Detective Jeremy Stephen Bitner

Jeremy Stephen Bitner

Detective Jeremy Bitner was struck and killed by a drunk driver while making a traffic stop at the intersection of South Broadway Street, and East Belleview Avenue at approximately 12:05 am.

During the initial stop, he had the driver exit the vehicle. As the two stood in the roadway next to the car, a drunk driver sideswiped Detective Bitner's patrol car and then struck him and the other driver, throwing them both approximately 50 feet. A witness to the collision called 911 and followed the drunk driver as he fled the scene in his vehicle. Officers from the Littleton Police Department arrested him several minutes after the crash due to the witness' actions. The drunk driver pleaded guilty in February 2013 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Detective Bitner and the citizen were both transported to Swedish Medical Center in critical condition. The officer succumbed to his injuries approximately 11 hours later.

Detective Bitner was a U.S. Army veteran who had served with the Englewood Police Department for 7-1/2 years and previously served with the Elbert County Sheriff's Office for six months. He is survived by his wife and two children.

He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Detective by the Chief of Police at his funeral service.