Daniel McCartney, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy who was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 7, started his career in law enforcement as an officer with the Hoquiam Police Department in 2009, according to a statement from Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers.
McCartney lived in Montesano before moving to Yelm.
McCartney was the first to respond to a home invasion robbery report near Spanaway and was chasing a suspect when shots were fired.
“At the moment everyone is just in shock and disbelief,” Myers said Monday afternoon. “Many here kept up with Daniel – our IT specialist even talked to him yesterday.”
Prior to being hired by the Hoquiam Police Department, McCartney worked as a detention officer at the Grays Harbor County Juvenile Facility and was a personal trainer at the Grays Harbor YMCA, said Myers.
Myers said McCartney graduated from Loyalton High School in Loyalton, Calif., before joining the Navy in 2002. He served in the Navy as an Electronics Technician 2nd class and toward the end of his tour was deployed to Afghanistan with a security detail assigned to the Army. He was honorably discharged in 2008.
McCartney attended the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy and served as a patrol officer with the department, but quickly acquired several collateral duties and assignments to include being a field training officer, bike patrol officer, member of the regional Crisis Response Team and was a computer network administrator, said Myers.
“Daniel had a drive on the street as well in the department to bring 110 percent to work every single day,” said Myers. “”He had a great sense of humor and was always out on the street looking and digging. Daniel received several commendations for his work as well as being selected as Officer of the Quarter by his peers.”
McCartney resigned from the Hoquiam Police Department in 2014 when he transferred to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff. Although he, his wife and children moved north, Daniel still has several relatives in the Grays Harbor area, said Myers.
“The department and fellow officers have been in contact with Daniel’s family to offer our sincere condolences,” said Myers. “Even with Daniel at Pierce County over three years, he still had regular contact with his friends here at the Hoquiam Police Department.”
Myers’ own family has ties to McCartney’s relatives who reside in the county.
“As a small department, every one of our members is part of a close family; Daniel started his career here and he will always be one of our family,” said Myers. “My wife and I are friends of Daniel’s sister-in-law and we know even more deeply of their pain. We sincerely mourn his loss and wish there was more we could do for his family and his fellow deputies who were out at the scene last night.”
McCartney leaves behind a wife and three young boys under the age of 10. Myers indicated local law enforcement is planning a candlelight vigil in McCartney’s honor. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, a legacy fund has been established for the family. Donations can be made online at tpcrimestoppers.com or at any TAPCO credit union.
According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were responding to the report of a home invasion in progress on 200th Street East in the Fredrickson area near Spanaway at around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. McCartney was the first to arrive and chased after a suspect when shots were fired. McCartney was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center for surgery but died a short time later.
One suspect was found dead at the scene, but deputies are still searching for a second suspect, described as a mixed race or white male, tall, thin, curly dark hair worn in a ponytail, a large pointy nose, pock marks on the right side of his face, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and a black beanie. He is considered armed and dangerous.
