Cottonwood Police Cmdr. Jody Makuch was killed in an off-duty motorcycle crash Monday Sept. 7. The Arizona Department of Public Safety is conducting the collision and criminal investigation at the request of the Cottonwood Police Department.
At 2:39 PM, 41-year-old Jason Howard Engel, of Camp Verde, was driving a sport utility vehicle southbound on State Route 89A at Willard Street, within city of Cottonwood limits.
Engel allegedly drove the SUV left of center and struck a motorcyclist, later identified as 49-year-old Jody Michael Makuch, head-on within the northbound traffic lanes of State Route 89A.
Makuch was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
State troopers booked Engel into the Yavapai County Detention Center in Camp Verde on the charge of manslaughter. Additional felony and misdemeanor charges, including criminal damage and endangerment, are pending. Impairment is suspected, DPS states.
“It is with great sadness the Cottonwood Police Department learned early yesterday afternoon that Commander Jody Makuch was involved in an off-duty fatal vehicle vs. motorcycle collision, which led to his death,” Sgt. Monica Kuhlt stated in a press release Tuesday, Sept. 8.
“Jody Makuch represented the best in humanity. He was first and foremost a loving and dedicated husband and father. His family was everything to him. He was a veteran, selfless public servant, mentor, and friend. He will be greatly missed. We ask that the public keep his family in their thoughts and prayers during this tragic and difficult time and respect their privacy.” Chief Steve Gesell, Cottonwood Police Department.
Makuch began his career in law enforcement in 1998 as a Police Officer with Elk City Police Department in Oklahoma. Makuchmoved to Arizona and has been with the Cottonwood Police Department since January 2000. He was promoted to commander in November 2009.
Makuch was assigned to the Support Services Division. His area of responsibility included:
- Investigations
- Professional Standards
- Cottonwood Public Safety Communications Center
- Records
- Victim Assistance
- Citizen Police Academy
- COP Volunteers
- Mobile Command Unit
Makuch is a graduate of the 245th session of the FBI National Academy. He has worked various duties to include Corrections, Patrol, Field Training Officer, SWAT and Field Training supervisor.
Makuch served for seven and a half years in the U.S. Army prior to his law enforcement career. His various job specialties while serving in the Army included artillery, corrections and military police.
In addition to Makuch’s dedication and commitment to the Cottonwood Police Department he was also a devout husband and father to his wife, Joanna, their two adult daughters; Ashleigh and Gabrielle; and two sons, 13-year-old Hudson and 12-year-old Spencer. Makuch spent all of his time with his family; who he loved greatly, and was an avid motorcycle and dirt bike enthusiast, Kuhlt stated. He will be deeply missed by the Cottonwood Police Department and the community he served.
Local law enforcement agencies and fire departments escorted Makuch to the Yavapai Medical Examiner’s Office where members will remain with him until he is transferred to the funeral home. This is known as “Hero Watch”.
Many have reached out to the Cottonwood police department with the desire to donate to the Makuch family. You can do so through Law Enforcement Heroes at http://www.lawenforcementheroes.com/
