Remembering the Longest Serving Fallen Heroes

Earlier this week I wrote about the 74 fallen officers who were killed during their first day on the job. In that article I referenced the mantra that police work is a calling. Today I want to honor those officers who prove that saying to be true through their extraordinary long service in the law enforcement brotherhood.

Many officers who enter the field look forward to retiring at 20 or 25 years. Some may make it to the 30, or even 35 year mark. But only a very few continue to serve beyond that.

Reserve Deputy Henry Willeford pinned on the badge for the very first time in 1954. Over the next five decades he continued protecting the citizens of Arkansas, while raising a family of 15 children! Just those facts alone show that he was a man who cherished the lives of others. In fact, on June 13, 2002, he had just finished his shift when he encountered an obstruction in the roadway. To prevent other motorists from striking it, he blocked the lane of traffic with his patrol car and attempted to remove it from the roadway. However, he was struck by an oncoming car. He remained bedridden for the next seven years until passing away from his injuries November 16, 2009. With 55 years on the job, Reserve Deputy Willeford is the longest serving lawman known to be killed in the line duty.

In addition to Reserve Deputy Willeford, 40 other peace officers with more than four decades of service are known to have been killed in the line of duty. Combined, these 41 officers had a combined total of 1,755 years of law enforcement service! They are a true testament to the selfless giving all police officers make everyday.

Always remembered...

55 years	Reserve Deputy Sheriff Henry Jorden Willeford	Van Buren County Sheriff's Office, AR
54 years	City Marshal William Matthew Tilghman	Cromwell Police Department, OK
54 years	Investigator Jerry Crabtree	Franklin County Sheriff's Department, TN
51 years	Night Marshal Alexander Dotson Sutton	Pulaski County Sheriff's Department, MO
50 years	Deputy Sheriff John Bell Jones	Hamilton County Sheriff's Department, TN
46 years	Chief of Police W. L. Echols	Van Alstyne Police Department, TX
46 years	Patrolman Timothy Foley	Southington Police Department, CT
44 years	Police Officer Thomas M. Knevet	Hartford Police Department, CT
44 years	Chief of Police Alvis F. (Tuffy) Maddox	Childress Police Department, TX
44 years	City Marshal William E. Kelly	Oxnard Police Department, CA
43 years	Deputy Sheriff Paul Steven Habelt	Henderson County Sheriff's Department, TX
43 years	State Constable Robert Lee Bailey	South Carolina State Constable, SC
43 years	Lieutenant David T. Dunigan	Metropolitan Police Department, DC
43 years	Police Officer Thomas F. Steinacker	Baltimore City Police Department, MD
43 years	Lieutenant James F. Day	Chicago Police Department, IL
42 years	Chief of Police Jeremiah Joseph Murphy	Butte Police Department, MT
42 years	Special Deputy Marshal Stanley W. Cooper	United States Department of Justice - Marshals Service, US
42 years	Sheriff Joel L. Powers	Goochland County Sheriff's Office, VA
41 years	Deputy Sheriff Dave H. Jennings Jr.	Tallahatchie County Sheriff's Department, MS
41 years	Police Officer Norman Stinger	Philadelphia Police Department, PA
41 years	Patrolman Wilbert Wiggins Sr.	Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FL
41 years	Chief of Police Richard Allen Brush	Point Comfort Police Department, TX
41 years	Police Officer Henry L. Eichelberger	St. Louis Police Department, MO
41 years	Town Marshal Jack O'Leary	Rapid City Police Department, SD
40 years	Corporal Edward Roy Davenport	Long Beach Police Department, CA
40 years	Chief of Police Sheridan O. Caton	Elk Lick Township Police Department, PA
40 years	Sergeant Patrick Ryan	Cleveland Police Department, OH
40 years	Chief of Police Walter Brannon Braswell	Fremont Police Department, NC
40 years	Chief of Police James Leonard Speer	Calipatria Police Department, CA
40 years	Bureau Chief Charles Mills	New York State Office of Tax Enforcement - Petroleum, Alcohol and Tobacco Bureau, NY
40 years	Patrolman Howard William Eye	Calais Police Department, ME
40 years	Constable David Thomas Palmer	Pumpkin Center Police Department, OK
40 years	County Policeman William Lee Cape	Pickens County Police Department, GA
40 years	Deputy Sheriff William C. Jackson	Trinity County Sheriff's Department, CA
40 years	Deputy Robert Bruce Parsons	Denton County Sheriff's Office, TX
40 years	Constable Hans R. Gassaway	Barren County District One Constable's Office, KY
40 years	Town Sergeant John Smith	Foster Police Department, RI
40 years	Sergeant John Cronin	Chicago Police Department, IL
40 years	Special Deputy Stephen Joseph Hahn	Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office, WI
40 years	Chief Deputy Sheriff George Miller Edwards	Union Parish Sheriff's Department, LA
40 years	Assistant Chief of Police Henry Brinkmeyer	Middletown Police Department, OH

Do you know of any officers I missed? If so, please post the information in the comment form below.

Killed in the Line of Duty on the First Day On the Job

Ask any law enforcement officer and they'll tell you that police work is a calling.

Although the men and women who accept this calling may have a few bumps and bruises at the end, the overwhelming majority of LEOs will be able to make it through their career to retirement. Unfortunately, however, 74 officers who started their careers were killed within hours of hitting the streets for the first time.

Officer Melvin Collins

The first, Deputy Sheriff Wesley Cherry, was shot and killed in 1853 while riding on a posse to arrest murder suspects in King County, Washington. He died the day after being shot.

The most recent incident occurred in 2003 when Officer Melvin Collins was shot and killed while working an off-duty security job at a local store in Brunswick, Georgia. Officer Collins had been sworn in three days earlier and hadn't even gone on his first shift when he was slain enforcing the law.

We salute the following 74 officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice on their first day on the job:

Deputy Sheriff Wesley Cherry	King County Sheriff's Office, WA	1853-03-06
Deputy Charles Daly	Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA	1857-01-23
Deputized Civilian William Barbee	Burleson County Constable's Office - Precinct 3, TX	1857-05-24
Special Patrolman Thomas Sparks	New York Metropolitan Police Force, NY	1857-07-09
Deputy Constable Richard Ryan	Ophir City Constable's Office, NV	1867-08-31
Deputized Civilian Walter Williams	Storey County Sheriff's Department, NV	1868-07-18
Deputy Sheriff James McMahan	Dallas County Sheriff's Department, TX	1871-01-16
Deputized Civilian David Harvell	Nacogdoches County Constable's Office, TX	1871-12-14
Deputy Sheriff John Morgan	Bosque County Sheriff's Office, TX	1874-12-02
Deputy Sheriff Parker Morgan	Bosque County Sheriff's Office, TX	1874-12-02
Deputy Sheriff James Godley	Anderson County Sheriff's Department, TX	1874-12-13
Special Agent Robert Widdowfield	Union Pacific Railroad Police Department, RR	1878-08-19
Deputy Sheriff Marion Robertson	Erath County Sheriff's Office, TX	1879-03-29
Deputy Sheriff John Ross	Erath County Sheriff's Office, TX	1879-03-29
Deputy Constable William Ash	Terre Haute Police Department, IN	1880-11-27
Special Deputy Sheriff Samuel Meredith	Cooke County Sheriff's Department, TX	1881-05-30
Special Deputy Sheriff Charles Meredith	Cooke County Sheriff's Department, TX	1881-05-30
Deputized Civilian William Fletcher	Brazos County Sheriff's Department, TX	1883-01-15
Posseman James Lathrop	Houston County Sheriff's Department, TX	1884-01-09
Deputy Sheriff John Gardener	Dubois County Sheriff's Department, IN	1885-06-01
Sheriff Benjamin Irey	Chester County Sheriff's Office, PA	1887-01-03
Deputy Sheriff William Cox	Dubois County Sheriff's Department, IN	1887-05-23
Deputized Civilian Jasper Coghlan	Wise County Sheriff's Department, TX	1888-09-08
Posseman Peter Anderson	Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, OK	1890-12-26
Deputized Civilian John Bowers	Tyler County Sheriff's Office, TX	1891-03-18
Deputy Sheriff Joe Brigham	Hunt County Sheriff's Office, TX	1892-12-18
Deputy Sheriff Jesse Hendrickson	Grant County Sheriff's Department, OK	1893-11-11
Deputy Constable James Foster	Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, AL	1895-04-13
City Marshal John Howard	Oklahoma City Police Department, OK	1896-03-10
Deputy Sheriff R. Williams	Gilpin County Sheriff's Department, CO	1896-04-19
Special Deputy Sheriff Jack Allen	Gallatin County Sheriff's Department, MT	1897-01-24
Deputized Civilian Oscar Breaux	Texas Rangers, TX	1898-08-29
Deputy Constable John Lenhart	Somerset County Sheriff's Office, PA	1898-09-18
Special Constable Malachi Beasley	Princess Anne County Sheriff's Office, VA	1898-09-24
Deputy Sheriff William Kremer	Volusia County Sheriff's Department, FL	1898-12-10
Deputy Constable Marvin Durham	Lauderdale County Constable's Office, TN	1900-01-09
Patrolman George Pickett	Pine Bluff Police Department, AR	1901-04-28
Deputy Sheriff George Leftwich	Jack County Sheriff's Department, TX	1901-08-10
Posseman Charles Hill	Valley County Sheriff's Department, MT	1903-06-15
Deputized Civilian Norton Moody	Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Department, TX	1906-03-31
Deputy Marshal Forest Perry	Kennewick Police Department, WA	1906-11-01
Deputized Civilian James Burk	Big Spring Police Department, TX	1907-04-25
Deputized Civilian Dock McDavid	Bastrop County Constable's Office - Precinct 8, TX	1908-08-08
Deputized Civilian John Brooks	Knox County Sheriff's Office, KY	1908-12-22
Special Deputy Sheriff Hillen Munson	Brazoria County Sheriff's Department, TX	1909-09-15
Constable Jay Close	Dundee Police Department, NY	1910-12-24
Policeman Edward Hogle	Nevada State Police, NV	1911-02-26
Deputy Sheriff Abe Schneider	St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, FL	1911-03-05
Deputy Constable William Blake	Shasta County Sheriff's Department, CA	1911-11-25
Deputy Sheriff Arthur Taylor	Harris County Sheriff's Department, TX	1914-05-24
Marshal William Smith	San Fernando Police Department, CA	1914-12-22
Posseman John Garritson	Delaware Marshal's Office, OK	1917-01-06
Deputy Sheriff Orson McRae	Cochise County Sheriff's Department, AZ	1917-07-12
Officer Eugene Lucas	Conshohocken Police Department, PA	1917-08-13
Police Officer Richard Diamond	Detroit Police Department, MI	1917-08-18
Officer Sterling Warren	Fort Worth Police Department, TX	1919-05-07
Special Deputy William Engel	Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department, IN	1919-08-13
Special Officer Webster Gentry	Fort Worth Police Department, TX	1922-04-25
Deputy Sheriff Floyd Rose	Millard County Sheriff's Office, UT	1922-10-02
Rural Police Officer John Fesperman	Mecklenburg County Police Department, NC	1924-02-16
Marshal Henry Hamm	Mulberry Police Department, AR	1924-09-01
Deputy Sheriff Daniel Hutchison	Craig County Sheriff's Office, VA	1926-07-19
Special Deputy Sheriff Leonard Cummings	Lemhi County Sheriff's Department, ID	1928-01-02
Special Deputy Sheriff Billy Withington	Lemhi County Sheriff's Department, ID	1928-01-02
Special Constable James Broome	Dallas County Constable's Office - Precinct 7, TX	1929-12-15
Motorcycle Officer C. Bazzell	Pensacola Police Department, FL	1932-03-16
Special Deputy Sheriff Andrew McGinnis	Muskogee County Sheriff's Office, OK	1932-09-18
Officer James Thornton	St. Petersburg Police Department, FL	1937-10-16
Deputy Sheriff Eduardo Dominguez	Conejos County Sheriff's Department, CO	1940-04-11
Police Officer Henry Scarborough	Myrtle Beach Police Department, SC	1949-03-07
Patrolman Daniel Furtado	Massachusetts State Police, MA	1950-10-08
Patrolman Steven Poetker	Waldo Police Department, AR	1976-04-16
Patrolman Julius Courville	Henderson Police Department, LA	1978-08-26
Officer Melvin Collins	Brunswick Police Department, GA	2003-04-11

Free LODD Response Training Planned for New Jersey, California

Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (US DOJ) have announced two free training seminars for law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and California. These one day training courses will cover the federal Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, state-specific line of duty death benefits, and the programs made available through C.O.P.S.
  

How will this training benefit you?

When a public safety officer is killed in the line of duty, it is the responsibility of the employing agency to file a death benefit claim with the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB), Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. If approved as a line-of-duty death by PSOB, a tax-exempt death benefit payment is paid to “eligible survivors”. The PSOB presentation will explain the paperwork needed to file a claim, definitions for terms in the eligibility criteria and the process used to review claims. California and New Jersey provide benefits to survivors of fallen public safety officers, and these benefits will also be covered.

C.O.P.S. has programs for all categories of law enforcement survivors to help them along the journey they must take through the grief process. Information on C.O.P.S. will be valuable to law enforcement officers, benefits assistance personnel with the agencies, and law enforcement families.

Speakers at both events will include Hope Janke, Director of Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (US DOJ) and Jennifer Thacker, Director of National Outreach (C.O.P.S.). Jennifer is also the surviving spouse of Kentucky ABC Investigator Brandon Thacker, slain in the line of duty on April 16, 1998. I have worked closely with both Hope and Jennifer and can personally attest to their commitment to helping survivors.

DO NOT wait until your agency suffers a line of duty death to learn about these benefits, because after the event occurs is too late. If you are in Californian or New Jersey register for this free training today. Registration forms are available below:

New Jersey
Monday, November 1, 2010. 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
New Jersey Forensic Science Technology Center, Auditorium
1200 Negron Drive
Hamilton, NJ 08691

Deadline for registration is October 15, 2010.
Online registration is available at www.nationalcops.org
(or download flier)

California
Monday, December 6, 2010. 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Orange County Sheriff's Training Academy
15991 Armstrong Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782

Deadline for registration is November 17, 2010.
Online registration is available at www.nationalcops.org
(or download flier)

Auxiliary Officers: Making the Ultimate Sacrifice for $0 Per Year

On September 7, 2010, Auxiliary Lieutenant Dan Kromer hit the streets, volunteering his personal time to assist the Taylor (Mich.) Police Department in protecting the community. On that fateful night, he was struck by a hit-and-run driver and became the agency's second line of duty death this year. He also became the 131st auxiliary police officer known to be killed in the line of duty in America.

Like all men and women who serve, auxiliary and reserve officers pin on the badge to help their community. They respond to calls, make arrests, backup other officers, and - occasionally - are killed in the line of duty. The only difference is, they do it for free.

Auxiliary and reserve police officers have my utmost respect for the personal sacrifices they make every day. For the 131 brave officers who have given their lives while serving their community, we will ensure their stories and memories live on forever:

Reserve Officer Daniel Donovan	Springfield Police Department, MA
Reserve Officer Louis Wells	Joplin Police Department, MO
Auxiliary Officer Louis Schuetz	Lombard Police Department, IL
Reserve Policeman G. Mogle	Los Angeles Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Officer Arthur Reifeis	Indianapolis Police Department, IN
Auxiliary Police Officer Reuben Caywood	Rockdale Police Department, TX
Reserve Officer Louis Dulisse	Ontario Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Officer Frank Kellogg	Houston Police Department, TX
Auxiliary Policeman William Henhoeffer	Philadelphia Police Department, PA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Robert Riley	Lane County Sheriff's Department, OR
Reserve Deputy Billy Heckle	San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Bryce Patton	Ventura County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Lee Sawyer	Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Sergeant Herbert Goss	Cape Girardeau Police Department, MO
Reserve Officer William Freytag	Rochester Police Department, MN
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Robert Grabner	Kern County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Officer Peter Raga	Alliance Police Department, OH
Reserve Officer Andrew Sharp	Minneapolis Police Department, MN
Reserve Deputy Lloyd Constantine	Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Police Officer Aldo Santini	Westport Police Department, CT
Reserve Officer Raymond Wilson	West Chicago Police Department, IL
Reserve Officer Lloyd Reed	Minneapolis Police Department, MN
Auxiliary Captain Owen Bender	Florida Highway Patrol, FL
Auxiliary Policeman Stratford Allen	Sharon Police Department, MA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Michael Wigderson	Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Chester Alquist	Washington County Sheriff's Department, OR
Auxiliary Officer Edward Sullivan	Dellwood Police Department, MO
Auxiliary Officer Michael Mills	Reno Police Department, NV
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Charles Rea	Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Officer Lester Cole	Palo Alto Police Department, CA
Reserve Motor Deputy Lionel Dashley	Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Officer Donald Spingola	San Leandro Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Police Officer Lawrence Kipfinger	Columbus Division of Police, OH
Reserve Officer Ernest Lindemann	Honolulu Police Department, HI
Reserve Officer Andrew Reese	Garden Grove Police Department, CA
Reserve Lieutenant Jimmie Wingate	Marion County Sheriff's Department, IN
Reserve Officer Bill Sutherlin	Fairfield Police Department, IA
Auxiliary Trooper Ormand Watkins	Alabama Department of Public Safety, AL
Reserve Captain Christopher Feeney	Warwick Police Department, RI
Reserve Deputy Larry Mulkey	Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, GA
Reserve Officer Daniel Wickard	Rapid City Police Department, SD
Reserve Officer Joe Jones	Dallas Police Department, TX
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Joshua Rodriguez	Bexar County Sheriff's Department, TX
Auxiliary Police Officer Glenn Wortham	Tulsa Police Department, OK
Reserve Deputy Virgil McGee	Jackson County Sheriff's Department, MO
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Howard Holdefer	Jasper County Sheriff's Department, IA
Auxiliary Officer Walter Hembree	Henryetta Police Department, OK
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Charles Banning	Kern County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Captain Jack Renigar	Forsyth County Sheriff's Department, NC
Auxiliary Sergeant David Freed	New York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Reserve Deputy Thomas Dunigan	Morgan County Sheriff's Department, IN
Reserve Officer Fred Bergmann	St. Charles Police Department, MO
Auxiliary Policeman William Graves	Sparta Police Department, IL
Auxiliary Captain George Maxin	Willowick Police Department, OH
Reserve Deputy George Pfeil	Seminole County Sheriff's Office, FL
Reserve Deputy James Epp	Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, AZ
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Charles Plumleigh	Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Officer Michael Haen	Kansas City Police Department, KS
Reserve Deputy Sheriff James Wier	Harris County Sheriff's Department, TX
Reserve Officer Douglas Krenz	Blaine Police Department, WA
Reserve Officer Eugene Cousins	North Mankato Police Department, MN
Reserve Captain Don Willmon	Angelina County Sheriff's Office, TX
Reserve Officer John Morgan	Goessel Police Department, KS
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Joe Westbrook	Harris County Sheriff's Department, TX
Auxiliary Deputy Arthur Caton	Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL
Reserve Officer Helen Lizama	Guam Police Department, GU
Reserve Officer Rudy Iglesias	Guam Police Department, GU
Reserve Officer Gerald Erickson	Hillsboro Police Department, OR
Reserve Deputy James Healy	Napa County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Gerald Martin	Jennings County Sheriff's Department, IN
Reserve Officer Dennis Harrell	Colleyville Police Department, TX
Reserve Officer James Clifton	Burns Police Department, OR
Reserve Deputy John Litch	Mahoning County Sheriff's Department, OH
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Robert Nicholson	Wilcox County Sheriff's Department, AL
Reserve Deputy John Jamison	Coconino County Sheriff's Department, AZ
Reserve Officer Stuart Taira	Los Angeles Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Deputy Steven Mayer	Will County Sheriff's Office, IL
Reserve Officer Larry Tidwell	McEwen Police Department, TN
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Ray Mallory	Kern County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Sergeant Denis Foley	Will County Sheriff's Office, IL
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Errol Rogers	Del Norte County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Officer James Taylor	Dallas Police Department, TX
Reserve Captain Lloyd Brooks	Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Timothy Ruggles	Placer County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Chief John Price	Autauga County Sheriff's Department, AL
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Lawrence Breceda	Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Lieutenant Nicholas Galasso	Larchmont Police Department, NY
Reserve Deputy Sheriff John Wright	Hawkins County Sheriff's Department, TN
Auxiliary Sergeant Noel Faide	New York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Auxiliary Sergeant Larry Cohen	New York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Reserve Deputy Arlyn Gort	Ottawa County Sheriff's Department, MI
Reserve Deputy David McCollum	Bradley County Sheriff's Department, TN
Reserve Deputy Sheriff George Nash	Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Officer Aubrey Williams	North Olmsted Police Department, OH
Reserve Deputy Sheriff David Cormier	Monroe County Sheriff's Office, FL
Reserve Officer James Cook	Westlake Police Department, LA
Auxiliary Officer George Starr	Virginia Beach Police Department, VA
Auxiliary Police Officer Armando Rosario	New York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Auxiliary Trooper Edward Truelove	Connecticut State Police, CT
Reserve Sergeant Scott Collins	Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, OR
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Mark Whitehead	Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, OR
Reserve Officer Lonnie Howard	North Vernon Police Department, IN
Auxiliary Police Officer Ty Massey	Colona Police Department, IL
Auxiliary Officer Todd Johnson	Rock Island Police Department, IL
Auxiliary Captain Richard Shurtz	Rock Island Police Department, IL
Auxiliary Deputy James Cartledge	McCormick County Sheriff's Department, SC
Auxiliary Police Officer Milton Clarke	New York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Reserve Officer Theodore Brassinga	Palo Alto Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Trooper Phillip Mingione	Connecticut State Police, CT
Reserve Deputy Fred Feuser	Camden County Sheriff's Department, MO
Police Reserve Robert McMaster	Warrenton Police Department, OR
Reserve Deputy Donald Mitchell	Moore County Sheriff's Office, TX
Reserve Deputy Gary Cook	Rogers County Sheriff's Office, OK
Reserve Deputy Tracy Miles	Johnson County Sheriff's Office, IN
Reserve Officer Johnnie Clanton	New Orleans Police Department, LA
Reserve Deputy Barry Shelton	Sullivan County Sheriff's Department, TN
Reserve Lieutenant Alfred Garrison	Lantana Police Department, FL
Reserve Deputy Deborah Hobbs	Lake County Sheriff's Office, MT
Reserve Officer Russell Simpson	Bandon Police Department, OR
Reserve Deputy John Sandlin	Solano County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Sergeant James Johnson	Forsyth County Sheriff's Department, NC
Reserve Sergeant Joseph Pozell	Metropolitan Police Department, DC
Reserve Deputy Constable Nehemiah Pickens	Harris County Constable's Office - Precinct 6, TX
Reserve Officer Matthew Tuttle	Chelsea Police Department, MI
Reserve Deputy Lawrence Barnes	Ross County Sheriff's Office, OH
Auxiliary Police Officer Nicholas Pekearo	New York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Auxiliary Police Officer Yevgeniy (Eugene) Marshalik	New York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Reserve Deputy Joe Galloway	Holmes County Sheriff's Office, FL
Reserve Deputy Mike Wilken	Ramsey County Sheriff's Department, MN
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Henry Willeford	Van Buren County Sheriff's Office, AR
Auxiliary Lieutenant Dan Kromer	Taylor Police Department, MI

Improving Police Car Markings for Officer Safety

The Officer Down Memorial Page was referenced in two news stories today.

The first is coverage of an important initiative, funded by a DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance grant, that will research emergency vehicle designs with a goal of reducing police officer and firefighter casualties as the result of auto accidents and road-side collisions. The Columbus Dispatch quotes the lead researcher as stating "[o]ur goal is improving the color, signage and marking of those vehicles."

• The Columbus Dispatch: Safety vehicles' visibility studied

The second mention was the retelling the story of the daring 1954 bank robbery that claimed the life of Seattle, Wa., Police Officer Frank Hardy. It's always great to see the media taking the initiative to remember not only today's fallen heroes, but remembering those that gave their lives in years gone by.

• Seattle Post-Intelligencer: P-I archive: Story of 1954 Greenwood bank robbery

Officer Frank Hardy
Seattle Police Department
EOW: March 12, 1954

Support the ODMP With Only Pennies Per Day

Photo (c) Mike Schutz

Most police officers and ODMP visitors are surprised to hear that the ODMP is funded completely by donations from visitors. The contributions made by every-day officers and civilian supporters alike are what make the memorial and our related awareness, research and grant programs possible.

If you haven't done so already, I am asking you to become a member of our ODMP Ranks membership campaign. ODMP Ranks allows you to automatically donate a few dollars per month. Your small contributions, combined with those of other officers and supporters, make a huge impact that will help us better honor all fallen heroes by adding programs and relevant capabilities to the ODMP memorial and website.

Join ODMP Ranks Today

For those of you who want to make a bigger impact, please take a look at the ODMP's Front Line Club. The Front Line Club allows your entire unit to get involved with supporting the ODMP and gets you some cool swag at the same time!

School District Police In the Line of Fire

Officer Euel Smith

On April 22, 1983, Police Officer Euel Smith was shot and killed in Bibb County, Georgia, while transporting a prisoner. On that day, Officer Smith became the first school police officer known to be killed in the line of duty.

With the ever increasing threats of gangs, child predators, and active shooters in our schools, school boards and school districts around the country are taking steps to form their own police departments. California, Texas, and Georgia have the most school district police agencies, and consequently have also suffered the most line of duty deaths in this often overlooked segment of law enforcement.

Please take a moment to remember the 12 school district police officers who dedicated their lives to protecting our children:

Police Officer Euel Thomas Smith Bibb County Board of Education Police Department, GA EOW: Friday, April 22, 1983 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Roosevelt Ferrell Compton Unified School District Police Department, CA EOW: Monday, March 16, 1987 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant William Maldonado III San Antonio Independent School District Police Department, TX EOW: Thursday, May 26, 1994 Cause of Death: Fall

Officer Timothy B. Howe Oakland Unified School District Police Department, CA EOW: Friday, April 14, 1995 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Private Michael Donell Stephenson Richmond County Board of Education Public Safety, GA EOW: Wednesday, July 16, 1997 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Carnel Cook Fulton County Schools Police Department, GA EOW: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 Cause of Death: Heart attack

School Safety Agent Orville M. Williams New York City Police Department - Division of School Safety, NY EOW: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 Cause of Death: Heart attack

Patrol Officer Lloyd Auther Rogers Castleberry Independent School District Police Department, TX EOW: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 Cause of Death: Heart attack

Special Officer Dwayne Anthony Reeves Newark School District Police Services, NJ EOW: Monday, July 18, 2005 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant Michael Scott Neal Mexia Independent School District Police Department, TX EOW: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)

School Safety Agent Vivian A. Samuels-Benjamin New York City Police Department - Division of School Safety, NY EOW: Friday, December 16, 2005 Cause of Death: Heart attack

Chief of Police Ernest V. Mendoza Needville Independent School District Police Department, TX EOW: Friday, January 19, 2007 Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Calling All Officers: Ride in the 2011 Road to Hope

In May 2010, at the beginning of Police Week, the inaugural bicycle ride for Law Enforcement United kicked off in Chesapeake, Virginia. Over the next three days, over 200 riders rode the several hundred miles to an amazing arrival ceremony at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. I had the honor of being invited to the arrival ceremony at the Pentagon and it was one of the most powerful events I've attended since founding the ODMP.

The amazing men and women of LEU raised more than $110,000 for Concerns of Police Survivors' Kids Camps and $20,000 towards the annual operating expenses of the Officer Down Memorial Page.

Law Enforcement United now has over 400 members (riders and support members) and is currently accepting new member applications for the May 2011 ride. In 2010, Law Enforcement United was represented by teams from as far away as Texas and Minnesota.

It would be great if the 2011 ride had a team, or even a single rider, from each of the 50 states.

To learn more, or to submit a new member application, visit the LEU website today.

Watch this video to learn more about how the children of fallen of fallen officers receive support at the C.O.P.S. Kids Camps, funded in part by Law Enforcement United. As a member of Law Enforcement United, you would be helping to make these Kids Camps even better!

Team Nashville's support trailer.

Riders from Law Enforcement United pause for a picture!

LEU riders with an escort from a Syracuse, NY, police car!

This is what it's all about.

The downill.

Honoring the 104 Fallen Law Enforcement Officers of 9/11

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, caused more law enforcement line of duty of deaths than any other single incident in American history.

One officer was killed when United Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as he and other passengers attempted to regain control of the plane from the hijackers. 71 officers were killed when the two World Trade Center buildings collapsed in New York City. 32 more have passed away in the years following 2001 as the direct result of illnesses contracted while working in the hazardous conditions immediately following the attacks in New York.

We pay tribute to the 104 law enforcement officers, representing 10 different agencies, who died as a direct result of the 9/11 attacks.

New York City Fire Department, NY

• Fire Marshal Ronald Bucca

New York City Police Department, NY

• Detective Sandra Adrian
• Police Officer Cesar Borja
• Police Officer Thomas Brophy
• Police Officer Madeline Carlo
• Police Officer Daniel Conroy
• Sergeant John Coughlin
• Sergeant Michael Curtin
• Police Officer John D'Allara
• Police Officer Vincent Danz
• Police Officer Jerome Dominguez
• Police Officer Stephen Driscoll
• Police Officer Renee Dunbar
• Police Officer Mark Ellis
• Police Officer Robert Fazio
• Senior Investigator Fred Ghussin
• Sergeant Rodney Gillis
• Captain Edward Gilpin
• Police Officer James Godbee
• Sergeant Claire Hanrahan
• Detective Kevin Hawkins
• Police Officer Robert Helmke
• Detective William Holfester
• Police Officer Louise Johnston
• Police Officer Ronald Kloepfer
• Police Officer Thomas Langone
• Police Officer James Leahy
• Police Officer Frank Macri
• Police Officer Vito Mauro
• Police Officer Gary Mausberg
• Police Officer Brian McDonnell
• Police Officer Christopher McMurry
• Lieutenant Brian Mohamed
• Detective Michael Morales
• Police Officer Robert Nicosia
• Police Officer Patrice Ott
• Police Officer Angelo Peluso
• Police Officer John Perry
• Police Officer Glen Pettit
• Lieutenant Gerald Rex
• Detective Claude Richards
• Detective Roberto Rivera
• Sergeant Timothy Roy
• Sergeant Michael Ryan
• Police Officer Moira Smith
• Police Officer Ramon Suarez
• Police Officer Paul Talty
• Sergeant Edward Thompson
• Police Officer Santos Valentin
• Detective Joseph Vigiano
• Police Officer Walter Weaver
• Police Officer Ronald Weintraub
• Detective Robert Williamson
• Inspector Richard Winter
• Detective John Young
• Detective James Zadroga

New York County District Attorney's Office, NY

• Senior Investigator Fred Ghussin

New York State Office of Court Administration, NY

• Senior Court Officer Thomas Jurgens
• Captain William Thompson
• Senior Court Officer Mitchel Wallace

New York State Office of Tax Enforcement - Petroleum, Alcohol and Tobacco Bureau, NY

• Bureau Chief Charles Mills

New York State Office of Tax Enforcement - Revenue Crimes Bureau, NY

• Investigator Clyde Frazier
• Investigator Richard Moore
• Investigator Salvatore Papasso
• Assistant Deputy Commissioner William Pohlmann

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, NY

• Police Officer Christopher Amoroso
• Police Officer Maurice Barry
• Police Officer Liam Callahan
• Lieutenant Robert Cirri
• Police Officer Clinton Davis
• Police Officer Donald Foreman
• Police Officer Gregg Froehner
• Police Officer Thomas Gorman
• Police Officer Uhuru Houston
• Police Officer George Howard
• Police Officer Stephen Huczko
• Inspector Anthony Infante
• Police Officer Paul Jurgens
• Sergeant Robert Kaulfers
• Police Officer Paul Laszczynski
• Police Officer David LeMagne
• Police Officer John Lennon
• Police Officer John Levi
• Police Officer James Lynch
• Captain Kathy Mazza
• Police Officer Donald McIntyre
• Police Officer Walter McNeil
• Director of Public Safety Fred Morrone
• Police Officer Joseph Navas
• Police Officer James Nelson
• Police Officer Alfonse Niedermeyer
• Police Officer James Parham
• Police Officer Dominick Pezzulo
• Police Officer Bruce Reynolds
• Police Officer Antonio Rodrigues
• Police Officer Richard Rodriguez
• Chief James Romito
• Police Officer John Skala
• Police Officer Walwyn Stuart
• Police Officer Kenneth Tietjen
• Police Officer Nathaniel Webb
• Police Officer Michael Wholey

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, US

• Special Agent Leonard Hatton

United States Department of the Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service, US

• Refuge Manager Richard Guadagno

United States Department of the Treasury - Secret Service Special Services Division

• Master Special Officer Craig Miller

As Auto Related LOD Deaths Rise, Academy Instructors Stress Better Training

I, along with fellow ODMP Board member Mike Schutz, had the extreme—and I mean extreme—privilege of taking a tour of the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy's EVOC course earlier today. Sitting shotgun during the high speed driving and maneuvers, I couldn't get out of my head how many officers are killed each year in auto-related crashes.

The Fairfax County PD has a truly world-class driving track and instructors who are second to none. Law enforcement administrators and officers from as far away as England, Australia, and even Russia have come to this facility to train.

After the driving was done, we talked with the instructors about the disparity in agencies' availability and effectiveness of vehicle training around the country. A lot has to do with budget size, and some the training they described other agencies giving their officers was almost unbelievable to actually be true, yet it was true. The reality is, the smaller or hard-pressed an agency is, the less likely they will be able to afford proper training of any kind; and the lack of proper training leads directly to an increase in serious injuries and deaths to civilians and officers alike.

Auto-related deaths are now the number one killer of law enforcement officers, and after today's tour I have a much better appreciation of why that is. Even in a completely controlled environment, pulling off some of these moves was scary - and these are moves that our officers must do every day responding to emergencies or pursuing criminals who have no regard for the safety of others.

The bottom line is this: All officers must make a commitment to obtain and maintain the driving skills needed to survive on the dangerous streets of their towns, counties and state! Yes, being shot is still a very real danger, but the reality is being seriously injured or killed in a crash is much more probable. If your agency—for whatever reason—isn't able to provide you with appropriate training, reach out to a neighboring agency or academy and see if they can help.

At the end of the day, it's all about everyone going home safe.

[video] See some of the Fairfax County Police Academy instructors in action, teaching teenagers better driving techniques in a very unique program for Fairfax County citizens.

Fugitive Safe Surrender Aims to Keep Officers Safe

Courtesy: USMS

The Fugitive Safe Surrender program was created in Ohio by United States Marshal Pete Elliott in 2005 to bring community leaders, religious leaders, and the media together to encourage fugitives to turn themselves in a safe, non-violent environment. On August 30, 2006, Cleveland, Ohio, Police Officer A.J. Schroeder was fatally shot while attempting to serve a warrant on a fugitive wanted for rape and burglary. Officer Schroeder's murder brought the Fugitive Safe Surrender program into the spotlight as a way to use the community to encourage violent offenders to turn themselves in before a violent confrontation with police occurs.

The New Jersey State Parole Board, one of Fugitive Safe Surrender's participating agencies, asked the ODMP to help identify officers killed by fugitives as part of their media outreach campaign. The ODMP supports any effort that reduces or eliminates the risk of a line of duty injury or death.

Officers killed by fugitives or wanted persons since 2005:

2005-01-18	Police Officer James Prince
2005-03-11	Assistant SAC David Wilhelm
2005-03-11	Sergeant Hoyt Teasley
2005-03-19	Police Officer II William Henley
2005-04-21	Police Officer Larry Cox
2005-08-11	Police Officer Francis Ortega
2005-08-13	Police Officer Timothy Webster
2005-09-12	Corporal Mark Carthron
2006-02-22	Detective Jared Jensen
2006-03-22	Deputy Sheriff James McGrane
2006-06-29	Detective Dennis Stepnowski
2006-08-13	Police Officer Joselito Barber
2006-08-31	Police Officer Jonathan Schroeder
2006-09-20	Agent Michael Thomas
2007-04-05	Special Agent Barry Bush
2007-05-26	Officer Jason West
2007-08-10	Detective Charles Wilson
2007-08-10	Detective John Smith
2008-04-01	Constable Joe Howard
2008-09-23	Sergeant Patrick McDonald
2009-07-16	Sergeant Joseph Harris
2009-07-21	Detective Marc DiNardo
2009-10-12	Sergeant Mickey Hutchens
2010-01-05	Deputy Sheriff Josie Fox
2010-01-14	Captain Chad Reed
2010-05-08	Deputy Sheriff Brian Mahaffey
2010-06-29	Officer David Curtis
2010-06-29	Officer Jeffrey Kocab
2010-07-21	Sheriff Garry Welford

Officers Killed While Deploying Spike Strips

Deploying spike strips / stop sticks, or other tire deflation devices, is a real danger for law enforcement officers. Offenders who are fleeing from pursuing officers have no concern for other motorists, let alone the officers chasing them or attempting to stop them. There have been many documented cases of offenders intentionally striking officers on the side of the road who were attempting to deploy spike strips. Additionally, several officers have been fatally struck by police vehicles during the chaotic moments of deploying and retracting the devices.

Here is a list of known fatalities that occurred during the deployment of spike strips:

1. Deputy Sheriff John Creegan
2. Detective Glenn Strange
3. Sergeant Richard Asten
4. Sergeant George Dingwall
5. Patrolman Lloyd Aragon
6. Deputy Sheriff Dennis McElderry
7. Sergeant Michael Johnson
8. Deputy Sheriff Charles Sease
9. Deputy Sheriff John Musice
10. Sergeant Jerry Mundy
11. Police Officer Shawn Silvera
12. Corporal Mark Carthron
13. Officer James Sell
14. Police Officer Nick-Tomasito Birco
15. Officer Douglas Russell
16. Deputy Sheriff Donta Manuel
17. Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Wallace
18. Senior Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar
19. Lieutenant Stuart Alexander
20. Officer Christopher Marano
21. Sheriff Garry Welford

Safest and Deadliest States for LEOs; 2000 - 2010

We recently received the question at the ODMP: "Which are the safest and most dangerous states for officers covering the past 10 years?"

Here is a list of the safest and deadliest states for American law enforcement officers (excluding US territories) from January 1, 2000, through September 7, 2010:

Safest:

• North Dakota: 0
• Maine: 2
• Wyoming: 2
• New Hampshire: 2
• Vermont: 2
• Rhode Island: 3
• Iowa: 3
• Delaware: 4
• Nebraska: 4
• South Dakota: 4

Deadliest:

• Pennsylvania: 50
• Tennessee: 51
• Illinois: 57
• Louisiana: 59
• North Carolina: 60
• Georgia: 74
• Florida: 95
• California: 152
• New York: 164 ***
• Texas: 167

*** New York includes 103 officers who were killed in the 9/11 attack or who died from a 9/11 duty related illness following the attacks. Even without 9/11, New York would have still ranked in the 10 most deadly states.