Maricopa County sheriff's lieutenant fatally struck while conducting traffic in Scottsdale
A Maricopa County sheriff's lieutenant was struck and killed by a vehicle while working off-duty to control traffic Wednesday morning near 87th Street and McDowell Road in Scottsdale, according to sheriff's officials.
Lt. Chad Brackman had serious injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to a statement from Sgt. Monica Bretado, a Sheriff's Office spokesperson.
Brackman was a 22-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office.
Scottsdale police officers responded to the area for a collision involving a pedestrian, police officials tweeted about 10:15 a.m.
Sgt. Kevin Quon, a Scottsdale Police Department spokesperson, said the driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and was also transported to a hospital. Quon said he did not know if the driver was being taken into custody or just being treated for their injuries.
He added that it was too early to say whether speed or impairment were factors in the collision. Quon said police were still investigating how the collision occurred.
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone shared his grief at a Wednesday news conference, saying that he knew Brackman personally and that the agency had sustained a heavy loss with his death.
"Any loss of life is tragic," Penzone said. "It's just something heavier, something more difficult to deal with when you see that people who dedicate their life to public service, committed to care for others are taken from us so tragically in circumstances that in the case I don't even have the words for."
Penzone said Brackman was 47 years old and leaves behind a wife, two children, two stepchildren and a large extended family.
"Although we will feel this very deeply and suffer from it, we will not be broken," Penzone said. "But we will mourn heavily the loss of our friend and our family member."
Brackman's death comes about a month after Sheriff's Office Deputy Juan Ruiz died after being beaten unconscious by a man he was placing into a holding cell.
The roadway will remain closed for a few hours while officers investigate, according to an email from Officer Aaron Bolin, a Police Department spokesperson. McDowell Road will be shut down, in east and west directions, from Granite Reef to Pima roads.
Police suggested using McKellips and Thomas roads as alternates.
Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maricopa County Sheriff Office Lt. Chad Brackman killed in Scottsdale
