Officer Down Memorial Page: End of Watch Report August 2015

August 2015 was one of two months this year with 14 total line of duty deaths (LODDs), the second highest monthly toll in 2015.  Six of those deaths occurred in the last week of the month.

Of the August LODDs, six were the result of felonious gunfire, two resulted from fatal heart attacks, and the remaining deaths were vehicular -- either motorcycle-, aircraft-, or automobile related.  These vehicular deaths bring the total in 2015 to 35 Line of Duty Deaths in that category -- the leading cause of death this year, and up 10% over this time in 2014.

Each of the officers who lost their lives in August 2015 is to be remembered for their sacrifice and honored for their service.  The Officer Down Memorial Page extends our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and agencies who lost loved ones in August 2015.

Please take a moment to read their memorials:

Deputy Sheriff Delton Daniels
Marlboro County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina




Officer Sean Michael Bolton
Memphis Police Department, Tennessee

Officer Thomas LaValley
Shreveport Police Department, Louisiana

Detective Brent L. Hanger
Washington State Patrol, Washington

First Lieutenant Arthur A. Green III
Michigan Department of Natural Resoures, Michigan

Deputy Sheriff Craig Stephen Whisenand
Tazewell County Sheriff's Office, Illinois

Deputy Sheriff Carl Howell
Carson City Sheriff's Office, Nevada

Detention Officer Tronoski Jones
Harris County Sheriff's Office, Texas

Senior Trooper Steven Vincent
Louisiana State Police, Louisiana

Sergeant Peggy Vassallo
Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department, Missouri

Police Officer Henry Nelson
Sunset Police Department, Louisiana

Trooper James M. Bava
Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri

Trooper Chad H. Wolf
Michigan State Police, Michigan

Deputy Sheriff Darren H. Goforth
Harris County Sheriff's Department, Texas

"When a police officer is killed, it's not an agency that loses an officer, it's an entire nation."

-Chris Cosgriff, ODMP Founder

Officer Down Memorial Page: End of Watch Report July 2015

The month of July is, historically, the deadliest month for law enforcement, with a total of 2,032 deaths having occurred in this month since 1791.  The five deaths in July 2015 bring July's historical total to 2,037.

While July 2015 fortunately did not follow the trend of being the deadliest month of the year, each of the five line of duty deaths marked the end of watch for an officer who dedicated their life to protecting and serving, and each death is a loss for us all.

The Officer Down Memorial Page extends our sincere condolences to the families, friends, and agencies who lost a hero this month.  Please take a moment to read each of their memorial pages. 

July 2015 Line of Duty Deaths:

Correctional Officer Gregory Dale Mitchell
Georgia Department of Corrections (GA)

Patrolman John James Wilding
Scranton Police Department (PA)

Corrections Officer Timothy Davison
Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TX)

Officer Vernell Brown, Jr.
New Orleans Police Department (LA)

Sergeant Scott Lunger
Hayward Police Department (CA)

Officer Down Memorial Page: End of Watch Report June 2015

June 2015 fortunately had fewer line of duty deaths than the preceding month.  However, with nine line of duty deaths, it was still a tragic and deadly month.

One death was the result of a 9/11-related illness: the 162nd law enforcement officer to die as a direct result of the terror attack on September 11, 2001.

Five of the nine line of duty deaths this month were vehicular -- one motorcycle accident, two automobile accidents, and two accidents during vehicle pursuits.  These incidents bring the number of auto-related deaths in 2015 up to 28, a 4% increase over this time last year, and a sobering reminder of the dangers inherent in even the most routine aspects of this job.

Two of the deaths this month were the result of felonious gunfire, bringing the total number up to 16 this year.

The other line of duty death in June occurred when an officer died due to complications during a surgical procedure required because of an assault he sustained in February of this year.

Please take a moment to recognize these heroes whose watch ended in June 2015:

Deputy U.S. Marshal Zacarias Toro 
Department of Justice, U.S. Marshals Service
EOW Sunday, June 14, 2015

Sheriff Ladson O'Connor
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Officer Rick Silva
Chehalis Police Department, WA
EOW Thursday, June 18, 2015

Officer Sonny Kim
Cincinnati Police Department, OH
EOW Friday, June 19, 2015

Officer Daryle Holloway
New Orleans Police Department, LA
EOW Saturday, June 20, 2015

Trooper Eric K. Chrisman
Kentucky State Police, KY
EOW Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Sergeant Christopher Kelley
Hutto Police Department, TX
EOW Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Sergeant Korby Kennedy
San Angelo Police Department, TX
EOW Thursday, June 25, 2015

Officer David Joseph Nelson
Bakersfield Police Department, CA
EOW Saturday, June 26, 2015





The Officer Down Memorial Page extends our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and agencies of these fallen heroes.  May they rest in peace.