West Jordan police funeral service, procession for fallen K-9
Feb 25, 2022, 9:22 AM | Updated: Feb 28, 2022, 8:38 pm
WEST JORDAN, Utah — Officials with the West Jordan Police Department held a funeral service and procession for K-9 Maya, who was shot and killed while police responded to reports of an aggravated assault and a woman being held against her will on Feb. 17.
Officials said the woman was able to escape from the suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Zachary Tyler Alvarenga, of West Jordan.
Alvarenga evaded police and threatened the woman’s family before he was located in the parking lot of a South Jordan credit union.
UPDATE: Man killed by police was soldier in Utah National Guard
“While fleeing from officers, Mr. Alvarenga fired rounds toward the pursuing officers. PSD Maya was struck by gunfire and succumbed to her injuries. She saved the lives of many officers that night and will be remembered as a hero,” police said.
Authorities said eight officers from different departments fired shots at Alvarenga, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
“These officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation as is standard protocol for an officer-involved critical incident,” police said.
Several police agency vehicles sat parked outside the veterinary hospital following the shooting, with an honor guard standing watch. They then took off on a procession to escort the body.
A funeral service was held Monday morning. It is closed to the public, but police said it will be livestreamed on the city’s Facebook page.
The procession began at 10:30 a.m. Monday. It began at 4431 Lifeline Lane and end at the Jordan School District Auxiliary Services Building, located at 7905 South Redwood Rd.
A GoFundMe* page has been set up to help West Jordan police purchase a new K-9.
*KSL-TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
