{"id":30302,"date":"2023-12-06T20:09:24","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T03:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/hundreds-pay-tribute-to-fallen-cortez-police-officer\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T01:16:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T07:16:11","slug":"hundreds-pay-tribute-to-fallen-cortez-police-officer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/hundreds-pay-tribute-to-fallen-cortez-police-officer\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds pay tribute to fallen Cortez police officer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The
The body of Cortez Police Department, Sgt. Michael Moran, is escorted on Wednesday, Dec., 6, 2023, in a procession of hundreds of law enforcement vehicles down Main Street to the Cortez Recreation Center for his funeral. Moran was fatally shot and killed in the line of duty this past Wednesday. Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Community members expressed shock, sadness and solidarity Wednesday in Cortez as a procession of first responders ferried the body of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran to his funeral.<\/p>\n

Bundled against the chilly morning air, collective mourners lined both sides of Main Street, from Chestnut to Harrison streets, as a river of slow-moving emergency vehicles \u2013 red and blue lights flashing \u2013 rolled through the silent street.<\/p>\n

The procession included 192 vehicles and 436 officers from 72 agencies across Southwest Colorado and as far away as Aurora, Farmington and Blanding, Utah.<\/p>\n

Some onlookers held American flags. Some removed their ball caps. Some placed a hand over their heart and bowed their heads in tribute. Others held cellphones to capture video as the seemingly endless caravan of vehicles made a slow crawl through downtown Cortez.<\/p>\n

All were there to pay respects to family members and colleagues of Sgt. Moran, who was gunned down during a routine traffic stop Nov. 29 in the 800 block of South Broadway Street in southwest Cortez.<\/p>\n

\"People
People line Main Street for the funeral procession of Cortez Police Department, Sgt. Michael Moran. Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The shooter, Jason Campbell, 44, of Ogden, Utah, was located \u201cwithin minutes\u201d about 1\u00bd miles south of the traffic stop at Aces Storage, where he was shot and killed by law enforcement.<\/p>\n

Police have released few details about the suspect or possible motives.<\/p>\n

Shak Powers, a lifelong resident of Cortez, said it was important for him to come out Wednesday and show his respects. The community grieves for its officer, his family and the Cortez Police Department, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey support us every hour of every day of our lives, and when something tragic happens we\u2019re called upon to show support for an hour or two \u2013 that\u2019s not asking very much,\u201d said Powers, as he stood near Market Street and Main Street.<\/p>\n

The killing of a police officer in a small town like Cortez shatters the sense of community safety, he said. But the impact is even more profound for law enforcement. The profession has already faced \u201cbacklash\u201d for various reasons across the country, he said. The killing of a police officer only heightens safety concerns and further detracts from law enforcement as a public service calling, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people may say, \u2018You know, it\u2019s not worth it,\u2019\u201d Powers said. \u201cAnd I think others may step up to the call.<\/p>\n

\"The
The body of Cortez Police Department, Sgt. Michael Moran, is escorted Wednesday by hundreds of law enforcement vehicles down Main Street to the Cortez Recreation Center for his funeral. Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cThese things are going to weigh on their (officers\u2019) hearts and minds for a long time. I imagine every officer in the Four Corners is going to maybe have a little sinking feeling in their stomach or heart when they pull somebody over for a traffic violation right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michael Ferland, who worked briefly in law enforcement, said he would have liked to have seen more people line Main Street. It is a showing of respect, and schools should have closed to allow children and families to pay their respects, he said.<\/p>\n

Brad Dreier said he pulled his two daughters out of school for the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is more educational than anything they\u2019re going to learn in school today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

His daughters, Lexi, 7, and Kenna, 9, held large American flags as the procession inched eastward on Main Street.<\/p>\n

For many residents, Sgt. Moran\u2019s death was an unwelcome reminder of the last time a Cortez Police Department officer was gunned down in the line of duty.<\/p>\n

Dale Claxton, 45, was shot and killed during a traffic stop 25 years ago.<\/p>\n

Three suspects \u2013 Robert Mason, Jason McVean and Alan Pilon \u2013 drove away from the May 29, 1998, traffic stop, kicking off a multiweek regional search that included 500 officers from 54 agencies.<\/p>\n

\"Law
Law enforcement makes their way to the Cortez Recreation Center on Wednesday for Cortez Police Department, Sgt. Michael Moran\u2019s funeral. Moran was fatally shot and killed in the line of duty this past Wednesday Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

All three suspects were eventually found dead in the Utah desert. Mason\u2019s remains\u2019 were found about two weeks after the shooting, Pilon\u2019s remains were found more than a year later, and McVean\u2019s remains were found nine years later. All three likely died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds while on the run.<\/p>\n

Residents said Wednesday\u2019s procession for Sgt. Moran seemed bigger than the one held in 1998 for Claxton, likely because so many law enforcement personnel were busy in the weeks after Claxton\u2019s death searching for the suspects.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just brings it all back,\u201d said Kim George of Dolores.<\/p>\n

George, who used to work as a volunteer with the Montezuma County Sheriff\u2019s Office, said a lot of officers retired earlier than they otherwise would have after Claxton\u2019s shooting. They decided it was no longer worth the risk, she said. She worries the same could happen in the wake of Sgt. Moran\u2019s shooting.<\/p>\n

\"Jerry
Jerry McBride\/Durango HeraldThe funeral precession of Cortez Police Department, Sgt. Michael Moran, arrives at the Cortez Recreation Center on Wednesday, Dec., 6, 2023. Moran was fatally shot and killed in the line of duty this past Wednesday.<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

George said police officers go to work to protect the community \u2013 \u201cto protect us from all sorts of things that you don\u2019t think about\u201d \u2013 and they have a right to go home at the end of their shift.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat day, (Sgt. Moran) got out of his car and he lost his life and he didn\u2019t deserve it \u2013 he did not deserve it,\u201d George said. \u201cHe should be going home to his kids. His kids now have no dad.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is important the community show its love, support and appreciation for officers who put their lives on the line, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can show our love, we can show we care,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s what it boils down to, is that we care.\u201d<\/p>\n

In recognition of Moran\u2019s service, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis ordered flags be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Wednesday at public buildings statewide.<\/p>\n

\"The
The funeral precession of Cortez Police Department, Sgt. Michael Moran, passes under a giant sized flag that the Cortez Fire Protection District placed on Wednesday, Dec., 6, 2023, in Cortez. Moran was fatally shot and killed in the line of duty this past Wednesday.<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cI am saddened to hear of the tragic passing of the Cortez police officer in the line of duty,\u201d he said in a statement. \u201c \u2026 This officer dedicated (his) career to serving and protecting (his) community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The procession began about 8:20 a.m. and traveled east on Main Street from about Elm Street to the Cortez Recreation Center.<\/p>\n

Ethan Summa of Towaoc said he took a citizen\u2019s police academy with Sgt. Moran, who served as an instructor.<\/p>\n

\u201cSgt. Moran was professional, he was respectful,\u201d Summa said. \u201cHe was a great man. He had that code of ethics, the respect and the integrity and everything that came with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moran\u2019s death has left its mark on the community, from the schools to the wider community, he said. It has created headlines across the country and sparked support from \u201cofficer down\u201d organizations.<\/p>\n

Vesta Mizell, who also took a citizen\u2019s police academy class with Moran, said she was on her way to New Mexico where she works as a teacher on Wednesday morning. She saw law enforcement staging for the procession and began to cry.<\/p>\n

She decided to call in and stay in town.<\/p>\n

She said Moran was a \u201cchill dude\u201d \u2013 once you got to know him. Prior to meeting him, he seemed \u201cserious,\u201d \u201cstoic\u201d and had a \u201csolid poker face,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"A
A Farmington Police Department officer salutes as the body of Cortez Police Department, Sgt. Michael Moran, arrives at the Cortez Recreation Center on Wednesday. Moran was fatally shot and killed in the line of duty Nov. 29. Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Moran taught a drone class.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was really patient with us,\u201d she said. \u201cOnce you got to know him, you realize there\u2019s a lot behind that face. When we had the class, he was super sweet \u2013 just great. He helped everybody and he was patient.\u201d<\/p>\n

Casey Warner, with the Montezuma County Patriots, said as a \u201cpatriot\u201d he has a natural instinct to take matters into his own hands. But he knows the police are there to handle certain matters.<\/p>\n

People don\u2019t realize a simple traffic stop can be a life-or-death situation, he said.<\/p>\n

The shooting death of a police officer is a reminder of the dangers law enforcement face everyday, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCortez doesn\u2019t see things like this,\u201d he said. \u201cTo be a part of something so big in Cortez, it just touches my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erwin Lobato of Cortez said law enforcement are people like everyone else, but with bigger hearts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a hero,\u201d Erwin said of Sgt. Moran. \u201cHe\u2019s out here protecting all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

shane@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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