This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper John Sumter Horton died in the most senseless way possible - killed when another officer responding to his aid lost control of their vehicle. To compound the tragedy that responding officer was John's brother, Trooper James N. … [Read more...]
Officer Down: LAPD Officer Fernando Arroyos
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On January 10, 2022, off-duty LAPD Officer Fernando Uriel Arroyos was house-hunting with his girlfriend. It was his first day off after working a series of patrol shifts and he was excited to find a home for him and his girlfriend to live. What should have been … [Read more...]
Officer Down: RCMP Constable David Matthew Wynn
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On January 17, 2015, RCMP Constable David Matthew Wynn was checking licence plates on vehicles at the Apex Casino parking lot, a job reserved for quiet shifts. He found a vehicle whose plates did not match, and went into the casino to review security tapes. … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Austin Police Department Officer Lewis “Andy” Traylor
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On July 28, 2021, while responding to a serious injury traffic call, Austin Police Department Officer Lewis "Andy" Traylor was critically injured when a tractor-trailer made a U-Turn in front of his cruiser. Officer Traylor’s vehicle slammed into the … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Kern County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff Phillip Campas
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. It was a domestic violence call that turned into a deadly standoff in rural southern California. On July 25, 2021, Kern County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriff Phillip Campas was shot and killed during a standoff that also wounded another police officer. When … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Clark County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jeremy Brown
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Clark County Sheriff's Office Detective Jeremy Brown was shot and killed while conducting surveillance at an apartment complex in the 3500 block of Northeast 109th Avenue in Vancouver, Washington. While he sat in his vehicle, he was approached by three people, … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Josh Bartlett
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On July 15, 2021, Lubbock County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Josh Bartlett was murdered during an hours-long SWAT standoff that also left three others injured. The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of our own, tonight, SWAT Commander … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Terre Haute Police Department Detective Greg Ferency
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. UPDATED JULY 16, 2021 to add Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett's comments after Detective Ferrency's funeral. Terre Haute Police Department Detective Greg Ferency was ambushed and murdered outside the FBI Indianapolis Resident Agency on Wednesday, July 7, … [Read more...]
Officers Down: San Diego Police Department Detectives Jamie Huntley-Park and Ryan Park
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Tragedy struck the San Diego Police Department on June 4, 2021, when married Detectives Ryan Park and Jamie Huntley-Park were killed by a driver going the wrong way on Interstate 5. That vehicle struck the detectives' vehicle, killing them both. The detectives … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Worcester Police Department Officer Enmanuel “Manny” Familia
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On June 4, 2021, Worcester Police Department Officer Enmanuel “Manny” Familia gave his life attempting to save 14-year-old Troy Love, who also drowned in Green Hill Pond. “Two kids were in the water trying to hold onto each other in the water when I got here, … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Canada Corrections Officer Bikramdeep Randhawa
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Canada Corrections Officer Bikramdeep Randhawa gunned down in a brazen daylight hit at a Delta gas station on May 1, 2021. The getaway vehicle, a Mazda SUV, was found burning in South Burnaby later that day. Police are unsure if Randhawa was murdered because … [Read more...]
Officer Down: RCMP Constable Shelby Patton
Constable Shelby Patton, a six year veteran of the Indian Head RCMP detachment, was murdered while performing a traffic stop outside Wolseley, SK, on June 12, 2021. Constable Patton pulled over a truck reported stolen from Manitoba. After he exited his RCMP cruiser the driver of the stolen vehicle hit him and ran him over, killing him. Assistant Commissioner … [Read more...]
Officers Down: Deputy Sheriffs Samuel Leonard and Stephen Jones
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On May 10, 2021, Concho County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriff Samuel Leonard, Deputy Sheriff Stephen Jones and an unidentified in Eden, Texas, city employee responded to a disturbance call about a dog. When they arrived the got into an altercation with Jeffrey … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper John Harris
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper John Harris died on May 28, 2021, when he was hit by a transport truck while performing a traffic stop on another motorist. "The Mississippi Highway Patrol mourns the loss of Trooper John Harris," said Col. Randy Ginn, … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Detective Luca Benedetti
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. San Luis Obispo Police Department Detective Luca Benedetti died May 10, 2021, while executing a search warrant. Detective Benedetti and Detective Steve Orozco identified themselves as they approached the residence with three other officers. Hearing no … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Stockton Police Officer Jimmy Inn
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Stockton Police Department Officer Jimmy Inn gave his life in defence of a stranger on May 11, 2021. “He gave the ultimate sacrifice and he came to work every day, putting his life on the line for strangers he’d never met — coming to work to protect members of … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Champaign Police Department Officer Chris Oberheim
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Shortly before 3:30am on May 19, 2021, the Champaign Police Department received a call about a domestic disturbance. Officer Chris Oberheim responded, as did a second officer. Both were met with a hail of gunfire as they exited their squad cars. They responded … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Chandler P.D. Officer Christopher Farrar
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On April 29, 2021, Chandler Police Department Officer Christopher Farrar was struck and killed by a violent moron driving a stolen vehicle. Gilbert Police Officer Rico Aranda was also struck and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He remains in … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Delmar Police Corporal Keith Heacook
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On April 28, 2021, Delmar Police Department Corporal Keith Heacook passed away from injuries suffered when he responded to a 911 call from an elderly couple being attacked by a stranger. "Our community, my department, his family — we all mourn," Delmar Police … [Read more...]
Officers Down: Sergeant Chris Ward and Deputy Sheriff Logan Fox
When someone is so distraught they want to end their own life, why do they insist on involving others? Just kill yourself already and save the rest of us the grief and anguish. That's how I felt when I read the story of how two great police officers died last week in Boone, North Carolina. On April 28, 2021, an individual called in a welfare check on their … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Decatur County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Justin Bedwell
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On March 1, 2021, Decatur County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Justin Bedwell died from a gunshot wound to the chest he suffered on February 28. Lt. Bedwell was a 19-year veteran of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy in Seminole County attempted to … [Read more...]
Officer Down: LADP Officer Jose Luis Anzora
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On February 26, 2021, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Jose Luis Anzora was struck by a vehicle while conducting traffic control in downtown L.A. He was standing beside his police cruiser near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Trinity Street at about … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Tampa Police Department Officer Jesse Madsen
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Tampa Police Department Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen gave his life so others may live, but how many lives he saved will never be known. In the early morning hours of March 9, 2021, Tampa Police began receiving calls about a white vehicle driving … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Memphis Police Department Officer Nicholas Blow
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Making it to the end of your shift is the goal of every police officer. Once you've made it back to the precinct, changed into your civvies and made it to your personal vehicle for the drive home, all the dangers are over for the day, right? For Memphis PD … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Washington County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Kyle Jeffrey Davis
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On March 25, 2021, Corporal Kyle Jeffrey Davis was assaulted by an inmate while booking one of 16 suspects into the Washington County Correctional Facility in Oklahoma. An inmate identified as 37-year-old Athine Henderson struggled with Corporal Davis, striking … [Read more...]
Officer Down: U.S. Border Patrol Agent Alejandro Flores-Bañuelos
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. U. S. Border Patrol Agent Alejandro Flores-Bañuelos was struck by a vehicle and killed while rendering aid to a broken down motorist on March 15, 2021. "It is with a profound sense of loss that we mourn the passing of one of our own, Border Patrol Agent … [Read more...]
Officer Down: New York State Trooper Joseph Gallagher
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On Friday, March 26, 2021, New York State Trooper Joseph Gallagher died as a result of traumatic brain injuries suffered on December 18, 2017. On that fateful day, Trooper Gallagher stopped to assist a motorist whose vehicle broke down on an entrance ramp from … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Texas State Trooper Chad Walker
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. When Texas State Trooper Chad Walker pulled over to assist what he thought was a motorist having car trouble on the evening of Friday, March 26, 2021, the thought of a violent encounter was probably the furthest thing from his mind. Yet, before the trooper's … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Boulder Police Department Officer Eric Talley
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Boulder Police Department Officer Eric Talley is arguably the most high-profile law enforcement death so far this year. On March 22, 2021, 51-year-old Officer Talley was the first officer to respond to an 'active shooter' call at King Sooper grocery store. He … [Read more...]
American Law Enforcement Line of Duty Deaths in 2020
Last year 264 federal, state, military, tribal, and local law enforcement officers died in the line-of-duty - the highest number of line-of-duty deaths since 1974. The 2020 Law Enforcement Fatalities Report (download PDF) notes COVID is blamed for 145 of those deaths, another 48 police officers were deemed 'firearms-related fatalities' and 44 were killed in traffic incidents … [Read more...]