Funeral for slain Cowlitz deputy set for Wednesday

A memorial service for the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Deputy who was killed in a shooting earlier this month is planned for Wednesday in Portland.

The ceremony for deputy Justin DeRosier will take place at 1 p.m., April 24 at the Earle A. & Virginia H. Chiles Center at the University of Portland. Simultaneous broadcasts are also scheduled for two locations in Cowlitz County.

DeRosier was killed in a shooting April 13 following an abandoned vehicle investigation by the deputy on Kalama River Road. The suspect, Brian Butts, was killed the following day in a shooting after a manhunt that ended near Spencer Creek Road.

Multiple regional news outlets reported that Brian Butts was the half-brother of Daniel Butts, who was sentenced to life in prison in March for killing Rainier, Oregon police chief Ralph Painter in 2011.

Clark County Sheriff’s Sergeant Brent Waddell said in an April 15 press conference that two others have been arrested in connection of the April 13 shooting — Matthew and Michael Veatch. 

KATU News reported that the Veatches, who are brothers, were involved with helping Brian Butts elude officers following the shooting.

Waddell said that Matthew Veatch was booked for the first-degree rendering of criminal assistance while Michael Veatch was arrested on an unrelated Washington State Department of Corrections warrant.

Following the announcement of DeRosier’s death, Washington State Sen. John Braun released a statement.

“It’s clear that Deputy DeRosier loved being a law-enforcement officer, and the fact that he chose to return to his home county to be a deputy speaks to the depth of his commitment to serve,” Braun said in the statement. “We think at this time of his wife and young daughter, other family members, and his co-workers, as they — and we — mourn this terrible loss.”

Community outpouring 

Over the course of last week, several local businesses raised funds in support of DeRosier’s family. The deputy left behind a wife and a five-month-old daughter.

On April 17 Red Leaf Coffee locations in Longview, Kelso, and Woodland donated 20 percent of their sales to DeRosier’s family. On April 19 Dutch Bros. Coffee announced that its Kelso and Longview locations had raised more than $18,800 in memory of the deputy.

Throughout Cowlitz County posters reading “Back the Blue” and featuring a photo of DeRosier on the backdrop of a Thin Blue Line Flag can be spotted in the windows of cars, homes and businesses. On Saturday hundreds gathered at Lake Sacajawea for a “Back The Blue” rally in honor of DeRosier. 

Cowlitz County Sheriff Brad Thurman noted in a press conference that DeRosier’s death was the first in the line of duty in the department’s 165-year history.

{{tncms-inline content="<p class="p1">Memorial for Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin DeRosier</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">1 p.m. Wednesday, April 24</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Earle A. & Virginia H. Chiles Center at the <br /> University of Portland</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">5000 N Willamette Blvd., Portland<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Offsite parking with security for law enforcement and the public will be available at:</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Port of Portland - Terminal Two</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">3556 NW Front Avenue, Portland</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Round-trip shuttle service between Terminal Two and the Chiles Center will be provided.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Shuttle service hours will run from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>The shuttles will stop during the Memorial and will resume shuttle transportation after the Memorial concludes.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Shuttle services will end about two hours after the Memorial concludes.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Memorial begins at 1 p.m.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Doors open at 11:00 a.m.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Please allow plenty of extra time for parking, security screening to include metal detectors and bag searches.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">The service will be broadcasted at two locations in Cowlitz County:</span></p> <p class="p3">New Life Church</p> <p class="p3">2441 42nd Avenue, Longview</p> <p class="p2">And</p> <p class="p2">Kelso High School</p> <p class="p3">1904 Allen Street, Kelso</p>" id="830e10da-69fe-4d37-af8b-1ea081bfeabe" style-type="fact" title="If You Go" type="relcontent"}}