Laguna Beach motor police officer killed in traffic accident

Laguna Beach motor police officer killed in traffic accident A Laguna Beach motor police officer Jon Coutchie was killed near Cleo Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach just before midnight Saturday. It’s alleged he died in a crash while he was pursuing a reckless driver. As he approached Cleo Street north bound at a high rate of speed he struck a pickup truck turning left in front of him and was thrown head over his bike into the street. police said. According to the California Highway Patrol the driver of the truck suffered minor injuries. Neither drugs nor alcohol were factors in the crash. Witnesses reportedly rushed to assist the fallen officer. “As soon as I saw him go down, I ran up to help the poor guy and he was already lifeless,” Ian Paul said. Paul, who was walking in the area at the time, said he stayed with the officer as another pedestrian administered CPR. “I tried to talk to the officer and there was no response,” Paul said. Members of the Laguna Beach Police Department were said to be devastated by the news. On Sunday morning officers could be seen crying and hugging as they placed flowers near the crash site. Coutchie was born on Oct. 2, 1971 in Tucson, Ariz., and was raised in Orange County. He graduated from Laguna Hills High School in 1989. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, he enlisted and became an Army Ranger, serving from 2003-2007. He completed tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he became a part-time jailer at the Laguna Beach Police Department. The department sponsored him through the Goldenwest Police Academy in 2008. He completed his training in March 2009 and become a full-time motorcycle officer four years ago. "It is with the heaviest of heart that we announce the death of one of our motor officers," Kravetz said in a prepared statement.  "Please understand that our Police Department is suffering from this tragic loss." "We will forever miss and love Jon here at the police department and will grieve along with the citizens of this community," said  Capt. Kravetz. A Brother Laguna Beach Police officer at the scene of the crash went to Ralph’s supermarket to get an American flag to drape over his body that lay in the street "as an honor to his sacrifice as an Army Ranger and Laguna Beach Police Officer," the Laguna Beach Police Employees' Association said on their Facebook page. It is the first line-of-duty death of an LBPD officer since 1953. He is survived by his mother, father, brother, step-sister and girlfriend. Michael Webster Laguna Journal.