2022
Officer Rocha was born in Santa Barbara, Cali. and grew up in Los Angeles. He has served with the department since 2017 and lived in Everett for over a decade. He joined as a parking enforcement officer and in 2018 became a fully commissioned law enforcement officer. Officer Rocha is survived by his wife and two sons.
