Slain Colorado Officer was Ambushed by Gunman who Hated Police
“While we yet don’t have all the facts, I can tell you that Gordon was targeted because he was wearing an Arvada police uniform and a badge,” Chief Link Strate said. “Officer Beasley was ambushed by a person who expressed hatred of police officers.”

Arvada, CO, officer Gordon Beesley was killed responding to a call Monday. Chief Link Strate says he was ambushed. (Photo: Arvada PD)
The police officer killed in Arvada, CO, Monday was ambushed by a shooter targeting law enforcement, and a man described by authorities as a “Samaritan” prevented further bloodshed before he was killed as well, police announced Tuesday.
Arvada police Chief Link Strate identified the Samaritan as John Hurley, 40, of Golden, during a news conference at which officials offered few new details about Monday’s shooting in the Olde Town Arvada shopping and dining district that also claimed the life of Officer Gordon Beesley, the Denver Post reports.
Around 1:15 p.m. Monday, Beesley responded to a call about a suspicious incident near the Arvada library, police said. Soon after, calls about a shooting poured into the 911 dispatch center.
“While we yet don’t have all the facts, I can tell you that Gordon was targeted because he was wearing an Arvada police uniform and a badge,” Strate said. “Officer Beasley was ambushed by a person who expressed hatred of police officers.”
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the shooting suspect as Ronald Troyke, 59.
Police have offered few details about Monday’s events, including identifying who is believed to have shot Troyke and how exactly Hurley came to be involved. It’s not clear when other Arvada police officers reached the scene after Beesley responded to initial calls.
Strate called Hurley “a true hero who likely disrupted what could have been a larger loss of life.”
More Patrol

Team Wendy Introduces the EXFIL Endurance Ballistic Helmet, Engineered to Reduce the Burden of Extended Wear
Team Wendy has launched its EXFIL Endurance, a new lightweight ballistic helmet engineered to deliver protection, comfort, and fit during demanding, extended operations.
Read More →
The First Responders Children’s Foundation National First Responders Day Roll Call of Heroes Ceremony Returns to Times Square, NYC
First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), in collaboration with T-Mobile, will host the Roll Call of Heroes ceremony in Times Square to commemorate National First Responders Day on Wednesday, Oct. 28. During the event, FRCF will present 18 Hero Awards.
Read More →
Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products for Law Enforcement Professionals at IACP 2026
Streamlight will showcase its newest lights for law enforcement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference & Expo. Featured lights will include the TLR-3 X, the PolyTac 1X, and more.
Read More →
Streamlight Portable Scene Light III Wins 2026 OH&S New Product of the Year Award
Streamlight’s Portable Scene Light III has won the 2026 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) New Product of the Year Award in the Lighting category.
Read More →
Adept Armor Introduces Two New Rifle Plates
Adept Armor has launched two new Level IV ballistic plates, the Emperor and the Archon Mark 2, which brings Adept Armor’s new Quatroid ceramic to the high-threat, performance-value center of the range at 5.2 pounds.
Read More →
POLICE Product Test: Benchmade Bailout
The Benchmade Bailout is a slim, lightweight carry knife with a deep-ride pocket clip and comes in a variety of blade steels and scales. Here is a detailed review of the Taiga Green Bailout, released earlier this year.
Read More →
NLEOMF Announces July 2026 Officer of the Month
NLEOMF honored a Michigan deputy sheriff as the July 2026 Officer of the Month for rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a Fourth of July crash.
Read More →
Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products at National Safety Council’s Safety Congress & Expo 2026
Streamlight will showcase its latest lights, including the Portable Scene Light III and the LiteBox 1Million, at the 2026 National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo.
Read More →
The 2027 World Police & Fire Games Set for Perth, Australia
The 2027 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) will take place in Perth, Western Australia, from Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 21, 2027.
Read More →
5.11 Partners with National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to Support #ForThe343
5.11 has joined the nationwide movement honoring the 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
Read More →