Wounded VPD officer to receive Medal of Honor

Vancouver police officer Dustin Goudschaal will be awarded the Washington State Medal of Honor Friday in Olympia, the agency said a press release Thursday.

While working as a motorcycle officer with the agency’s traffic unit, Goudschaal was shot seven times after pulling over a pickup truck on June 30, 2014.

The driver, James Sapp, a 47-year-old purported white supremacist from Vancouver, leaned out the window and fired at Goudschaal. Despite his injuries, Goudschaal returned fire.

Sapp fled the scene but was later arrested. Less than three weeks later, Clark County corrections deputies reportedly interrupted Sapp attempting suicide in his jail cell. He died the following day.

Goudschaal took a leave of absence for about eight months before he returned to duty in March as a detective for the Arthur D. Curtis Children’s Justice Center.

“Certainly it’s a huge honor, but it comes at a huge sacrifice,” Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said. “It’s out of something very traumatic that an officer is given this award … there’s mixed emotions on anything like this.”

Goudschaal will be accompanied by Chief James McElvain, his command staff and other colleagues, including the Vancouver Police Department Honor Guard, as he receives his recognition for his exceptional meritorious conduct at the ceremony, scheduled for noon.