Update: Deputy-Involved Shooting in Stevens County
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the names of the Deputies involved in the October 12, 2022, incident during the SWAT standoff with an armed suspect in Stevens County.
Deputy Stephan Blaakman joined the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2018 as a new hire and is currently assigned to the Spokane Valley Precinct, night shift. Deputy Blaakman is a Field Training Officer (FTO), a SWAT Team member, a Defensive Tactics Instructor, Taser Instructor, Ballistic Shield Instructor, and a Certified Force Science Analyst. In 2020, he received the Platoon Deputy of the Year Award. He previously served as a TAC Team member prior to joining the SWAT Team and just earned his A.A. Degree in Criminal Justice.
Deputy Alexx Bullion began his law enforcement career with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office in July 2016 and is assigned to the Spokane Valley Precinct dayshift. He is a current SWAT Team member and an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) Instructor. In 2017, Deputy Bullion received a Life-Saving Award, and in 2020 a Unit Merit Citation Awarded honoring the SWAT Team and Hostage/Crisis Negotiation Team members. Deputy Bullion previously served our Country in the United States Marine Corps Reserves and earned an A.A. Degree in Diesel Mechanics.
In compliance with WAC 139-12, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office/Spokane Valley Police Department personnel will not be involved in this investigation.
The SIIR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane Police Department, the Washington State Patrol, Liberty Lake Police Department, Airway Heights Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, and the Spokane Valley Police Department.
- The Spokane Independent Investigative Response (SIIR) Team is investigating this Deputy-Involved shooting.
- The Spokane Police Department is the case managing agency in this incident. All future communications regarding this incident will be sent via the SIIR Team.
- The Stevens County Coroner’s Office will release the name of the deceased along with his cause and manner of death when appropriate.
Once the SIIR Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Stevens County Prosecutor’s Office for review.