James Lowell Capoot

Officer James Lowell Capoot, 45, of the Vallejo Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on Nov. 17, 2011, in Vallejo, Calif. A loving and devoted father, husband, son, brother, uncle, officer, coach, neighbor and friend, Jim lived a full and extraordinary life. Born Nov. 2, 1966 in Little Rock, Ark., Jim attended local schools in Little Rock and graduated from John L. McClellan High School in 1985, where he was a distance runner on the cross country and track teams. Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at age 18 and was stationed at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California where he met the love of his life, Jennifer Eileen DeCarlo. The two were married at Saint Basil's Catholic Church in Vallejo on Aug. 29, 1987. Jim left the Marines in 1989 but remained an Active Reserve through 1993. In 1990, he joined the California Highway Patrol and began his career as a peace officer. And, in 1993 he joined the Vallejo Police Department. For 19 years Jim distinguished himself as a Vallejo police officer while endearing himself to the Vallejo community. He served as a motorcycle officer, motorcycle instructor, driving instructor and SWAT officer. He received two Vallejo PD Medals of Courage, one Life-Saving Medals and many other department commendations. And in 2000, Jim received the Officer of the Year Award. Jim coached the Vallejo High School varsity girls' basketball team and in his 2nd year led the Apaches to a 25-7 record and a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Championship. Jim left the Apache bench in March 2011 to bring into his home the two children of close friends who were killed in a motorcycle accident in January. A Vacaville resident since 1995, Jim loved to say, "I'm dedicated to my job, devoted to my family." His father, Lowell Jesse Capoot, preceded him in death. He is survived by his mother, Beverly Sue (Hampton) Capoot; his mother-in-law, Vivian Mullen DeCarlo; his wife of 24 years, Jennifer; his three daughters, Jillian, Jamie and Justine Capoot; his sister and brother-in-law, Dana and Barry Cudd; his brother- and sister-in-law, Louie and Susie DeCarlo; his nephew, Brandon Grote and nieces, Jesseca Cudd, Savannah and Siena DeCarlo. Services will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 11 a.m., at Corbus Field, Vallejo High School. Buses will run from McCormick Hall at the Solano County Fairground to Corbus Field. In lieu of flowers, the Vallejo Police Officers Association has created a memorial fund on behalf of the Capoot family. Donations can be sent to the Officer James Capoot Family Trust, c/o Vallejo Police Officers Association, Sgt. Mark Nicol, P.O. Box 4218, Vallejo, Calif., 94590.