A Milton, Vermont, Police officer was shot Wednesday night (April 23) when he responded to a house fire.
Vermont Officer Shot Responding to House Fire, Saved by Vest
Investigators said the officer responded with firefighters to the scene after smoke was seen coming from a window at the home. Vermont State Police said he was shot twice, with one of the bullets stopped by his body armor and the other wounding his leg.

Sergeant Paul Locke of the Milton (Vermont) Police Department. Locke was saved by his vest when he was shot responding to a house fire.
Milton PD/Franklin County SO/Facebook
The wounded officer has been identified by officials as Sergeant Paul Locke. He was treated and released at a local hospital, MyNBC5 reports.
The suspect in the shooting, preliminarily identified as 38-year-old Aaron LaRoche, was a resident of the home. Police said he was found dead inside the home of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Investigators said Locke responded alongside firefighters to the scene after smoke was seen coming from a window at the home. Vermont State Police said he was shot twice, with one of the bullets stopped by his body armor and the other wounding one of his legs.
The suspect barricaded himself inside the home following the shooting. Police tried to persuade the suspect to come out before they eventually deployed flashbang devices and used a drone to enter the home. Once inside, they were able to confirm that he was dead.
No police officers on scene fired their weapons during the incident, according to state police. No other injuries were reported.
An autopsy will be confirmed on the body to positively confirm LaRoche's identity.
More Patrol

ZeroEyes Expands from AI Gun Detection to Knife Detection & Suspect Tracking
ZeroEyes has launched three new product categories to extend beyond firearms to address additional acute safety threats and basic security needs. Knife detection and suspect tracking are now also available.
Read More →
GALLS Acquires CMS Uniforms
GALLS has acquired CMS Uniforms and Equipment, Inc., a prominent regional provider based in Nashville, Tennessee. CMS Uniforms, founded in 2000, has built a reputation for delivering stellar customer service and managing complex uniform programs for more than 670 accounts.
Read More →
Brinc Unveils Guardian, Launching the Next Era of Drone as First Responder
Brinc’s new Guardian delivers 24/7 operations, Starlink connectivity, and a robotic charging nest that can swap batteries and change payload configurations without human intervention.
Read More →
Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis
The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.
Read More →
Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →
Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →
The Mission After the Moment
The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.
Read More →
Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture
Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.
Read More →
K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons
Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup
In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.
Read More →