Family Of Slain Vallejo Cop Releases Statement

The family of a Vallejo police officer who was killed responding to a bank robbery Thursday released a statement Saturday at the Vallejo Police Department.

Officer Jim Capoot, 45, was fatally shot after a vehicle and foot pursuit of a man suspected of robbing a Bank of America branch on Springs Road at around 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Capoot, 45, was a 19-year veteran of the Vallejo Police Department, and had also served as a Marine and a California Highway Patrol officer. He leaves behind a wife and three daughters.

Police said that Capoot's family and friends visited the memorial at the stairs of the police department's headquarters at 111 Amador St. and accepted condolences from visitors.

A family representative read a statement there thanking the community for the outpouring of support received following the shooting.

"The Capoot and DeCarlo families would like to say thank you for the love and support during this very difficult time. Words cannot describe how much Jim will be missed," the statement began.

"He loved the community that he protected and served, and the community clearly loved him," the statement continued.

The family closed their statement by asking community members to show their support by saying, "thank you," to a police officer.

Police announced Friday that a suspect in the robbery and shooting, identified as 37-year-old Henry Albert Smith Jr., of Fairfield, had been taken into custody.

Smith is being held at the Solano County Jail in Fairfield. He will face charges of bank robbery and murder, police said.

--- Bay City News Service