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