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Beesley, a former resident of Mendham, was responding to a report of a suspicious event at the Arvada Library when he was involved in a shootout and was fatally hit around 1:30 p.m., authorities said.
The 51-year-old officer had served on the Arvada Police Department in Colorado for 19 years, authorities said.
He spent much of his time working at Oberon Middle School, Lincoln Academy and Excel Academy Charter Schools as a resource officer and returned to patrol duties during the summer, the Arvada department said in a Facebook release.
Beesley is described in a post on the city of Arvada’s website as a “hero who continually demonstrated dedication and kindness in service to [the] community” and “never hesitated to answer the call of duty.”
He was also named as the city’s Employee of the Year in 2014.
Beesley was a devoted father of two who played drums with a band called Misfit Toyz, Conan Daily reported.
“We would like to take a minute and extend our thoughts and prayers to the Arvada Police Department (Colorado) and the family and friends of Officer Gordon Beesley,” Mendham Township Police wrote in a Facebook tribute.
“May he forever rest in peace.”
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