Dallas Police Department mourns death of 18-year veteran officer Matthew Bacon
DALLAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) — The Dallas Police Department is mourning the death of an 18-year veteran officer who died by suicide the day after his involvement in the fatal shooting of a homicide suspect.
In department-wide memos released after Officer Matthew Bacon's death, Dallas Police Chief Eddie García called his passing "a heartbreaking loss for our DPD family." The chief also urged that other members of the department "never hesitate to reach out."
On Aug. 7, Bacon was part of the U.S. Marshals fugitive task force serving an arrest warrant to Corey Thomas, 36, on South Taylor Street. Thomas was wanted for a murder on July 24 in Dallas, police said.
The department said Bacon, alongside several other officers, found Thomas inside a pickup truck at the apartment complex that day.
Task force officers approached the truck, according to law enforcement, and attempted to block his escape with their cars. Thomas, who was in the driver's seat of the truck, attempted to exit the passenger side door, which was blocked.
The preliminary investigation determined Thomas pointed his gun in the direction of the arresting officers. According to the department, four officers (Bacon included) then fired, striking Thomas. He died later that morning at the hospital.
Over the course of his career, Bacon received more than 80 commendations and helped create a database to more easily identify repeat offenders.
He started his police career in 2005 and his fellow officers say it ended this week like so many days in between—putting his life on the line to make the city safer.