Officer Jim Capoot, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, began his law enforcement career with the California Highway Patrol in 1990, following his father’s footsteps into a career of law enforcement. Prior to that Jim had served a four-year tour with the U.S. Marine Corp. In 1992 he left the CHP to become a Police Officer for the City of Vallejo – a city where he was stationed with the Marines and wife, Jennifer. Over the course of his career, Capoot has served as a motorcycle officer, motorcycle instructor, driving instructor, force options instructor and SWAT officer. He received the Officer of the Year award in 2000. He has also received two Vallejo Police Department Medals of Courage, 2 Life-Saving Medals for saving two lives by administering CPR and various other department medals and commendations.
Jim also gave back vigorously to the community in which he served. He worked to coach the Vallejo High School Girls basketball team were he had helped to lead them to victory in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Girls Basketball Championship in 2010. He had also helped to coach his three daughters (Jillian, Jamie and Justine) at Will C. Wood in Vacaville and prior to that as an assistant coach.
Sadly, officer Capoot’s last watch fell on November 17, 2011 when he was killed in the line of duty as he pursed a bank robbery suspect. He will be missed by the community, his friends and, most of all, his family.
Donations to Officer Capoot’s memorial fund can be made as follows:
Officer James Capoot Family Trust C/O Vallejo Police Officer’s Association • (Sergeant Mark Nicol)
P.O. Box 4218, Vallejo, Ca. 94590 • (707) 644-3913
