Midvale police mourn colleague

MURRAY — Midvale police detective Jose G. Argueta was laid to rest Tuesday with full honors in an emotional ceremony that included a large police procession consisting of officers from across Utah.

Argueta, 32, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer 16 months ago. It is believed he contracted the aggressive cancer after being exposed to meth labs during his years working with the SWAT team and drug enforcement. He died at his house Thursday.

Rather than a hearse, the Midvale Police Department's SWAT truck, draped with black sheets, carried Argueta's coffin from Hillcrest High School — under an American flag hanging between two ladder trucks from local fire departments — across 900 East to his final "off-load" at the Murray Cemetery.

Even when Argueta became too sick to safely enter a house with his SWAT team comrades, they let him drive the truck to their missions so he could be part of the team. Midvale Police Sgt. Steve Shreeve joked that "Rocky Mountain pinstripes" were now permanent fixtures on the sides of the truck thanks to Argueta's maneuvering.

But also inside the truck, Argueta's hook that he hung his equipment on — and his name tag under the hook — will forever remain vacant as a memorial to him.

"Tomorrow when the SWAT truck is out, he'll be with us, watching," Shreeve said.

Argueta was born in Guatemala City in 1974. He graduated from Kearns High School in 1992 and was hired by the Midvale Police Department in 1995.

Funeral services were held at Hillcrest High School's auditorium because of the large turnout.

Friends and family members remembered Argueta as a top-notch cop and a man with a big heart.

"He was very dedicated and passionate about his work," Shreeve said. "It's a privilege for us here today to honor our brother."

Words such as "big," "strong" and "tenacious" were used in remembering Argueta. He was also a man who loved his wife, brothers and all his family members, friends said.

Argueta was further remembered as the guy with the "big toothy grin" who was always smiling and pulling practical jokes.

"The pranks became something I looked forward to, almost on a daily basis," Shreeve said. "Even on his final day he was pulling pranks."

Friends got a laugh remembering Argueta as the man who loved the Oakland Raiders, free hot dogs at RC Willey and watching "Jerry Springer."