He was a member of the Lower Burrell Police Department, Pennsylvania. He had 18 years of service.Derek was shot and killed while investigating reports of a wanted man at a local fast food restaurant. The man was wanted for a shooting ten days earlier and for threatening police officers during the previous week.
As Patrolman Kotecki and his canine approached, the man suddenly opened fire. Patrolman Kotecki suffered a fatal wound. The subject then fled but was approached by other officers as he attempted to climb a fence behind the restaurant. He was killed during an exchange of shots with the responding officers.
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| Michael, Archangel, Patron Saint of the Police, pray for Derek |
The dog was uninjured but had to be muzzled after refusing to leave Patrolman Kotecki's side.
Derek graduated from Burrell High School. He patrolled the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, as a part-time officer before joining the Lower Burrell police force in October 1993 at age 22.
Patrolman Kotecki was involved with some of the first Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programs in Burrell School District.
Police officials stated that Derek was a great officer.
Friends describe Derek as hard-working and compassionate with a great sense of humor. He is also described as competent and professional.
Derek is survived by many loving friends and relatives including his father and mother, Richard and Elizabeth Kotecki; his wife, Julie; sons, Nicholas and Alexander and his sister, Kelly Stephenson.
Pray for all who die in the line of duty.
Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Derek Kotecki is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.
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