Slain Police Sergeant Remembered as 'Ideal Officer'

A 48-year-old police sergeant was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Hayward early this morning, police said. Hayward police Sgt. Scott Lunger, a 15-year veteran of the department, was shot at about 3:15 a.m. after he and another officer pulled over a truck being driven erratically near Myrtle and Lion streets, police Capt. Mark Koller said at a news conference.

Lunger was shot “without warning” as he approached the driver’s side of the truck, Koller said. The other officer returned fire at the truck’s driver, who fled. The truck was later found abandoned in Oakland, according to Koller. He said a person of interest in the case has been identified, is “secure” and “does not pose a threat to the community,” but has not yet been arrested.

Koller did not release any other information about the person of interest, including a name or condition. He said the second officer involved in the traffic stop was not injured.

Lunger was taken to Eden Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Koller called Lunger’s death “a devastating, dark day for the community of Hayward.” Lunger was promoted to sergeant in 2009 and has worked as a member of the department’s SWAT and gang units, Koller said.

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Lunger, the father of two daughters, was “an ideal police officer,” Koller said.

“He loved this job and did it eagerly,” he said. “It’s a tragedy that someone has done this.” Koller thanked the community and other law enforcement agencies for their outpouring of support following Lunger’s death.

“We are pulling together and we will get through this,” he said.

By Bay City News

Photo of residents honoring Sgt. Scott Lunger as motorcade passed by courtesy Chris De Benedetti via Twitter.

Photo of flags courtesy Malaika Fraley via Twitter.

Photo of Sgt. Scott Lunger courtesy Hayward Police via Twitter