Governor Newsom releases statement on fallen Vacaville officer
(Photo courtesy Vacaville Police Department)
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his condolences to the Vacaville Police Department on Thursday after a motorcycle officer with the agency was fatally struck by an impaired driver.
In a statement released by the Governor’s Office early Thursday evening, Newsom said he and California First Partner Jennifer Newsom “join the loved ones, friends and colleagues mourning the loss of Officer Matthew Bowen, who was tragically killed while on duty today."
“We are grateful for the many brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities,” Newsom said. “Officer Bowen’s service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
Newsom has ordered Capitol flags to be lowered to half-staff. A flag outside the Vacaville Police Department’s headquarters on Merchant Street was lowered accordingly earlier in the evening.
(Photo by Matthew Keys for Solano NewsNet)
Bowen, 32, was conducting a routine traffic investigation along the intersection of Leisure Town Road and Orange Drive when police say he was struck from behind by a sedan. Bowen was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries.
A spokesperson with the California Highway Patrol said 24-year-old Serena Rodriguez of Auburn was arrested at the scene and later booked into the Solano County Jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide and driving while under the impairment of drugs.
The CHP is still investigating what happened.
(Photo by Matthew Keys for Solano NewsNet)
At a press conference Thursday evening, Vacaville Police Chief Ian Schmutzler said Bowen was a “tremendous police officer, [and] an even better human being.”
“Today is the day that every chief hopes never comes,” Schmutzler said, standing in front of police headquarters, where the flag was lowered to half-staff.
“Matt was a magnetic personality, someone who always had a smile on his face, a positive attitude, loved his family and loved his community,” Schmutzler continued. “Because of that, we are all broken-hearted.”