Redmond police react to killing: ‘It could have been any of us’

Seaside Police Sgt. Jason Goodding was shot and killed while trying to arrest an assault suspect earlier this month.The death hit close to home for officers at the Redmond Police Department.

A public memorial was held Friday in Seaside to honor Goodding. Redmond police Sgt. Curtis Chambers with the Redmond Police Department was there, as were hundreds of officers from around the state, including from the Bend Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office..

On Monday, Chambers showed a bracelet he received at the memorial.

“This has Sgt. Goodding’s name on it, his radio call number 604 and also his end of watch date,” Chambers said.

Every Redmond police officer’s badge is covered by a black ribbon. The pain is palpable at the police department.

“We in this profession can quickly identify ourselves with that person in that incident,” Chambers said.

Chambers said there are many parallels between himself and Goodding.

“He has a daughter the same age as my daughter,” Chambers said.

One Redmond officer knew Goodding and his family well, from his time at the Seaside Police Department.

For Chambers, it’s a time for every officer to hug their loved ones even closer.

“A fight with my wife that I didn’t resolve — I don’t want that to be the last thing she thinks of,” Chambers said.

Chambers brought a photo to the interview of him with his dad on a fishing trip when he was 7 years old. He brought the photo to remind people that there is a person behind the badge.

“They are someone’s child, they are someone’s parent. We are people too,” Chambers said.

He said the arrest of a man wanted on a felony arrest warrant that cost Goodding’s life was a routine procedure that quickly turned deadly.

“That does drive the point home, that every day I go to work or one of my fellow officers go to work, could be their last,” Chambers said.