Pierce County law enforcement took a quiet pause Tuesday to honor Deputy Dominique “Dom” Calata, the sheriff’s deputy fatally wounded while serving on a SWAT team in 2022. Calata, a six-and-a-half-year veteran of the department and a member of the National Guard, died surrounded by family, friends and fellow deputies. He is being remembered both for his years of service and for his final act of generosity as an organ donor. The department said he served “with courage and dedication,” a reflection that continues to echo through memorials across the South Sound.
In a short video posted on the department’s official Facebook account, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office shared the message, “Today we remember and honor a hero,” noting that Calata was shot during a SWAT operation to arrest an “extremely violent felon” and later died with loved ones at his side. The reel, posted March 16, 2026, serves as the agency’s annual remembrance and has drawn condolences and shared memories from colleagues and residents. It joins a series of department posts and community tributes that revisit his work and sacrifice.
How the shooting unfolded
Deputy Calata was shot on March 15, 2022, in Spanaway, while SWAT members assisted the South Sound Gang Task Force in serving a felony warrant in the 18800 block of Pacific Avenue. According to a Pierce County Force Investigation Team press release, investigators reported that the suspect opened fire from a vehicle, striking two deputies. Multiple team members returned fire, and the suspect was later pronounced dead at the scene. The Pierce County Medical Examiner subsequently identified the suspect as 40-year-old Jeremy Dayton and confirmed that Deputy Calata succumbed to his injuries the next day.
Community response and funeral
In the days after the shooting, the department and the wider South Sound community rallied, culminating in a large “Celebration of Life” service in Tacoma that drew thousands of mourners and law enforcement colleagues. Early reporting outlined Calata’s background, including his military service, tenure with the sheriff’s office and the extensive support for his family, and documented how agencies and residents responded in the immediate aftermath. Since then, officials have continued to observe anniversaries and honor his memory through departmental channels and public ceremonies.
Gift of life
Even after his death, Calata’s service extended to others. LifeCenter Northwest reports that his choice to be an organ and tissue donor saved multiple lives, with donations that included his lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys, as well as tissue that restored sight and contributed to healing for dozens more. His floragraph appeared on the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float in 2024, a public tribute that donor families and recipients said helped transform grief into a lasting, life-affirming legacy. Local donor advocates and hospital staff have pointed to his story when talking about the impact of donation in the region.
Local memorials and honors
Across Pierce County, communities have worked to keep his name visible. In 2025, Edgewood officially dedicated a street as “Dom Calata Way E,” and the sheriff’s blotter continues to post yearly remembrances that highlight his service. Coverage of the Edgewood street dedication and the department’s archived posts both emphasize efforts to remember Calata and encourage the public to keep his family in their thoughts. Officials say those gestures are intended to support families affected by line-of-duty deaths and to keep public memory active…