Code Enforcement Officer Killed
- Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation
- Nov 13, 2008
- 1 min read
2008 - An unarmed Aurora code enforcement officer shot this afternoon is dead and police continue to sweep the area for his killer.
November 13, 2008 - Rodney Morales, 40, was shot after entering an apartment building to investigate a routine zoning complaint in the 1900 block of North Clinton Street at 1:40 p.m., Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said.
The shooter confronted the officer as soon as he walked into the apartment building, Oates said. He was taken to a hospital and died about one hour later.
Witness Raymond Gerstmayr said the shooter was standing in front of his house smoking a cigarette about a half hour before the attack.
Police have found a grey sweatshirt emblazoned with the words “South Pole” in red letters that they believe the suspect was wearing.
They are searching for a black male, 18 to 19 years old, five-foot eight-inches tall and about 160 pounds. He has short hair and was dressed in a dark blue or black pants and the grey and red sweatshirt.
Morales was one of two officers dispatched to investigate a routine complaint and was unarmed.
The second officer was not injured.
“This seems to have taken them by complete surprise,” Friel said. “The code enforcement officers’ uniforms do not look like police uniforms.”
Police have no motive for the killing. Code enforcment officers are charged with enforcing city zoning laws including housing rules and upkeep of property.
“They deal with health-safety issues,” Friel said.
It is unclear whether the suspect was linked in any way to the zoning complaint.
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