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Ariz. police officer dies after being hit at crash scene
Officer Paul Rutherford was directing traffic at the scene of an earlier crash when he was hit by another vehicle
Duty Death: Paul Rutherford - [Phoenix, Arizona]
End of Service: 03/21/2019
By Police1 Staff
PHOENIX — A 23-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department was hit and killed after responding to the scene of a crash Thursday morning.
Officer Paul Rutherford was directing traffic at the scene of an earlier crash when he was hit by another vehicle. ODMP.org reported that he was taken to the hospital where he died.
Rutherford is survived by his wife and two children.
"Our community has a reason to mourn because once again one of our officers was killed in the line of duty," Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams told AZCentral.
Officials have not released the details about how he was hit, but the driver of the vehicle did remain on the scene.
"This is just another example of the inherent dangers that our officers face each and every day and yet they put that blue uniform on and go out and serve our community," Williams said.
Rutherford is the 39th line-of-duty death in the Phoenix Police Department.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic line of duty death of Phoenix Police Officer Paul Rutherford. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Rutherford's family, friends and PD family. #NeverForget #thinblueline pic.twitter.com/sSifCBHxKl
— Goodyear Police Dept (@Goodyearpolice) March 21, 2019
Our hearts are with the @phoenixpolice and the colleagues, family and friends of Officer Paul Rutherford who lost his life this morning. #EOW #fallenofficer #phoenixpolicedepartment pic.twitter.com/XO8c7VJVMF
— 100 Club of Arizona (@100ClubAZ) March 21, 2019
