Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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CSPD mourns the loss of Officer Matt Tyner
Posted: 07.24.2012 at 9:32 PM
Updated: 07.25.2012 at 8:25 AM
Abbie Burke

Abbie Burke is a general assignment reporter for FOX21 News.

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Officer Matt Tyner was killed Tuesday in the line of duty during a motorcycle crash.  / Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department
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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The Colorado Springs Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its own Tuesday night after a deadly motorcycle crash. 

The crash happened around 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon near Austin Bluffs Parkway and Silver Drive.

CSPD motorcycle officer Matthew Tyner was involved and later died from his injuries. Details surrounding the crash are not being released at this time.

Tyner served with CSPD since 1999 and before that spent three years with the Kansas City Police Department.

"Chief Carey shared earlier how this was one of the most devastating days because he had to share the news that one of his motorcycle officers died in the line of duty today," Barbara Miller, Public Information Officer for CSPD, said. "Right now we've got a lot of officers grieving as well as family members, so we know this is a difficult time not only for us, but members of the community who are so supportive of our agency."

Witnesses in the area said when they heard the crash they rushed to help.

"As soon as we got there we saw that it was a motorcycle involved, and me being a motorcycle rider I automatically felt awful," Dan Mercado, a witness, said.

Mercado said he was in the area shopping and had to try to do something.

"We ran up on there, and we were hoping for some kind of a movement or some kind of sign, something, and we didn't get anything," he said.

Mercado said he and several others pulled Tyner's motorcycle off of him and followed dispatcher's directions on how to help.

"Not much thought goes through your mind really when you're in a situation like that, you just kind of hope to God it has a good outcome," Mercado said.

But despite the best efforts of Mercado, others and medical personnel, Tyner couldn't be saved.

"It was a horrible sinking feeling, kind of like was there something else that we could have done more?" Mercado said.

Fellow officers said Tyner's outgoing personality and friendship will be missed the most.

"It's a devastating day, and you know I think the grief is going to continue over the next few days, weeks and forever," Miller said.

Anyone with information about Tuesday's crash is asked to call police at (719) 444-7000.

The last time CSPD lost an officer was in 2006. That year the force lost two officers - Detective Jared Jensen and Officer Ken Jordan. 

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