In Memory

Jim Rocco - Class Of 1971

James Theron Rocco (Jim), 65, died in Woodland Park, CO at his residence of 36 years on December 17, 2017 as result of a heart attack associated with his battle with cancer.

Jim was born on November 12, 1952 in Topeka, KS to Ray Rocco and Margaret Arnold.

Jim was a U.S. Army Veteran serving 4 years at Fort Carson.  He was serving as a 40 year veteran Police Officer at the time of his diagnosis with cancer.

 Jim is survived by his wife Debbie, his son Bradley and daughter Breanne, three grandchildren Austyn, Makaila and Taylor and a grandson expected in May, his sister Margaret Wiberg and brother Joseph Rocco.

 Before Jim completed high school, he had already begun a long career of public service.  He served in the Civil Air Patrol and worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for ACE Ambulance in Ogden, UT.

 Jim graduated from Clearfield High School in Clearfield, UT in 1971.  He remained with ACE Ambulance until 1973 when he moved to Los Angeles, CA where he worked as an EMT for Goodhew Ambulance and as a security guard for Pinkerton Bel Air Security.  He married Debbie Lucero of Ogden, UT on February 8, 1974 and they lived in Los Angeles, CA for a year and a half.

 In 1975 Jim joined the United States Army and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Field Artillery Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO.  

 While on active duty, Jim worked for Seven Falls as a security guard and in August of 1977 Jim joined the Manitou Springs Police Department as a reserve Police Officer.  He attended Pikes Peak Community College and remained with the department until April 1979 when he separated from the Army and was hired by the Woodland Park Police Department as a full-time officer.  He also worked as a volunteer on the Woodland Park Ambulance.

 Jim graduated from Pikes Peak Community College, June 7, 1983 with five Associates Degrees in every available field of Criminal Justice and was named to the Phi Theta Kappa honor fraternity.  Shortly thereafter he was promoted to Detective.  During his 23 year tenure with the department, Jim helped solve some of the most complex cases in the region’s history.  On several occasions, Jim’s cases gained national attention and the stories were televised nationally on America’s Dumbest Criminals, America’s Most Wanted and recently on Homicide Hunter.

 Jim and his co-workers helped capture the killer of Teller County Sheriff’s Deputy Brent Holloway in 1995, and Jim was the senior officer present for the recapture of the “Texas Seven” in 2001. 

 In 1990 Jim began a long tenure as a Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy Instructor, teaching several subjects and influencing many young officers’ career beginnings.

 Jim was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal for his actions during the apprehension of the murderer of Deputy Brent Holloway in 1995 and the Life Saving Award for his many lifesaving actions.

 Jim retired from the Woodland Park Police Department in November 2001 at the rank of Commander.

 In 2003 Jim joined the Colorado Department of Public Safety as a Pikes Peak Community College Police Officer, where a cancer diagnosis ended his long career in October 2017. 

 In addition to his long career in Law Enforcement, Jim also served the community in many ways.

 Jim was heavily involved in Scouting for more than 20 years, beginning as Cub Scout Leader and the Commissioner of Pack 20 in Woodland Park, which still thrives today.  He also commissioned  Law Enforcement Explorer Post 225, which he truly enjoyed.  Jim was presented Scouting’s highest honor, The William H. Spurgeon Award for leadership excellence.

 Jim volunteered as a baseball coach and baseball umpire for the youth athletic association for nearly 20 years.

 Jim was also elected to the Board of Directors for the Pikes Peak Credit Union in April of 1996, and in May of 2017 was elected as the Chairman of the Board, a position he cherished and held until his death.

 Jim also was a member of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club and enjoyed as much time as he could spend on the road.

 He was also an avid Air Force Academy Falcons fan and a football season ticket holder for nearly 30 years.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother Peggy in 1983, his father Ray in 1991, his youngest sister Raena in 2008, his oldest brother Ray in 2012, and his younger brother Tom in 2016.

 A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at the Little Chapel of the Hills, 69 Co Rd 5, Divide, CO 80814, on Thursday, January 4th, 2017 at 4 O’clock PM, MST.  A reception will follow.

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church, 220 S. West St, Woodland Park, CO 80863, on Friday, January 5th, 2017 at 12 o’clock PM, MST. A reception will follow.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) www.dav.org or the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund www.nleomf.org

 The Rocco Family wishes to extend a special thank you to the Woodland Park Police Department, and friend Officer Tony Cantu for their gracious support and assistance during this difficult time.

 



 
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04/19/18 10:39 AM #1    

Joel Stockseth (1971)

Jim and I had some great times hanging around together and driving around Ogden.  We were visiting a friend's house in South Weber one time and were walking up the stairs from the basement.  The owner's dog (I think it was a German Shepherd) was at the top of the stairs watching us and as Jim got near the top he tripped, falling towards the dog.  The dog instictively snapped at Jim which resulted in a gash on Jim's upper lip.  It was an unfortunate accident but I never let him live it down.  Every time I would see him after that I would ask him if he had kissed any dogs lately.  Jim was a fun guy.  I enjoyed hanging out with him.


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