Pierce County Sheriff's deputies fold the U.S. flag that draped the casket of Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Cooper Dyson, on Monday, Dec. 30, during a memorial service in Tacoma, Wash. (AP)
Working in law enforcement is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.
As of the last day of the year, 131 officers have died while on duty this year, with causes running the gamut from car crashes and medical emergencies to homicides, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
Below are the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2019 while trying to protect the public.
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December
Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol
Bristol, an officer with the Hendersonville Police Department in Tennessee, died on Dec. 30 after he was fatally hit by a car while chasing a suspect across Interstate 65 on foot, authorities say.
Bristol, a Navy veteran, was driving after a fleeing car that subsequently crashed, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The driver of the fleeing vehicle, a 19-year-old, was arrested while the passenger, a 26-year-old, fled on foot with Bristol in pursuit. That suspect later was taken into custody.
“It’s been nearly 20 years since this department lost an officer in the line of duty, and this was too soon for it too happen again,” police Chief Mickey Miller told reporters at a news conference late that night.
Dyson, a member of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department in Washington, died Dec. 21 when his patrol car crashed while he was on his way to back up other officers on an urgent domestic violence call, authorities said.
Dyson was on his way to assist two fellow officers already dispatched to a house in Parkland. They had asked for back up within a minute of arriving at the initial call reporting a young child had been assaulted and there were weapons in the home.
Sheriff Paul Pastor called it a heartbreaking loss for the department and Dyson’s family. He is survived by his 2-year-old child and his pregnant wife. The deputy had been with the department since 2018.
Pfluger, a member of the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office in Texas, died on Dec. 21 after his vehicle crashed while he was responding to a burglary call.
Officials told the Houston Chronicle that he was driving behind another deputy en route to the scene when the patrol car in front of him slowed down to make a right turn.
Pfluger – in an effort to avoid rear-ending his colleague’s car – clipped it and veered off the road, the newspaper reports. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, officials added.
Johnston, a sergeant in the New York City Police Department, died on Dec. 19 as a result of a 9/11-related cancer.
He served the department for more than two decades and is survived by his wife and seven daughters, the Officer Down Memorial Page says.
Oglesby, a U.S. Navy police sergeant, died Dec. 18 after his patrol car drove off the side of the road in Charles County, Md., and struck a tree, WTOP reports.
Police told the station the tree fell on top of his car, which became engulfed in flames.
No one else was in the car at the time and the incident is currently under investigation.
Latu, a member of the Marion County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina, died in a single-vehicle crash while responding to an early morning call on Dec. 17.
Latu was killed when the cruiser he was driving ran off a highway and struck a bridge pillar just after 1 a.m., South Carolina Highway Patrol Cpl. Sonny Collins said.
Latu was named Marion County Sheriff’s Office 2018 Deputy of the Year and 2018 Patrolman of the Year, according to a sheriff’s office post. He had been with the department since 2015 and previously worked as a 911 dispatch officer in Marion County.
Jacobs, a chief deputy with the Knott County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky, suffered a fatal heart attack on Dec. 16.
The Officer Down Memorial Page says Jacobs, hours earlier, had responded to assist at the scene of a barricaded individual who was threatening to shoot police.
That person eventually was taken into custody. Jacobs collapsed the next day while at the sheriff’s office.
Hawkins, a member of the Panola County Constable's Office in Mississippi, died Dec. 12 when a pickup truck that was believed to be stolen smashed into his vehicle.
Hawkins was helping officers from another county chase the truck.
Officials say a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were inside the truck that “crushed and mangled” Hawkins’ vehicle, killing the constable instantly. They have been charged with murder.
Nassau Bay Sgt. Kaila Sullivan died after being hit by a driver who was fleeing a traffic stop, police say. (Harris County Sheriff's Office)
Sullivan, a sergeant with the Nassau Bay Police Department in Texas, was struck and killed by a vehicle during a Dec. 10 traffic stop.
The driver of the vehicle, who was wanted on a domestic violence warrant, ran into the 43-year-old while fleeing the scene, police say.
“She was a police officer at heart,” Chief Tim Cromie said. "Her blood ran blue. She was a police officer's police officer."
Seals, a Jersey City police officer, was among six people killed in a shootout there on Dec. 10.
The gunfire started near a cemetery, where Seals, a 40-year-old member of a unit devoted to taking illegal guns off the streets, was killed while trying to stop “bad guys,” Police Chief Michael Kelly said.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop praised Seals’ legacy, saying his performance “speaks for itself.”
Brewster, who served with the Houston Police Department, was gunned down on Dec. 7 while responding to a domestic violence call.
A woman reported to police that her boyfriend was assaulting her and was armed with two guns. When Brewster, 32, encountered the couple near their house, the suspect shot him as he got out of his car, police said.
Brewster, who was promoted to sergeant in February, is survived by his wife, parents and sisters.
Fayetteville Police Officer Stephen Carr was shot and killed as he sat in his patrol vehicle. (Fayetteville Police Department)
Carr, an officer with the Fayetteville Police Department in Arkansas, was shot and killed Dec. 7 as he sat in his patrol vehicle outside headquarters, officials say.
“It appears the suspect came into the back parking lot and just executed my officer,” Fayetteville Police Chief Mike Reynolds later said at a news conference. The suspected shooter was gunned down by responding officers in a nearby alley.
Carr was hired by the department in April 2017. Police called him a "hero," and said he served with dedication and professionalism for more than two years.
Clardy, a member of Alabama’s Huntsville Police Department, was gunned down Dec. 6 during a drug enforcement operation
The Army veteran was shot in the heart during a drug buy set up by authorities at a residence where they expected a suspect to drop off a large amount of drugs, Huntsville police said.
The killing happened 41 years after Clardy’s father, Huntsville police officer Billy Fred Clardy II, died in a wreck while on duty. A tribute that the younger Clardy wrote to his father was read during his memorial service.
DeMarino, a member of the New York City Police Department, died on Dec. 6 as a result of a 9/11-related cancer.
The Officer Down Memorial Page says he served the department for 27 years.
“Family and the job came first,” his wife, Charlene, told the New York Daily News. “Everything he did he did it 100 percent and did it with 100 percent pride.”
Voth, a sergeant with the Colorado Department of Corrections, was killed Dec. 4 when a boiler exploded at the Fremont Correctional Facility in Canon City.
Voth, who had been with the department since 2016, helped teach inmates valuable trade skills.
Dean Williams, executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, said the 28-year-old “will be dearly missed, but he will never be forgotten.”
November
Temores, a petty officer 3rd Class in the Navy, was killed on Nov. 30 when a civilian crashed into his security vehicle at a base in Virginia.
The driver of a Chevy Silverado pickup truck entered the Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story at a high rate of speed before being chased by security and colliding with a patrol car driven by Temores.
Temores was 23 and had a 2-year-old son.
Williams, who headed the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office in Alabama, was gunned down Nov. 23 at a gas station in Hayneville, about 20 miles southwest of Montgomery.
Alabama Trooper Sgt. Steve Jarrett told AL.com that a suspect opened fire at Johnson "over something silly".
The tall sheriff was known as “Big John.” Gov. Kay Ivey paid tribute to him online, writing that “through his service to our country in the U.S. Marine Corps and his many years working in law enforcement, he dedicated his life to keeping other people safe.”
Lowndes County Sheriff John Williams was shot and killed on Nov. 23 at a gas station in the community of Hayneville, about 20 miles southwest of Montgomery. (Alabama Sheriffs Association)
McClain, a Detroit Police Department officer, was shot and killed Nov. 20 while responding to a home invasion.
The suspect who opened fire at the 16-year veteran of the department “clearly” had some type of training and was trying to bait officers, Police Chief James Craig said.
"[McClain was the] first one in the door, first one down the stairs to confront an armed suspect. His courage resulted in tragedy," Mayor Mike Duggan added.
McClain leaves behind a wife of 10 years and two stepchildren.
Ridley, an investigator with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, was fatally shot Nov 19 while on patrol at a convenience store in Augusta.
Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen said Ridley was hit at least once and pronounced dead at a hospital. The suspect that fired at him, the Officer Down Memorial Page says, was on parole for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Reece, a deputy with Tennessee’s Cheatham County Sheriff's Office, died Nov. 15 after being involved in a vehicle crash.
The patrol car driven by the Marine Corps veteran, who served in Operation Desert Storm before spending more than two decades in law enforcement, was hit as it was entering a highway, the Officer Down Memorial Page says.
Brooks, who served with the Northampton County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina, was killed in a traffic accident on Nov. 13.
Sheriff Jack Smith says Brooks was responding to a call about a woman who needed assistance when his cruiser ran off U.S. Highway 158 just outside of Garysburg, hit a ditch and overturned several times.
The 27-year-old Brooks, who had been with the sheriff’s office for about six months, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Jorge DelRio was shot while serving a drug-related warrant (Dayton Police Department)
DelRio, a detective with the Dayton Police Department in Ohio, died Nov. 7 after being shot twice in the face days earlier while serving a drug-related warrant.
The longtime veteran of the department was working with a Drug Enforcement Administration task force and was rushed to a local hospital by a fellow officer due to the severity of the injuries.
“Not surprisingly, after 30 years of dedicated public service, Det. DelRio will continue to give of himself by being an organ donor upon his death,” the department said.
October
Lee, a detention officer with Arizona’s Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, died Oct. 30 after being attacked by an inmate a day earlier, officials say.
Lee, a six-year veteran with the department, hit his head on the floor in the Lower Buckeye Jail when the inmate allegedly swept the officer's legs out from under him. The suspect was awaiting trial on sex crimes involving children.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered flags at all state buildings lowered to half-staff in remembrance of Lee.
Ishmael, who served with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, was fatally shot Oct. 23 while responding to a report of a theft from a marijuana garden at a Northern California home.
Tunnel to Towers helps the family of El Dorado County Deputy Brian Ishmael who was killed in the line of duty
Frank Siller says every time somebody serves our country, their whole family serves.
Four men, including two illegal immigrants, have since been arrested and indicted on federal charges in connection to the death.
“I am angry because we have illegal aliens in an illegal marijuana grow who killed a cop. That is bad,” U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott said in November while announcing the charges.
Allmendinger, a member of Montana’s Gallatin County Sheriff's Office, was killed Oct. 19 in a vehicle accident on a mountain road while responding to a report of a stranded driver.
The department said the deputy's Chevrolet Tahoe slid backward on icy roads during a storm. Allmendinger exited the driver’s side and became trapped under the vehicle.
The 31-year-old is survived by his wife, three children and parents, the Officer Down Memorial Page says.
Torres, who served the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks for 40 years, died Oct. 12 from a heart attack he suffered after patrolling areas affected by a wildfire.
He reportedly worked a 14-hour shift before returning to headquarters, telling other staff he did not feel well and collapsing.
“He was incredibly dedicated to our parks and a wonderful partner to many on our staff,” City Attorney Mike Feuer wrote on Twitter following Torres’ death. “He was always upbeat and always ready to roll up his sleeves and help.”
Jones, a member of the Falls County Sheriff’s Office, was struck and killed by a car Oct. 11 while he helping a driver on the side of a Central Texas highway.
The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that Jones -- along with Riesel Police Chief Danny Krumnow -- were hit by a vehicle that had hydroplaned on the rain-slick road.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash while Krumnow survived.
Stephan, an Indiana State trooper, was killed in an Oct. 11 car crash while headed to help another trooper.
Officials said in a news release that the 27-year-old’s patrol car entered a curve in Tippecanoe County before leaving the roadway, rolling over at least once and striking a utility pole.
Stephan had worked for the State Police for four years. He is survived by his wife and infant daughter.
Border Patrol Agent Robert Hotten
Hotten died Oct. 6 after being found unresponsive while on patrol in southeastern Arizona.
Hotten had been patrolling alone, which is customary, and the agents who found him rendered first aid before he was airlifted to a ground ambulance.
The 10-year Border Patrol veteran was taken to a Tucson-area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Tucson TV station KGUN, citing an autopsy report, said the 44-year-old suffered from severe cardiovascular disease, which is listed as the cause of death.
September
Mulkeen, an officer with the New York City Police Department, died Sept. 29 after being hit by friendly fire as he grappled on the ground with a suspect who was also armed.
Mulkeen was patrolling the streets around an apartment complex in the Bronx as part of a unit investigating gang activity when he and his partner tried to arrest a man who had fled questioning, NYPD Chief Terence Monahan said.
Monahan called Mulkeen "brave," and said he was "doing the job we asked him to do; a job that New Yorkers needed him to do."
Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was shot from behind during a traffic stop and later died from his injuries. (Harris County Sheriff's Office)
Dhaliwal, a 10-year veteran of Texas’ Harris County Sheriff's Office and its first Sikh deputy, died Sept. 27 after being shot multiple times from behind while conducting a traffic stop.
One of the occupants was able to leave the vehicle, approach the deputy from behind and shoot him at least twice — "basically just shot him in a very ruthless, cold-blooded way," said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Gonzalez also said Dhaliwal worked with the United Sikhs nonprofit to organize the donation of supplies for first responders after Hurricane Harvey devastated the county. He also went to Puerto Rico to help with relief after Hurricane Maria slammed into the island.
Vickers, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, was killed in a vehicle crash outside of Orlando on Sept. 27.
His patrol car collided into a pickup truck carrying construction equipment and news outlets had reported that it went underneath the truck.
Vickers served as a field training officer and had been working at the state agency for about four years. He also served in the Navy.
Hulsey, a deputy sheriff with Kentucky’s Meade County Sheriff's Office, died Sept. 21 after suffering a heart attack.
The officer had gotten into a scuffle with a suspect he was trying to arrest on drug charges. After the struggle was over, Hulsey fell to the ground and appeared to have trouble breathing, an arrest report said.
Officers at the scene performed CPR, but the deputy was pronounced dead at a hospital. The suspect has been charged with manslaughter.
Capt. Vincent Liberto died after he was shot by a suspect following a car chase in Louisiana, authorities said. (Mandeville Police Department)
Liberto, a captain with the Mandeville Police Department in Louisiana, was shot and killed Sept. 20 following a vehicle chase in a New Orleans suburb, authorities said
After the car police were chasing crashed into a ditch, its driver got out and allegedly fired at Liberto and another officer.
Liberto had been a member of the department since 1994 and served in the Marines for a decade.
Bishop, an officer with the New York City Police Department, died Sept. 19 as a result of a 9/11-related illness.
The Officer Down Memorial Page says he served in the department for 21 years and is survived by his wife, two daughters, mother and brother.
Cousette, an Army veteran who served 13 years at the Tuscaloosa Police Department, was shot and killed Sept. 16 while in pursuit of a felon, officials said. The suspect is said to have run inside a home before opening fire.
“We cannot take for granted the tremendous sacrifices our men and women in law enforcement make each and every day in order to keep us safe,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. “Because of Officer Cousette’s brave call to action, the felon he pursued now remains in custody.”
She added: “Truly, Alabama has lost one of her heroes, Dornell Cousette."
Paolillo, a member of the New York City Police Department, died Sept. 9 from a 9/11-related cancer, the Officer Down Memorial Page says.
His wife, Josephine, told the New York Daily News that he went to Ground Zero and "dug on that mound for a month hoping to find his brother" -- a firefighter who had died in the terrorist attacks.
He is survived by his wife, three sons, sister and family.
August
McLoud, a former undersheriff for New York's Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, died Aug. 29 from a 9/11-related illness.
The 59-year-old helped in search and recovery efforts in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks and also spent time serving as a member of the Weedsport Fire Department, according to Syracuse.com.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
Voyles, a deputy sheriff for Mississippi’s Chickasaw County Sheriff's Department, died Aug. 28 from injuries he suffered in a vehicle crash the night before.
The 33-year-old was on duty and traveling with another law enforcement officer when the accident happened near Houlka, according to Chickasaw County Sheriff James Meyers.
Voyles, the son of Houston Police Chief Billy Voyles, had worked for the sheriff’s office for about five years. He is survived by a wife and two young children.
Trooper Moises Sanchez, 49, died on August 24, months after he was shot while responding to a car accident in Edinburg, Texas. (Texas Department of Public Safety)
Sanchez, a Texas state trooper, passed away on Aug. 24 -- almost five months after he was shot while responding to a car crash earlier this year.
Sanchez was struck on April 6 in Edinburg, in Hidalgo County, officials said. He had approached a two-vehicle collision to investigate when a driver of one of the vehicles fled the scene and allegedly shot him.
He leaves behind a wife and three children. The person accused of his death is facing a capital murder charge.
Blancarte, of Texas’ Kinney County Sheriff’s Office, suffered a heart attack Aug. 23 while responding to the scene of a vehicle fire.
The 20-year veteran of the department was directing traffic at the scene when he began feeling ill and requested medical help, the Officer Down Memorial Page says. Blancarte became unresponsive while on the way to a local hospital and later was pronounced dead.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
Illinois State Trooper Nicholas Hopkins died from wounds suffered on Aug. 23 while executing a search warrant in East St. Louis. (AP/Illinois State Police)
Hopkins, a 33-year-old Illinois state trooper, died Aug. 23 from wounds suffered hours earlier after being shot while executing a search warrant at a home in East St. Louis.
In a statement following the shooting, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker noted that troopers display unbelievable courage and "put their lives on the line for us every single day."
Hopkins was a 10-year veteran of the force and grew up in Waterloo, where he patrolled and where his father currently serves as an alderman.
Cammon, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, died on Aug. 23. He had been kept alive for six years but never regained consciousness after collapsing during SWAT tryouts in 2013.
Cammon was 29 when he suffered the medical emergency. During his police career, he earned the department’s medal of courage for helping subdue a man who was assaulting a woman at a restaurant with a knife.
“Our Department family joins the Cammon family in grieving the loss of this brave young man,” Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said.
Schreuers, a 24-year veteran of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department in Iowa, died Aug. 13 following a crash in her patrol vehicle days earlier.
The SUV she was in during the early morning hours of Aug. 9 veered off a road while entering a sharp curve, before running into a ditch and vaulting over a private driveway. It eventually came to a rest on the driver’s side. Schreuers was flown to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she later was pronounced dead.
“The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is thankful for the outpouring of support they have received from the surrounding law enforcement agencies, first responders, medical staff, and community,” the department said in a statement.
Officer Andre Moye Jr. is shown in an undated photo. (California Highway Patrol)
Moye Jr., a California Highway Patrol officer, was gunned down Aug. 12 while conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 215 in Riverside.
The 34-year-old was filling out paperwork to impound a vehicle when his killer, who had a lengthy criminal record, pulled out a rifle and began shooting.
Moye had been with the CHP for about three years and was a motorcycle officer for roughly a year before he was killed.
Cicora, a New York State Police sergeant, passed away Aug. 10 from a 9/11-related illness.
He joined the State Police in 1992 and was assigned to the World Trade Center site in the wake of the attacks. Cicora retired in 2017 because of his illness, officials said.
He is survived by his wife and son.
Harris, an officer with the New York City Police Department, died Aug. 4 from a 9/11-related illness.
“After the attacks of 9/11, like thousands of other heroic and dedicated officers, Officer Harris was exposed to the toxic dust and debris that blanketed lower Manhattan and blew across the region,” reads a post on the Facebook page of the NYPD’s 77th Precinct, where he served. “Little did he know, this toxic brew would eventually cost Ray his life.”
“If you looked up the word ‘gentleman’ in any dictionary, you would likely find the definition to read, ‘a chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man,’” the post adds. “If anyone who ever met Police Officer Raymond Harris were to write a dictionary it would certainly include a picture of Ray directly under that definition.”
Rodríguez-Mateo, a corrections officer at the Ponce Maximum Security Facility in Puerto Rico, died Aug. 1 after being attacked by an inmate there a day earlier.
The Officer Down Memorial Page says Rodríguez-Mateo noticed a visitor handing an item to an inmate. During a subsequent search, the inmate – who is in prison on a triple murder conviction – disarmed Rodríguez-Mateo of his baton and struck him several times, causing a skull fracture.
The officer died of his injuries. He is survived by his wife and child.
July
Nimtz, a deputy with the Broward County Sheriff's Office in Florida, was killed in a crash July 21 while on his way to a reported domestic dispute.
His vehicle collided with a Toyota Tundra at an intersection in Deerfield Beach, about 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale, the sheriff’s office said.
Nimtz joined the department last year.
Cranston, a member of the New York City Police Department, died July 20 from a 9/11-related cancer.
He had spent the months after the attacks sifting through debris at a landfill in Staten Island. His wife Clare told the New York Daily News that when Cranston saw coverage of the attack on television, he "got his clothes on, and I didn’t see him for a few days after that. He went right to the scene.”
“He was a gentle giant,” she added. “He was a hero.”
Stone County Sheriff’s deputy Sergeant Michael Stephen. (Facebook/Arkansas Fire News)
Stephen, a sergeant with Arkansas' Stone County Sheriff’s Office, was shot and killed July 18 when a suspect opened fire as he was responding to a call in Leslie, about 77 miles north of Little Rock.
Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said Stephen went to a home at 8:40 a.m. that day for a domestic welfare check and "gunfire erupted" while he was talking to a woman outside the property.
“The State of Arkansas has a heavy heart today,” Sadler said. “All too often now we’re getting calls that are resulting in the deaths of law enforcement officers, the individuals who are charged with the duty to keep peace in our communities, counties and across the state.”
Barron, an officer with the Red Lake Nation Conservation Department in Minnesota, died July 7 after suffering a medical emergency while on duty.
The department says he was responding to a call about suspected illegal logging and “requested EMS to his location after not feeling well.” Officers on scene “immediately performed life-saving measures,” they added, but he later died at a local hospital.
“There are countless stories where Opie would show up out of the blue to back up officers regardless on the type of call they faced even though not called upon,” the department said. “He was a staunch defender when it came to protecting the natural resources of the nation.”
Nicholas Dixon, 28, was killed in the line of duty in Hall County, Ga. (Hall County Sheriff's Office)
Dixon, a 28-year-old with the Hall County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, was killed July 7 in an exchange of gunfire with people who crashed a stolen car in Gainesville, police said.
He was a three-year veteran of the sheriff's office and left behind a wife and two sons.
“He was out there in the darkness while most of us slept comfortably — and bravely doing things that he could. It was his job and he loved doing that,” Sheriff Gerald Couch said.
Diaz, a member of the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Texas, died July 6 after suffering a medical emergency while responding to a stabbing call.
Police say the 39-year-old became ill and passed away at a hospital shortly after arriving.
A review from a medical examiner later revealed that Diaz had suffered a blood clot to his lungs, KHOU reported.
Anderson was killed July 4 when his police car was struck by a 17-year-old motorist who was driving without a license, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
The operator of that car, police said, failed to stop for a flashing red traffic light and “violently struck” the driver’s side of Anderson’s vehicle.
“I know nothing I say or do will ease your pain or mend your hearts. However, please accept my deepest condolences and apologies to your entire family,” the 17-year-old’s mother wrote in a letter to his family.
“May God continue to surround you with love, support and friends to help you through this emotional time.”
Ramirez, who had worked for the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office in Texas since 2016 and had returned to work in April after serving an Army deployment in Africa, was struck and killed while conducting a traffic stop on July 2.
The 32-year-old was hit by a passing pickup on Interstate 10 in an incident that also left his partner injured.
Kendall County Sheriff Al Auxier said Ramirez’s death “is a reminder of the sacrifices that law enforcement officers make every day.”
June
Alvarez, a former New York City police detective who was a leader in the fight for the Sept. 11 Victims Compensation Fund, died from cancer on June 29.
Alvarez was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2016. He traced his illness to the three months he spent in the rubble of the World Trade Center’s twin towers after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
He had appeared with former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart earlier in June to plead with Congress to extend the compensation fund. Following his passing, Mayor Bill de Blasio said “it will be my honor to award him with a posthumous Key to the City as a symbol of our profound respect and gratitude for his service and sacrifice.”
Rainer, a detective with the New York City Police Department, died June 25 as a result of a 9/11-related cancer.
The Officer Down Memorial Page says Rainer served the department for 19 years and is survived by her six siblings.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriff Troy Chisum was shot and killed June 25 while responding to a call for help in a rural community.
A suspect had barricaded himself inside of a home in the area of Avon, around 165 miles southwest of Chicago, and when officers responded multiple shots were fired, police said.
Chisum was a four-year veteran of the sheriff's office and was a paramedic with the Fulton County EMA.
Langsdorf, an officer with the North County Police Cooperative, was gunned down June 23 while responding to a call about a person who was trying to cash a fraudulent check at a store in the St. Louis area.
The man suspected of trying to cash the check – a convicted felon – got into a struggle with Langsdorf and shot him at least twice, police said.
“There is no such thing as a routine call,” Assistant Police Chief Ron Martin said later. “This is the danger that police officers in this community face every day.”
Espericueta, a 13-year veteran of the Mission Police Department, was shot and killed June 20 by a man with a lengthy criminal record, authorities said.
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The gunman’s mother had reported to police that her son had fired at her car. When Espericueta and other officers showed up to investigate, the son shot at them, according to police, striking the married father of two.
Espericueta was the first line-of-duty death in the department in more than 40 years, Mission Police Chief Robert Dominguez said.
Smith, who joined the Nebraska State Patrol at age 47 after a lengthy military career that included being awarded a Bronze Star Medal, was killed June 20 in a head-on vehicle collision.
Investigators say the crash near Bridgeport happened when another driver struck the back of a pickup truck that had stopped to make a left turn. That crash caused the driver’s SUV to veer into the oncoming lane, where it collided head-on with Smith’s patrol car.
He is survived by his wife and two adult children.
O’Sullivan, a 26-year-old who had just joined the Sacramento Police Department, was shot and killed June 19 after a suspect opened fire on her and other officers while responding to a domestic violence call.
Officers initially couldn’t come to her aid because the gunman kept firing, Sgt. Vance Chandler said. O’Sullivan later died at a local hospital.
“She chose to stand in the gap between evil, between what tries to tear apart the fabric of what we call community,” Police Chief Daniel Hahn said following O’Sullivan’s death, adding that she was “an amazing and incredible person who paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Jones, a 55-year-old member of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, died June 15 from complications connected to an injury he suffered while on duty, according to The Chief Leader newspaper.
He served 21 years with the department and is survived by his wife and daughter.
William Moden, a Colorado state trooper, died from his injuries June 15 after being struck on a rural stretch of Interstate 70 east of Denver.
The Colorado State Patrol said Moden was outside his patrol car assisting with a serious injury crash when he was hit by another vehicle. A fellow trooper at the scene rendered aid, but Moden later died at a hospital.
“We ask you keep their family, our CSP family, first responders on scene, and all others affected in your thoughts and prayers,” the State Patrol said following his death.
Brown, a school resource officer with the Port St. Lucie Police Department, died June 12 after leading a day of instruction for its athletic league camp.
The 14-year veteran of the department was in charge of supervising “strenuous” outdoor activities such as the completion of an obstacle course at the Navy SEAL Museum, but when he came home that night, he suffered a fatal heart attack, police said.
He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
Dailey, who served with a number of police departments in Alabama, was killed in a crash on June 11 while responding to a burglary-in-progress call.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says the 29-year-old sheriff’s deputy lost control of his vehicle in a curve shortly before midnight and crashed into a tree in Monroeville.
“Anyone that knew Jay knew that he was full of life. He was easily recognized by the big smile he kept on his face,” the sheriff’s office said.
Fitzpatrick, who served with the Colony Police Department in Texas, died after suffering a “serious medical episode," officials said. (The Colony Police Department)
Fitzpatrick, a Marine veteran who served with the Colony Police Department in Texas, died June 11 after suffering a “serious medical episode” at work days earlier, officials said.
The Officer Down Memorial Page says Fitzpatrick suffered a heart attack while participating in his department’s wellness program. He reportedly came back to the office after working out and collapsed.
“Sgt. Fitzpatrick worked for the Colony Police Department for 28 years and was our most senior police officer,” the department said.
Ramirez, a Los Angeles police officer, died June 9 during a surgery stemming from an on-duty traffic collision that occurred four years prior, officials said.
She was a member of the department since 2008. Chief Michel Moore tweeted that the LAPD was "mourning the loss of one of our own," and said she served Los Angeles "with honor, integrity, and pride."
"We will, not as an organization but as a family, never forget her sacrifice," he added.
Castaneda, a Grand Prairie Police Department officer, was standing outside his patrol car checking traffic speeds on the President George Bush Turnpike near Dallas on June 7 when he was struck by a passing vehicle.
That driver of that car, according to WFAA, was 17 years old and the collision threw the officer off the elevated roadway.
"It accentuates and highlights the dangers of our professions," Grand Prairie Police Chief Steve Dye told the station. "At the end of the day, it's a dangerous job, and this is a tragic example of that."
Chief of Police Wayne Neidenberg
Neidenberg, the chief of the Lakeshire Police Department in Missouri, died from a heart attack on June 6 after helping victims at the scene of a rollover crash.
The Officer Down Memorial Page says the 18-year veteran of law enforcement – who also served in the U.S. Army – was driving home when he came upon the crash and called for assistance.
After rendering aid to the victims, Neidenberg is reported to have collapsed at his home.
Leahy, an officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, died June 6 from a cancer that he was diagnosed with following his rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The 49-year-old had spent weeks working to clean up the site and served the department for 27 years. While he was fighting his illness, he continued to serve his post at Kennedy International Airport, racking up more than 500 arrests, the New York Daily News reported.
“(He was) tough as nails and always got the job done,” Lt. Daniel Rhein told the newspaper. “At the same time, he would call his mother every day.”
May
Whitstine, who served with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office K9 division, was killed May 30 after getting involved in a vehicle accident on the way to work.
His vehicle ran off the road in Zachary, La., around 6:30 a.m. that day, striking a tree and a bridge before overturning. Preliminary autopsy results, according to a coroner that spoke to The Advocate newspaper, showed that Whitstine died from congestive heart failure moments before the crash.
“He was a dedicated public servant and will be greatly missed,” said East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid J. Gautreaux, noting that Whitstine served with his office for more than 8 years and that he spent 9 years with the Baker Police Department.
Johnson, an Army veteran who fought in the Vietnam War and also served a 41-year career in law enforcement, died May 30 following a vehicle crash in Palm Beach County, Fla.
The car driven by the Seminole Police Department officer left the road and ended up overturning into a water-filled canal. He was airlifted to a hospital, but later died from his injuries.
"Lt. Johnson leaves behind a loving wife and family, and a military and law enforcement career that exemplifies his dedication to public service,” the department said after his passing.
Buechner was shot and killed on May 19 while responding to a domestic disturbance call at a mobile home community in Auburn, Ala.
"This is probably the worst day of my time here," Auburn Police Chief Paul Register said following the loss of his colleague. "Words cannot express the loss for this family, our family and this community."
Buechner had served with the Auburn Police Division for 13 years.
Sgt. Kelvin Ansari spent 21 years in the U.S. Army before joining the Savannah Police Department. (Savannah Police Department)
Ansari spent 21 years in the Army before joining the Savannah Police Department, where he worked his way up to the rank of sergeant.
The 50-year-old was shot and killed May 11 while responding to a robbery call. The man suspected of gunning him down later died as well after being struck by a responding officer's bullet.
“We lost a man who spent a substantial portion of his life protecting the country and protecting the community," Police Chief Roy Minter said following Ansari's death. "We lost a husband, we lost a father, and we lost a leader.”
West, who was serving his 13th consecutive term as an elected constable in Lowndes County, Mississippi, died May 9 following a car accident in Tupelo three days earlier.
The 81-year-old was out "serving papers", his son Mike West told The Dispatch newspaper, when his car went off the road and crashed into a tree. Willie West, who was first elected to the post in 1967, was described as a father figure by residents in the area.
His son said "if you had a problem, you could always call Hoot" as "he always seemed to be around".
Gatti, a 24-year-old Tennessee Ssate trooper, was killed in a crash May 6 while responding to a call about a car fire along Interstate 40.
Officials told WMC-TV that while heading to the scene, Gatti lost control of his police cruiser and struck a tractor-trailer before hitting another tractor-trailer.
In June, he would have celebrated his one-year anniversary of joining the state’s Highway Patrol, according to the Jackson Sun.
Neri, a 63-year-old officer in Sanibel, Fla., “passed away of natural causes” May 6 after he “collapsed during a training exercise,” the department said.
Officials added that Neri had a 30-year career as a revenue officer with the U.S. Department of Treasury, while also serving as a police officer in New Jersey’s Union Township.
McKeithen, an Air Force veteran and longtime officer with the Biloxi Police Department in Mississippi, was gunned down in the parking lot of their headquarters on May 5.
He earned a Medal of Valor for saving special needs children from a flooded home during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but his 24-year police career came to an end when the suspect shot him multiple times, for reasons still unknown.
The search for his alleged killer ended after another officer from the department spotted the suspected gunman walking along the side of the road in a city 30 miles away.
K9 Officer Jordan Harris Sheldon
K9 Officer Jordan Harris Sheldon, 32, was killed in North Carolina in May.
Sheldon, 32, was shot and killed on May 4 while conducting a traffic stop in Mooresville, N.C., outside of Charlotte.
It’s not clear what caused Sheldon to stop the suspect’s vehicle, but the alleged killer was later found dead in his apartment from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Mooresville’s police chief said. Sheldon was a 6-year veteran of the department and was with his K9 dog Ramon at the time of the shooting.
“The pain and sorrow that we feel is — can't express it,” the town’s mayor, Miles Atkins, said at a news conference regarding Sheldon’s death.
April
Special Agent in Charge Liquat Khan
Khan, an Army Criminal Investigation Command special agent, died April 30 after he collapsed during a physical fitness test at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.
The 51-year-old, who joined the Army after 9/11 and went on to serve two combat tours during a career spanning more than 15 years, was found lying on a road. He was taken by an ambulance to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Wynn, who worked as a conservation officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, drowned April 19 after getting thrown from a boat while responding to a call about a possible body floating in a lake near Pine City. His body was recovered from the frigid waters after a search that lasted five hours.
The state’s governor, Tim Walz, described Wynn as an outstanding officer who was admired and respected by his colleagues and served with dignity and pride.
He is survived by his wife and two children, ages 5 and 11.
Olinger, an officer with the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland, died April 18 from complications linked to a gunshot wound he suffered during a traffic stop in 2003.
One of the passengers in the vehicle Olinger pulled over in Silver Spring that year fired a round and hit him in the neck, leaving him paralyzed.
Prior to joining the Montgomery department, Olinger was an officer in Reading, Pa., for six years.
Deputy Justin DeRosier, 29, was shot and killed after responding to a report of a disabled vehicle. (Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office)
DeRosier, 29, was shot and killed in the line of duty after responding to a report of a disabled vehicle blocking a roadway northeast of Kalama in Washiington state on April 13. He was struck shortly after arriving at the scene and died during surgery, officials said.
"Deputy DeRosier made a huge impact in his short career and will forever live in our hearts and mind," the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office said in a statement following his death. DeRosier’s killer was the half-brother of a man who killed a police chief in Oregon eight years ago, authorities later said.
A 2012 graduate of Washington State University and a deputy since 2016, DeRosier is survived by his wife and young daughter.
Licon, a motorcycle officer with the California Highway Patrol, was killed April 6 after being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop.
Authorities said it appeared Licon was struck by an "errant driver" on the shoulder of Interstate 15 in Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles east of Los Angeles, according to news reports.
The 57-year-old served with the highway patrol for nearly three decades and leaves behind his wife, daughter and step-daughter.
Englett, 29, died April 4 from a “traumatic medical event” he suffered at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Pickens County, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Ron Freeman said Englett collapsed during his first day of training there and was rushed to a local hospital, where he later was pronounced dead.
Englett had joined the sheriff’s office in May 2017 after working for authorities in Baldwin County.
Campbell, a Maine State Trooper, was killed April 3 after being hit by a stray truck wheel while responding to the scene of a disabled car along Interstate 95 in Hampden.
Campbell, 31, was attending to the vehicle when two wheels detached from a truck passing by, state police said.
“On behalf of the people of Maine, I express our deepest and unwavering gratitude for Det. Campbell's service,” Gov. Janet Mills said at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife and infant son.
March
Ellis, an Illinois State Trooper and Army veteran, was killed March 30 on Interstate 94 in Lake County. The 36-year-old was traveling home in his squad car when a wrong-way driver struck him head-on.
The vehicle was driving eastbound in the westbound expressway lanes. Ellis was an 11-year state police veteran, and the agency’s director, Brendan Kelly, described the loss of him as “bitter salt in an open wound.”
Brooke Jones-Story was fatally struck during a traffic stop. (Illinois State Police)
Jones-Story, also an Illinois State Trooper, was killed just two days before Ellis while conducting a traffic stop.
“During the inspection… a truck tractor semi-trailer combination veered off the roadway, struck Trooper Jones-Story’s squad car, whose emergency lights were activated, struck the commercial motor vehicle she was conducting the inspection on and fatally struck Trooper Jones-Story, who was outside of her vehicle at the time of the crash,” said the agency’s acting director Brendan F. Kelly.
Jones-Story, a 12-year veteran who “paid the ultimate sacrifice,” leaves behind her husband, two step-children and a step-grandchild, as well as other family members, he added.
Herrera was conducting a traffic stop on March 22 in San Elizario — about 25 miles southeast of El Paso — when a man in the vehicle opened fire, striking him multiple times, authorities said.
The 35-year-old with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office was wearing body armor during the attack and a spokesman said the “rounds that actually struck some of the more vital areas of his upper body were stopped by the vest.” But Herrera succumbed to his injuries two days later at a local hospital.
Herrera did not return fire during the incident and the shooter fled on foot along with a female passenger. Deputies found the pair hiding in a tool shed a few blocks away from the crime scene and the alleged gunman is now facing a capital murder charge.
Rutherford, an Air Force veteran and longtime member of the Phoenix Police Department, was killed March 21 after being hit by a vehicle in the western part of the city.
Police officials said the 51-year-old officer was struck where police were investigating a collision. Rutherford, who served the department for 23 years, reportedly was attempting to respond to another call about a reported incident across the street and was hit while trying to cross it.
The driver of the vehicle, identified only as a 40-year-old woman, stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. Sgt. Tommy Thompson said officers determined she was not impaired.
Thompson, 42, was gunned down March 19 in Washington state after he and a fellow Kittitas County police officer responded to a driving complaint and attempted to stop a vehicle.
After a short pursuit, the suspect exited the car and exchanged gunfire with the officers, killing Thompson and wounding his colleague. The suspect was also shot and later died.
Kittitas County Sheriff Gene Dana said the killing of Thompson was the first fatal shooting of a law enforcement officer in the rural county in 92 years
Groves, a member of the Colorado State Patrol, died March 13 after being struck by a vehicle as a blizzard hit parts of the state.
He was assisting a vehicle that slid off Interstate 76 in Weld County when someone driving a Volvo "lost control" and hit Groves, who was outside of his patrol vehicle, Colorado State Patrol said.
Groves had served in the patrol since July 2007.
Keltner, of the McHenry County Sheriff's Office, was killed in the line of duty on March 7 while trying to arrest a man on a burglary warrant at a hotel in Rockford. The suspect allegedly shot him in the head.
Keltner leaves behind a wife and two young children. Sheriff Bill Prim called the deputy a "great guy" and a "fine man."
His alleged killer — who reportedly has a lengthy rap sheet — is now back in jail on a first-degree murder charge. He had been let out of prison last January for good behavior — and after fleeing the scene of the shooting, led responding officers on a high-speed chase and engaged them in a tense standoff before finally being arrested.
Midland Police Officer Nathan Hayden Heidelberg, 28, was killed in March in Texas.
Heidelberg, 28, died March 5 while responding to a call in the early morning hours about a security alarm going off at a home in Midland, Texas.
Authorities said other Midland Police Department officers heard Heidelberg loudly announce that police were at the residence before he went inside and was allegedly shot by the homeowner.
Heidelberg, a five-year police veteran, was struck just above his protective vest. He later died at a hospital. The property owner is now facing a second-degree manslaughter charge, but his attorney claims he thought a home invasion was underway and he only opened fire to protect his family.
February
Hinkle, with the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee, was shot Feb. 23 when a welfare check at a home in the area morphed into a firefight.
The suspect opened fire at police who showed up at the property and then barricaded himself inside, prompting an hours-long standoff in which officers returned fire.
Hinkle was struck at one point and was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Police eventually entered the home and found the suspected shooter dead. Hinkle, who served the department for 32 years, succumbed to his injuries days later.
Galinger, who had just graduated from the Chattanooga Police Department’s academy, was in his second month on the job when he was allegedly hit and killed by a driver on Feb. 23 while inspecting a manhole cover that had water flowing from it due to heavy rain.
The suspect who fled the scene turned herself in hours after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation put her on its Top Ten Most Wanted list.
Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy said the community "lost not just an officer. We lost a son, a father, a friend, and a protector."
Johnson died Feb. 21 in Oklahoma after another vehicle crossed the center line of a highway and struck him head-on.
The Pawnee County undersheriff was “always extremely helpful and he really cared about helping people,” Ken Moore, the assistant police chief in Yale, told KTUL following his death.
Hinton, a longtime Florida Highway Patrol trooper, died Feb. 19 after suffering a heart attack during a training exercise.
The 56-year-old had worked with the patrol for more than three decades, becoming an instructor in many fields and racking up numerous awards, including recognitions from the Drug Enforcement Agency.
He is survived by his wife, three children, three grandchildren, mother, brother and sister
Sanyet-Perez, an officer with the Puerto Rico Police Department, was gunned down Feb. 15 while conducting an undercover operation in the U.S. island territory.
Local reports said the 52-year-old, assigned to the Drugs and Narcotics Division, was hit in the torso by a mystery shooter in a passing vehicle. Officials tasked with investigating Sanyet-Perez’s death say the killing and undercover operation appear to be unrelated.
He leaves behind his wife and eight children.
Det. Brian Simonsen was shot and killed by friendly fire during the armed robbery at a T-Mobile store in Queens, N.Y. (NYPD)
Simonsen, a detective with the New York City Police Department, was killed by friendly fire while responding to a chaotic robbery scene Feb. 12 in Queens.
The suspect in that incident — described as a career criminal — was brandishing a fake firearm and Simonsen reportedly was hit by other officers while trying to retreat.
In his 19-year career, Simonsen made nearly 600 arrests, most of them for felonies. "He was exceedingly good at his job," Police Commissioner James O'Neill said at his funeral, "making connections with the evidence" and also reconnecting crime victims "with the hope that was stolen from them."
Rittner, a 17-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department, was killed Feb. 6 after being shot in the chest while helping serve a search warrant for suspected illegal guns and drugs at a Milwaukee duplex.
His wife, Caroline, revealed in early May that she is pregnant — and found out the news three days after her husband’s funeral.
"It was met with mixed emotions," police Lt. Kristin Felsman told WISN-TV. "Extremely joyful emotions because, [it's] another legacy of Matt, and obviously very sad emotions because Matt would not be there to share in the joy of a new life."
Dowell, a Virginia state trooper, died Feb. 4 after a shooting broke out during an attempt to serve a search warrant in the town of Farmville.
“The Tactical Team had made entry into the residence shortly before 10 p.m. Monday when an adult male inside the residence began shooting at them,” Virginia State Police said in a news release. Dowell was hit, and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Col. Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police superintendent, said the 28-year-old “will forever be remembered by his State Police Family for his great strength of character, tenacity, valor, loyalty and sense of humor.” A Chick-fil-A restaurant he regularly dined at set up a makeshift memorial in his honor.
Border Patrol Agent Donna Doss
Doss was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 2 when she was struck by a vehicle while crossing an Interstate 20 access road near Abilene, Texas. She was responding to a call for assistance from a Texas state trooper.
“Agent Doss died while performing her duty, protecting the community and the United States. Our heart, prayers, and support go out to Agent Doss’ family in this time of need,” Del Rio Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Matthew Hudak said.
Doss, 49, had been with the patrol since November 2003 and is survived by her parents, husband, two stepchildren and two brothers.
Detective William Lee Brewer was killed in February in Ohio.
Brewer died Feb. 2 after being shot during a 12-hour standoff at an apartment complex in Pierce Township, Ohio. The suspected shooter apparently broadcast portions of it to his social media followers on Instagram.
"Deputy Brewer gave his life attempting to help a person who was admittedly suicidal,” said Sheriff Steve Leahy. “This will forever change the atmosphere of the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office.”
The alleged gunman — whom prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for — later appeared in court with visible wounds on his face.
The Baton Rouge, La., officer, who was a new father to a baby girl and was planning his wedding, died Feb. 1 after a pickup truck plowed into his motorcycle during a funeral procession.
Totty, 31, had returned to work just several months prior to his death after being shot in February 2018 while responding to a call. He had made a full recovery following a temporary loss of sight in one eye and other injuries.
"Life was good for him. He had survived this near-death experience and everything was positive and going his way," former Baton Rouge Capt. Don Kelly said. "How tragic that everything could be taken away in the blink of an eye. We're all hurting."
January
Community Supervision Officer Russell Salazar
Salazar, an officer with the Kendall County Community Supervision and Corrections Department in Texas, died Jan. 31 in a single-vehicle crash, the Officer Down Memorial Page says.
He was heading back to the office after carrying out a field visit with a high-risk sex offender when his car -- amidst rain and low visibility -- veered off the road near a highway entrance ramp, it said.
The car reportedly overturned four times and Salazar was ejected from his seat.
The Glascock County Sheriff’s deputy, who was only 19 and had aspirations to become a federal law enforcement officer, died in a car crash in Georgia at the end of January.
He was heading to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Washington on Jan. 29 to pick up an individual when he failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck on the driver’s side by another vehicle, according to the Augusta Chronicle.
McAllister died Jan. 20 stemming from complications related to gunshot wounds he suffered while pursuing a bank robbery suspect in Pennsylvania in 1981.
The person who fired at the Susquehanna Township Police Department officer has never been caught. McCallister, 69, retired from the department in 2003 and has undergone multiple surgeries over the years.
"We now move forward with all of our Law Enforcement partners to aggressively investigate the Homicide of an American Hero and our Department will be aided in this investigation by our Local, State and Federal partners," the department's chief, Robert Martin, stated in late May.
Mobile Police Officer Sean Paul Tuder was killed in January in Alabama.
Tuder, who was also a member of the Alabama National Guard, "was doing some follow-up work on an investigation” when he was “gunned down by a suspect" at a motel in West Mobile on Jan. 20, Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste said.
The alleged shooter was wanted by Mobile police for property theft and for allegedly filing a false report. A detective, Fox 10 reported, later testified in court that they received a tip that he was hiding out at the motel after being on the run from law enforcement for several weeks.
Tuder was named "Officer of the Month" in August 2017 and was praised at the time for "his numerous drug arrests, with four cases being sent for federal prosecution, and recovering six firearms."
Horn, an 11-year veteran of the Comal County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, died on Jan. 17 after suffering a medical episode while traveling home from work in his patrol car.
Officials said he lost control of his vehicle northeast of San Antonio and it became part of a three-car pile-up. Horn was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Normal Merkel
Merkel died in the line of duty due to a medical condition in the fitness room of the federal courthouse in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Jan. 16. He was 45.
Merkel was assigned to the Marshals Service’s Southern District of Texas his entire career. He was a supervisor in Corpus Christi and task force commander of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force.
Merkel also was an Army veteran and deputy sheriff in McIntosh County, North Dakota, before joining the Marshals Service in 2001.
Sergeant WyTasha Lamar Carter was killed in January in Alabama.
Carter, an officer with the Birmingham Police Department in Alabama, died Jan. 13 after being shot during an investigation into a suspected car burglary.
Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith said Carter and another officer approached two suspects — one of which opened fire — after a plainclothes officer spotted at least one of them going around and checking door handles on cars parked outside of a nightclub.
Carter was an Air Force veteran, and in 2016, he was one of three officers who saved two young girls trapped in the rubble of a home whose roof and chimney had collapsed.
Lambert, an Illinois state trooper, was struck and killed Jan. 12 while investigating a car crash on Interstate 294 near Northbrook — about 25 miles north of Chicago.
The 34-year-old was traveling home when he saw the three-car accident, pulled over and stepped outside — only to be hit by a Jeep traveling in the same direction. After being thrown several feet from the impact, a nurse at the scene performed CPR on Lambert, but he later was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Trooper Duane Chappell said Lambert “worked really hard every day for five years” and he leaves behind a 1-year-old child.
Corona, a 22-year-old officer in Davis, Calif., died Jan. 10 after being fatally shot while responding to a traffic accident, prompting a massive manhunt for the gunman, who later killed himself.
While at the scene of the collision, the gunman rode up on a bicycle and began firing indiscriminately, striking Corona, a nearby firetruck, a house, a passing bus and the backpack of a woman whose life was spared when the bullet became lodged in a textbook. Police called it an “ambush”-style attack.
Corona had graduated from the Sacramento Police Department’s training academy in July and was described by her bosses as a “rising star in the department.” Her death was the first in the line of duty for Davis police in 60 years.
Townsend, a member of the Salt River Police Department, died in Scottsdale, Ariz., Jan. 8 after being struck on the side of the road while conducting a traffic stop.
The state’s department of public safety says the driver told “detectives he had been texting during the time his vehicle entered the right-side emergency lane and struck the police officer."
Townsend, who had been with the department for five years, leaves behind a wife and 10-month-old child.
Woods, a 15-year veteran of Ohio’s Colerain Township Police Department, died Jan. 7 after succumbing to injuries he suffered days earlier when he was hit by a pickup truck while trying to remove traffic cones from the scene of a car accident.
Colerain Township police said the 46-year-old died at a hospital after being there for several days in critical condition.
Police Chief Mark Denney said the father of three left behind “a grateful police department and a grateful community”, and hundreds turned out for a vigil in his honor.
Shinners was shot and killed Jan. 5 while trying to apprehend a "dangerous fugitive" near a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Orem, roughly 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Investigators said it appeared Shinners — an officer with the Provo Police Department -- was able to return fire and hit the suspect at least once. The man charged with killing Shinners later was captured and identified as a 40-year-old with an extensive criminal record dating back more than two decades.
Provo Police Chief Rich Ferguson said he posthumously promoted Shinners to the rank of master officer.
Fox News’ Melissa Leon, Frank Miles, Talia Kaplan, Edmund DeMarche, Brie Stimson, Nicole Darrah, Bradford Betz, Louis Casiano, Elizabeth Zwirz, Stephen Sorace, Ryan Gaydos, Paulina Dedaj, Jennifer Earl, Travis Fedschun, Dom Calicchio, Katherine Lam, Amy Lieu and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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