Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Line of Duty Deaths on Halloween

Officer Timothy Brenton
Halloween is a day of celebration in which law officers stand extra vigilant to make sure no harm comes to all of the children who are out trick-or-treating. Halloween is also a day on which 53 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty, more than half of whom where shot and killed.

Sergeant Michael King
The two most recent incidents of Halloween line of duty deaths involved the most unthinkable murders of police officers. Sergeant Michael King, of the University City (Mo.) Police Department, and Officer Timothy Brenton, of the Seattle (Wash.) Police Department, slain in 2008 and 2009 respectively, were gunned down from ambush, in unprovoked attacks, while keeping the streets safe for children.

Sheriff Raymond Warf
Seemingly harmless Halloween pranks can also have a deadly result. On Halloween in 1970, Letcher County, Kentucky, Sheriff Raymond Warf responded to a call involving a group of men attempting to dismantle a bridge as part of a prank. When he arrived, the men became combative and Sheriff Warf suffered a fatal heart attack.

The three fallen officers mentioned above are just three of the 53 law enforcement who have died on Halloween serving their communities. Visit the ODMP to read more about these heroes.

This Halloween, while you are keeping your community's children safe, please be sure to keep yourself safe too! Download ODMP's newest officer safety poster now to post in your roll call room.

Police Deaths on Halloween:

Assault: 1
Automobile accident: 3
Drowned: 2
Explosion: 1
Gunfire: 32
Gunfire (Accidental): 2
Heart attack: 1
Motorcycle accident: 1
Stabbed: 1
Struck by train: 1
Struck by vehicle: 4
Vehicle pursuit: 1
Vehicular assault: 3