EVERETT, Wash. — A road in Everett will be renamed to honor fallen police officer Dan Rocha.
The Everett City Council approved the name change of Trojan Way at a meeting Wednesday. The road will now be known as "Officer Dan Rocha Way." The motion was passed unanimously.
Officer Dan Rocha was shot to death on March 22, 2022, in the Starbucks parking lot while he was investigating a convicted felon moving guns between two cars.
Richard Rotter was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the killing.
Everett police chief Dan Templeman spoke at the meeting.
"He knew what the badge represented and always treated it with the honor and respect it deserved," Templeman said.
"What I remember most about him was his personality," Templeman said. "He was compassionate. He was respected."
"Every time community members or police officers drive by that street they are able to remember him and what he did, what he gave, what he sacrificed," Templeman said.
Templeman vows a street sign will not be the end of the road for his dedication to the Rocha family.
"We'll continue to honor Officer Rocha forever in this department and support his family," Templeman said.
The stretch of roadway that will have its name changed is near the north Everett neighborhood where Rocha and his family first lived when he moved to western Washington in 2011, and also isn't far from the area where Rocha was assigned to work, according to the Council resolution.