Officer killed in Virginia Tech shooting identified

The officer shot and killed during a routine traffic stop at Virginia Tech has been identified as Deriek Crouse.

Crouse, 39 was the campus police officer who joined the Virginia Tech Police Department on Oct. 27, 2007, and served in the patrol division.

According to the Virginia Tech’s website, Crouse was trained as a Crisis Intervention Officer, general instructor, firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor and most recently completed training for advance law enforcement rapid response and mechanical and ballistic instructor.

He is survived by his wife, five children and step-children, and his mother, his father, and two brothers.

He received his law enforcement certification on Feb. 12, 2008, from the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy. Officer Crouse was trained as a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer, General Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics instructor and most recently completed training for Advance Law Enforcement Rapid Response and Mechanical and Ballistic Instructor.

Officer Deriek Crouse was a member of the Virginia Tech Police Emergency Response Team since February 2011.

He received an award in 2008 for his commitment to the department’s Driving Under the Influence efforts.

He formerly worked at the New River Valley Jail, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, and was a U.S. Army veteran.

Our condolences to Crouse’s family.