In Memory
Night Watchman Frank Toal
Night Watchman Frank Toal was shot and killed while confronting a drunk man who was waving a gun inside of a saloon on lower Georgia Street at approximately 1:15 am September 2, 1896.
The man had been in the bar and went home to retrieve a revolver after having been insulted by another patron. He was waving the gun around when Watchman Toal heard the commotion and entered the bar.
He began to retreat out of the saloon as the subject confronted him. The two exchanged shots, and both were mortally wounded. Watchman Toal was taken inside of the saloon where he died. The man who shot him was operated on later in the day but died as a result.
Watchman Toal had been a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, a group that originated with the dedication to end the tyranny of the British monarchy.
Police Officer William Easson & Police Officer Calvin Thacker
Police Officer Calvin Thacker and Police Officer William Easson were shot and killed while making a traffic stop of a local resident on April 7, 1966. Both officers were shot twice during the stop. The subject fled the scene but later surrendered himself to the police. He was convicted of both murders.
Officer Thacker had served with the Vallejo Police Department for seven years. He is survived by his wife and four children while Officer Easson had served with the Vallejo Police Department for five years.
Officer Jeffrey L. Azuar
Officer Jeffrey Azuar was shot and killed after he and another officer attempted to serve a failure to appear warrant on a suspect on April 12, 2000. The officers found the suspect hiding in a garage of the residence. The suspect began physically resisting arrest and then pulled out a handgun and shot Officer Azuar in the head. A third officer who had arrived on scene returned fire and seriously wounded the suspect. Officer Azuar was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He had been a canine handler since 1993.
Officer Azuar had been employed with the Vallejo Police Department for 21 years, and is survived by his daughter.
The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on May 7, 2004.
Officer James L. Capoot
Officer James Capoot was shot and killed during a foot pursuit of bank robbery suspects following a high-speed chase on November 17, 2011. Officer Capoot pursued the suspect vehicle through a residential area, where he executed a PIT maneuver and disabled the suspect vehicle. He pursued the suspect on foot until he was shot several times while in the back yard of a residence.
He was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect was arrested near the scene.
Officer Capoot was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had served the Vallejo Police Department for 19 years and had previously served with the California Highway Patrol for two years. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.