Chief Jensen ordered the Town's police officers to shroud their badges in a sign of solidarity and respect toward the Arvada Police Department, who lost a hero early this morning.  

Badge shrouds are a custom in policing with roots in mourning bands and black funerary shrouds common in military and Old English tradition. Their most apparent symbolism is of the mourning we feel for the fallen. The badge shrouds also create many reminders; they remind every police officer of his or her mortality. They remind the community that its police officers have volunteered to make the ultimate sacrifice, if necessary, on its behalf. They remind the families of the fallen that ours is a noble profession and that their loved one's sacrifice, often dwarfed by the family's sacrifice, will not be forgotten and will not be in vain. 

In the American policing tradition, the badge shroud will be worn across the badge from the moment we learn of the officers' death until they are laid at final rest. The agency for whom the fallen officer worked often wears the shroud for 30 day following the death. KPD officers will remove the badge shrouds following the officer's funeral.

Please join us in paying our respects to the community of Arvada and its police department, the family of the hero officer who died serving out his oath of office, and all those who knew and loved Fallen Police Officer Dillon M. Vakoff who died too young at only 27 years old.