Officer Daniel (DJ) Beckwith
Flagstaff Police Department
Flagstaff, AZ
Date of Death: March 12, 2019
Age: 28
Years of Service: 4
Duty Status: Active
Military Veteran: Yes
Officer Daniel (DJ) Beckwith. After four years of service, Officer Beckwith died by suicide at the age of 28 on March 12, 2019.
After high school DJ joined the United States Air Force serving in the 736 Security Forces Squadron earning the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal among other badges and citations. After his Honorable Discharge in 2011, DJ moved to Florida to attend Nova Southeastern University and studied Criminal Justice, graduating in 2014.
Those who kept in touch with DJ, know that he spent as much time under the water snorkeling and scuba diving, as he spent above water studying. After graduating DJ moved back to Flagstaff and joined the Flagstaff Police Department in 2014. It was here that he would meet the beautiful woman that would become his wife and soulmate.
Heather and DJ would become husband and wife in 2017 in a beautiful ceremony attended by family and friends from all over. DJ and Heather loved the outdoors and could often be found hiking and camping with their favorite four legged furry “children”.
DJ was a husband, son, brother and friend. He struggled with an on duty shooting he was involved in February of 2018. The investigation that was conducted after the shooting cleared him, but DJ still struggled with the taking of a life. As DJ began seeking help, he started to have career issues while receiving treatment. He was still on paid administrative leave with pay when he took his own life. DJ lived his life in service of his country and community and will be greatly missed.
Daniel truly lived a life of service and had a true servant’s heart. We would, and he would, like to have his name and story on your website and Facebook for any officer to see. If he could help at least one officer struggling the way he was, that would be his greatest joy. We all just want to stop this problem with Law Enforcement for the family sake.
His step-father, a retired Deputy Sheriff from Coconino County in Flagstaff Arizona, has had his own struggles from on duty incident as well. He and DJ had shared so much of their lives together and walked along the same Law Enforcement PTSD path, but their stories ended very differently. Some demons are more persistent, and DJ could no longer fight his off.
He is survived by his wife Heather, parents Jack Beckwith, Chantel and Bill Mitchell; brothers Josh Beckwith and Kolton Mitchell; Grandparents Rolland and Avene Eyestone; mother-in-law Debbie Nichols; step sisters Abby Everett and Olivia Lyons. DJ is also survived by numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and COUNTLESS friends who love him very much.
