Community members honor El Paso County Deputy killed in the line of duty one year ago
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - Monday, Aug. 7, 2023 marks one year since El Paso County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Peery died while responding to a shooting.
On Aug. 7, 2022, Deputy Peery and two Fountain Police Officers arrived at a Security-Widefield home on reports of a shooting and were "immediately met with gunfire."
The 39-year-old SWAT operator and father of two was shot at the scene. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Before coming to El Paso County, Peery served in the Infantry from 2001 to 2014 before beginning his career as a police officer in Bakersfield, California.
"Andrew is a hero," Sargeant Robert Pair with the Bakersfield Police Department told KRDO in 2022. "He was a hero when he worked here, and every day he gave his heart to this community. I can only assume that he went on to do the same for where he ultimately paid that ultimate sacrifice."
Today, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office honored his memory in a special remembrance ceremony.
During the ceremony, El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal gave a speech to a crowd of Deputy Peery's family and friends and members of various law enforcement agencies.
Roybal emphasized Deputy Peery's love for his children, who were both in attendance at the ceremony. He also talked about the deputy's selflessness and his many achievements throughout his career as a veteran, a police officer, and a SWAT operator for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
"He was lighthearted," said Roybal. "He liked to joke, except when he was on the range, and he took that very seriously. But he knew when to deploy humor and when to have fun. He liked to keep things light because he knew this is a stressful job."
After the ceremony, Sheriff Roybal extended his condolences to the family of former Marine Alex Paz, who also died in the Aug. 7, 2022 shooting.
Alex's mother told KRDO in 2022 that she would light up a room when she walked in. She had dreams of becoming a veterinarian.
The ceremony happened at 10 a.m. and KRDO streamed that ceremony at the link above.
