An officer is dead after a pursuit and a suspect is in custody Tuesday morning, according to the El Mirage Police Department.
According to police, officer Paul Lazinsky was injured during a foot pursuit near Sante Fe Lane and Grand Avenue.
El Mirage police say 58-year-old Lazinsky was assisting other officers when he suffered a seizure during the pursuit.
They say Lazinsky was taken to a hospital, where he died.
The suspect in custody is a juvenile and police had a warrant out for his arrest, El Mirage PD said in press conference.
Police officials say Lazinsky was planning to retire in about 10 months after spending 17 years with the department following 20 years in the Army.
"As bad as it gets. When you lose one of your own, it's as bad as it gets," said El Mirage Police Chief Terry McDonald, who is struggling more with the death of a friend.
"A day like that really causes a rollercoaster of emotions. Paul was about 10 months from retirement, which makes it doubly tragic," McDonald said.
He's survived by his wife and three children.
It was a seemingly routine call. Officers spotted a teen they had been looking to arrest on a warrant. The suspect tried to run but didn't get far before being arrested.
"Paul had to make a dash and I guess after he stopped, he had what I would have to assume is a medical issue," said McDonald, who believes it was some type of seizure.
He was unaware of any type of medical condition Lazinsky may have had.
"No, not at all. And I can tell you he's one of these guys that always comes to work," McDonald said.
Dozens of friends showed up to an impromptu vigil just hours after Lazinsky's death. One of them was Karie Burns, the principal at Surprise Elementary School.
"In the morning, he was often seen at the crosswalk just saying good morning to our students," Burns said.
El Mirage Vice Mayor Bob Jones was also among those at the vigil. He's lived in El Mirage since 2002 and can't remember a day this sad.
"I don't ever remember losing an officer in this community. Ever," Jones said. "And like I said, it's a family member."
Lazinsky leaves behind a sister and mother in New York. McDonald tells 12 News he often spoke to him about the importance of spending time with his family after his upcoming retirement.
