Wednesday, September 29, 2010

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.

Monday, September 27, 2010

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 CherryKing County Sheriff's Office, WA1853-03-06
Deputy Charles DalyLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA1857-01-23
Deputized Civilian William BarbeeBurleson County Constable's Office - Precinct 3, TX1857-05-24
Special Patrolman Thomas SparksNew York Metropolitan Police Force, NY1857-07-09
Deputy Constable Richard RyanOphir City Constable's Office, NV1867-08-31
Deputized Civilian Walter WilliamsStorey County Sheriff's Department, NV1868-07-18
Deputy Sheriff James McMahanDallas County Sheriff's Department, TX1871-01-16
Deputized Civilian David HarvellNacogdoches County Constable's Office, TX1871-12-14
Deputy Sheriff John MorganBosque County Sheriff's Office, TX1874-12-02
Deputy Sheriff Parker MorganBosque County Sheriff's Office, TX1874-12-02
Deputy Sheriff James GodleyAnderson County Sheriff's Department, TX1874-12-13
Special Agent Robert WiddowfieldUnion Pacific Railroad Police Department, RR1878-08-19
Deputy Sheriff Marion RobertsonErath County Sheriff's Office, TX1879-03-29
Deputy Sheriff John RossErath County Sheriff's Office, TX1879-03-29
Deputy Constable William AshTerre Haute Police Department, IN1880-11-27
Special Deputy Sheriff Samuel MeredithCooke County Sheriff's Department, TX1881-05-30
Special Deputy Sheriff Charles MeredithCooke County Sheriff's Department, TX1881-05-30
Deputized Civilian William FletcherBrazos County Sheriff's Department, TX1883-01-15
Posseman James LathropHouston County Sheriff's Department, TX1884-01-09
Deputy Sheriff John GardenerDubois County Sheriff's Department, IN1885-06-01
Sheriff Benjamin IreyChester County Sheriff's Office, PA1887-01-03
Deputy Sheriff William CoxDubois County Sheriff's Department, IN1887-05-23
Deputized Civilian Jasper CoghlanWise County Sheriff's Department, TX1888-09-08
Posseman Peter AndersonOklahoma County Sheriff's Office, OK1890-12-26
Deputized Civilian John BowersTyler County Sheriff's Office, TX1891-03-18
Deputy Sheriff Joe BrighamHunt County Sheriff's Office, TX1892-12-18
Deputy Sheriff Jesse HendricksonGrant County Sheriff's Department, OK1893-11-11
Deputy Constable James FosterLauderdale County Sheriff's Office, AL1895-04-13
City Marshal John HowardOklahoma City Police Department, OK1896-03-10
Deputy Sheriff R. WilliamsGilpin County Sheriff's Department, CO1896-04-19
Special Deputy Sheriff Jack AllenGallatin County Sheriff's Department, MT1897-01-24
Deputized Civilian Oscar BreauxTexas Rangers, TX1898-08-29
Deputy Constable John LenhartSomerset County Sheriff's Office, PA1898-09-18
Special Constable Malachi BeasleyPrincess Anne County Sheriff's Office, VA1898-09-24
Deputy Sheriff William KremerVolusia County Sheriff's Department, FL1898-12-10
Deputy Constable Marvin DurhamLauderdale County Constable's Office, TN1900-01-09
Patrolman George PickettPine Bluff Police Department, AR1901-04-28
Deputy Sheriff George LeftwichJack County Sheriff's Department, TX1901-08-10
Posseman Charles HillValley County Sheriff's Department, MT1903-06-15
Deputized Civilian Norton MoodyNacogdoches County Sheriff's Department, TX1906-03-31
Deputy Marshal Forest PerryKennewick Police Department, WA1906-11-01
Deputized Civilian James BurkBig Spring Police Department, TX1907-04-25
Deputized Civilian Dock McDavidBastrop County Constable's Office - Precinct 8, TX1908-08-08
Deputized Civilian John BrooksKnox County Sheriff's Office, KY1908-12-22
Special Deputy Sheriff Hillen MunsonBrazoria County Sheriff's Department, TX1909-09-15
Constable Jay CloseDundee Police Department, NY1910-12-24
Policeman Edward HogleNevada State Police, NV1911-02-26
Deputy Sheriff Abe SchneiderSt. Johns County Sheriff's Office, FL1911-03-05
Deputy Constable William BlakeShasta County Sheriff's Department, CA1911-11-25
Deputy Sheriff Arthur TaylorHarris County Sheriff's Department, TX1914-05-24
Marshal William SmithSan Fernando Police Department, CA1914-12-22
Posseman John GarritsonDelaware Marshal's Office, OK1917-01-06
Deputy Sheriff Orson McRaeCochise County Sheriff's Department, AZ1917-07-12
Officer Eugene LucasConshohocken Police Department, PA1917-08-13
Police Officer Richard DiamondDetroit Police Department, MI1917-08-18
Officer Sterling WarrenFort Worth Police Department, TX1919-05-07
Special Deputy William EngelVanderburgh County Sheriff's Department, IN1919-08-13
Special Officer Webster GentryFort Worth Police Department, TX1922-04-25
Deputy Sheriff Floyd RoseMillard County Sheriff's Office, UT1922-10-02
Rural Police Officer John FespermanMecklenburg County Police Department, NC1924-02-16
Marshal Henry HammMulberry Police Department, AR1924-09-01
Deputy Sheriff Daniel HutchisonCraig County Sheriff's Office, VA1926-07-19
Special Deputy Sheriff Leonard CummingsLemhi County Sheriff's Department, ID1928-01-02
Special Deputy Sheriff Billy WithingtonLemhi County Sheriff's Department, ID1928-01-02
Special Constable James BroomeDallas County Constable's Office - Precinct 7, TX1929-12-15
Motorcycle Officer C. BazzellPensacola Police Department, FL1932-03-16
Special Deputy Sheriff Andrew McGinnisMuskogee County Sheriff's Office, OK1932-09-18
Officer James ThorntonSt. Petersburg Police Department, FL1937-10-16
Deputy Sheriff Eduardo DominguezConejos County Sheriff's Department, CO1940-04-11
Police Officer Henry ScarboroughMyrtle Beach Police Department, SC1949-03-07
Patrolman Daniel FurtadoMassachusetts State Police, MA1950-10-08
Patrolman Steven PoetkerWaldo Police Department, AR1976-04-16
Patrolman Julius CourvilleHenderson Police Department, LA1978-08-26
Officer Melvin CollinsBrunswick Police Department, GA2003-04-11

Thursday, September 23, 2010

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)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

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 DonovanSpringfield Police Department, MA
Reserve Officer Louis WellsJoplin Police Department, MO
Auxiliary Officer Louis SchuetzLombard Police Department, IL
Reserve Policeman G. MogleLos Angeles Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Officer Arthur ReifeisIndianapolis Police Department, IN
Auxiliary Police Officer Reuben CaywoodRockdale Police Department, TX
Reserve Officer Louis DulisseOntario Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Officer Frank KelloggHouston Police Department, TX
Auxiliary Policeman William HenhoefferPhiladelphia Police Department, PA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Robert RileyLane County Sheriff's Department, OR
Reserve Deputy Billy HeckleSan Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Bryce PattonVentura County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Lee SawyerLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Sergeant Herbert GossCape Girardeau Police Department, MO
Reserve Officer William FreytagRochester Police Department, MN
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Robert GrabnerKern County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Officer Peter RagaAlliance Police Department, OH
Reserve Officer Andrew SharpMinneapolis Police Department, MN
Reserve Deputy Lloyd ConstantineLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Police Officer Aldo SantiniWestport Police Department, CT
Reserve Officer Raymond WilsonWest Chicago Police Department, IL
Reserve Officer Lloyd ReedMinneapolis Police Department, MN
Auxiliary Captain Owen BenderFlorida Highway Patrol, FL
Auxiliary Policeman Stratford AllenSharon Police Department, MA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Michael WigdersonLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Chester AlquistWashington County Sheriff's Department, OR
Auxiliary Officer Edward SullivanDellwood Police Department, MO
Auxiliary Officer Michael MillsReno Police Department, NV
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Charles ReaLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Officer Lester ColePalo Alto Police Department, CA
Reserve Motor Deputy Lionel DashleyLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Officer Donald SpingolaSan Leandro Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Police Officer Lawrence KipfingerColumbus Division of Police, OH
Reserve Officer Ernest LindemannHonolulu Police Department, HI
Reserve Officer Andrew ReeseGarden Grove Police Department, CA
Reserve Lieutenant Jimmie WingateMarion County Sheriff's Department, IN
Reserve Officer Bill SutherlinFairfield Police Department, IA
Auxiliary Trooper Ormand WatkinsAlabama Department of Public Safety, AL
Reserve Captain Christopher FeeneyWarwick Police Department, RI
Reserve Deputy Larry MulkeyForsyth County Sheriff's Office, GA
Reserve Officer Daniel WickardRapid City Police Department, SD
Reserve Officer Joe JonesDallas Police Department, TX
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Joshua RodriguezBexar County Sheriff's Department, TX
Auxiliary Police Officer Glenn WorthamTulsa Police Department, OK
Reserve Deputy Virgil McGeeJackson County Sheriff's Department, MO
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Howard HoldeferJasper County Sheriff's Department, IA
Auxiliary Officer Walter HembreeHenryetta Police Department, OK
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Charles BanningKern County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Captain Jack RenigarForsyth County Sheriff's Department, NC
Auxiliary Sergeant David FreedNew York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Reserve Deputy Thomas DuniganMorgan County Sheriff's Department, IN
Reserve Officer Fred BergmannSt. Charles Police Department, MO
Auxiliary Policeman William GravesSparta Police Department, IL
Auxiliary Captain George MaxinWillowick Police Department, OH
Reserve Deputy George PfeilSeminole County Sheriff's Office, FL
Reserve Deputy James EppMaricopa County Sheriff's Office, AZ
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Charles PlumleighLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Officer Michael HaenKansas City Police Department, KS
Reserve Deputy Sheriff James WierHarris County Sheriff's Department, TX
Reserve Officer Douglas KrenzBlaine Police Department, WA
Reserve Officer Eugene CousinsNorth Mankato Police Department, MN
Reserve Captain Don WillmonAngelina County Sheriff's Office, TX
Reserve Officer John MorganGoessel Police Department, KS
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Joe WestbrookHarris County Sheriff's Department, TX
Auxiliary Deputy Arthur CatonClay County Sheriff's Office, FL
Reserve Officer Helen LizamaGuam Police Department, GU
Reserve Officer Rudy IglesiasGuam Police Department, GU
Reserve Officer Gerald EricksonHillsboro Police Department, OR
Reserve Deputy James HealyNapa County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Gerald MartinJennings County Sheriff's Department, IN
Reserve Officer Dennis HarrellColleyville Police Department, TX
Reserve Officer James CliftonBurns Police Department, OR
Reserve Deputy John LitchMahoning County Sheriff's Department, OH
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Robert NicholsonWilcox County Sheriff's Department, AL
Reserve Deputy John JamisonCoconino County Sheriff's Department, AZ
Reserve Officer Stuart TairaLos Angeles Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Deputy Steven MayerWill County Sheriff's Office, IL
Reserve Officer Larry TidwellMcEwen Police Department, TN
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Ray MalloryKern County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Sergeant Denis FoleyWill County Sheriff's Office, IL
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Errol RogersDel Norte County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Officer James TaylorDallas Police Department, TX
Reserve Captain Lloyd BrooksLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Timothy RugglesPlacer County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Deputy Chief John PriceAutauga County Sheriff's Department, AL
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Lawrence BrecedaSiskiyou County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Lieutenant Nicholas GalassoLarchmont Police Department, NY
Reserve Deputy Sheriff John WrightHawkins County Sheriff's Department, TN
Auxiliary Sergeant Noel FaideNew York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Auxiliary Sergeant Larry CohenNew York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Reserve Deputy Arlyn GortOttawa County Sheriff's Department, MI
Reserve Deputy David McCollumBradley County Sheriff's Department, TN
Reserve Deputy Sheriff George NashContra Costa County Sheriff's Department, CA
Auxiliary Officer Aubrey WilliamsNorth Olmsted Police Department, OH
Reserve Deputy Sheriff David CormierMonroe County Sheriff's Office, FL
Reserve Officer James CookWestlake Police Department, LA
Auxiliary Officer George StarrVirginia Beach Police Department, VA
Auxiliary Police Officer Armando RosarioNew York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Auxiliary Trooper Edward TrueloveConnecticut State Police, CT
Reserve Sergeant Scott CollinsMultnomah County Sheriff's Office, OR
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Mark WhiteheadMultnomah County Sheriff's Office, OR
Reserve Officer Lonnie HowardNorth Vernon Police Department, IN
Auxiliary Police Officer Ty MasseyColona Police Department, IL
Auxiliary Officer Todd JohnsonRock Island Police Department, IL
Auxiliary Captain Richard ShurtzRock Island Police Department, IL
Auxiliary Deputy James CartledgeMcCormick County Sheriff's Department, SC
Auxiliary Police Officer Milton ClarkeNew York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Reserve Officer Theodore BrassingaPalo Alto Police Department, CA
Auxiliary Trooper Phillip MingioneConnecticut State Police, CT
Reserve Deputy Fred FeuserCamden County Sheriff's Department, MO
Police Reserve Robert McMasterWarrenton Police Department, OR
Reserve Deputy Donald MitchellMoore County Sheriff's Office, TX
Reserve Deputy Gary CookRogers County Sheriff's Office, OK
Reserve Deputy Tracy MilesJohnson County Sheriff's Office, IN
Reserve Officer Johnnie ClantonNew Orleans Police Department, LA
Reserve Deputy Barry SheltonSullivan County Sheriff's Department, TN
Reserve Lieutenant Alfred GarrisonLantana Police Department, FL
Reserve Deputy Deborah HobbsLake County Sheriff's Office, MT
Reserve Officer Russell SimpsonBandon Police Department, OR
Reserve Deputy John SandlinSolano County Sheriff's Department, CA
Reserve Sergeant James JohnsonForsyth County Sheriff's Department, NC
Reserve Sergeant Joseph PozellMetropolitan Police Department, DC
Reserve Deputy Constable Nehemiah PickensHarris County Constable's Office - Precinct 6, TX
Reserve Officer Matthew TuttleChelsea Police Department, MI
Reserve Deputy Lawrence BarnesRoss County Sheriff's Office, OH
Auxiliary Police Officer Nicholas PekearoNew York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Auxiliary Police Officer Yevgeniy (Eugene) MarshalikNew York City Police Department - Auxiliary Police Section, NY
Reserve Deputy Joe GallowayHolmes County Sheriff's Office, FL
Reserve Deputy Mike WilkenRamsey County Sheriff's Department, MN
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Henry WillefordVan Buren County Sheriff's Office, AR
Auxiliary Lieutenant Dan KromerTaylor Police Department, MI

Monday, September 20, 2010

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

Friday, September 17, 2010

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!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

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:


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

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

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

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

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

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

Patch image: New York City Police Department - Division of School Safety, NYSchool 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

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

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

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

Patch image: New York City Police Department - Division of School Safety, NYSchool 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

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

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

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.

Monday, September 13, 2010

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

New York City Police Department, NY

New York County District Attorney's Office, NY

New York State Office of Court Administration, NY

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday, September 9, 2010

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.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

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:

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

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

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.