Remembering a Fallen Florida Hero

Another senseless shooting has left one police officer dead and a family and department stunned and saddened over his loss while a community rallies around to help.

Police Officer Andrew Widman of the Fort Meyers Police Department was shot and killed on Friday, July 18th, at approximately 2:00 a.m. after responding with other officers to a report of a domestic disturbance at a downtown nightclub. Upon their arrival, the suspect and his girlfriend were involved in a violent dispute. When Officer Widman attempted to intervene he was shot point blank by the male half with a 9mm gun. Officer Widman never had a chance to pull his own weapon and died instantly. The suspect fled the scene and was pursued by other officers whom he engaged in gunfire before being shot and killed.

Officer Widman, age 30, joined the Fort Meyers Police Department in April of 2007 and was well-liked by his fellow officers on the midnight shift. "He became a part of the family very quick, very easy," said Lt. Dennis Eads, Widman's supervisor. Eads also described Officer Widman as "devoted, not only to the force, but to his family."

Before he became a police officer, Andrew Widman attended the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts where he received a Masters of Divinity degree. He was a licensed minister in Ohio where he worked as a college pastor and also taught at a seminary in Michigan before he pursued a career as a police officer.

In a statement released by the Florida State Attorney General's Office, Attorney General Bill McClollum had this to say: "This is a difficult time for Florida's law enforcement community, as Officer Widman's death comes just weeks after the line-of-duty slaying of Tomoka Corrections Officer Donna Fitzgerald. Like Officer Fitzgerald, Officer Widman will always be remembered for his dedication to the safety of his community. I offer my prayers and support to the victims' families, friends and colleagues during this challenging time."

Officer Widman leaves behind his wife Susanna, three children, ages 4-years, 20-months and 5-months, and his parents Joseph and Martha Widman of Toledo, Ohio, his sisters Abby and Alyse and his brother Tony.

Honoring Another Fallen Hero

In what was described as "a sign of the times" by retiring Officer Bob Hilton of the Twinsburg Police Department, two police departments are mourning the loss of one of their own.

Police Officer Joshua T. Miktarian, a full-time member of the Twinsburg Police Department and part-time officer for the Uniontown Police Department, was shot and killed during a traffic stop in the early morning hours on Sunday, July 13th.

Officer Miktarian - a K-9 officer who had worked Twinsburg's midnight shift since 1997 - pulled over a vehicle at approximately 1:54 a.m. for an investigation of loud music and possible driving under the influence. At 1:56 a.m. the officer requested additional assistance and it was at that time that neighbors told officials that they heard shots fired and 911 was called. A status check by dispatchers over the police radio went unanswered while back-up officers were responding to the scene. Officer Miktarian was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center via Life Flight, where he was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the head at 2:48 a.m. Sunday morning. Officer Miktarian's K-9 partner, Bagio, was in the cruiser at the time of the shooting and was not injured.

"Josh always was making people laugh," said his colleague, Officer Robert Hilton. "He kept everyone smiling. He kept the guys happy and going, which is really something when you work straight midnights." He was described as "a great person, hard worker, and loving husband and father" by retiring Officer Bob Hilton.

An 11-year veteran of the Twinsburg Police Department, Officer Miktarian, age 33, had recently returned to part-time work in Uniontown where he began his law enforcement career in April of 1996 so that he could teach some of the younger officers a bit of what he had learned. In addition to his law enforcement duties, he also owned a pizza franchise in Sagamore Hills and played guitar in his band, Barium. Officer Miktarian leaves behind his wife, Holly, who is an Oakwood police officer, and his 3-month-old daughter, Thea.

2008 Death Toll for Law Enforcement Officers Rises with Two More Deaths

A 27-year veteran Chicago police officer was shot and killed by a woman who grabbed his gun during a struggle outside police headquarters on the North Side early Wednesday morning, July 2nd. Belmont District Police Officer Richard Francis had responded to a seemingly routine assignment on patrol alone with a woman who had caused a disturbance with a Chicago Transit Authority bus passenger less than a block from his police station. The woman, whom sources say sometimes slept at the police station and was often erratic and incoherent, grabbed Officer Francis' service weapon during the struggle and shot him in the head. The injured officer was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center and pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds just before 3 a.m.

Officer Francis, age 60, was described as the quintessential Chicago street cop. "He was just one of those guys who came to work every day, didn't complain, didn't whine and did a good job and went home to his family," said Belmont Area Deputy Chief Bruce Rottner. "Those are the guys who never get in the papers, never get accolades, never get awards, but those are the guys that are the backbone of the police department."

"It's a tragic loss for his family. It's a terrible loss for the Chicago Police Department," Police Supt. Jody Weis said. "It's a stark reminder of what the dangers this department and its officers face everyday."

Officer Francis, a Vietnam War combat veteran who took enemy fire on Navy Swift Boats in the Mekong Delta, loved his job manning "the wagon" on an overnight shift populated by officers half his age. "Life is beautiful," he'd tell anyone who would listen, even when it wasn't. He leaves behind his wife Debbie, two stepdaughters, and colleagues who will always remember him as a hard-working police officer who loved his family, basset hounds, motorcycles and his job.

Residents of Pell City, Alabama are mourning the loss of Police Officer Kenneth (Greg) Surles who passed away on Friday, July4th from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on June 18th. Officer Surles was crossing a U.S. highway on a routine patrol when his patrol car was struck by a tractor trailer. He suffered internal injuries and underwent several surgeries, but had two strokes and had been failing in recent days according to a family friend.

After his accident, Officer Surles had become the center of a community fundraising effort. Friends had staged a benefit walk, a blood drive was planned and police from other towns had offered to fill in so his fellow officers could visit him in the hospital.

On Thursday, Pell City Mayor Adam Stocks closed City Hall on Thursday so city employees could visit Surles at the hospital. Following his death on Friday, Mayor Stocks released the following statement: "These two little girls will never get to know their daddy like they should be able to, yet they will soon learn that their daddy has forever changed a city for the better. When they look back on this time, they will remember how a tight-knit community became even tighter and how their father touched many lives during his courageous battle."

Officer Surles, age 29, joined the Pell City Police Department in 2002. Before that, he worked for the Talladega County Sheriff's Department and Odenville police. He is survived by his wife, Robin, their 4-year-old daughter Makensi and 11-week-old daughter Madalyn.

Thank you to both of these fine officers for their service and their dedication to duty. May they rest in peace and their families be granted comfort.

June Becomes Second Deadliest Month of 2008 for Line of Duty Deaths

With the death of three more officers in the final days of June, the number of names added to the Honor Roll on my sidebar for this month alone climbed to 13 - second only to the 14 line of duty deaths in January. With each life that I recognize and honor by writing these posts, my heart grows heavier as I grieve with the family, friends, and co-workers of these brave men and women but I was reminded why exactly I do this when I received the following comment on a previous Line of Duty Death post just the other day -

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Honoring Two More Fallen Hereos":

Linda,

I don't think that there is a day that goes by that I don't think of Matthew Thebeau. Although I never knew him personally, I, along with 3 other friends was there, in the only vehicle at the time about 10 ft away from his patrol car when he crashed into the concrete wall. Officer Thebeau was indeed chasing a motorcyclist and was indeed killed in the line of duty. I pray for him and his family. It was quite a traumatic experience. Thank you for this blog.

One of the nine witnesses questioned,

Melissa

Thank you, Melissa, for remembering Officer Thebeau and as to my blog and these posts, you're welcome - I just wish I didn't have so many of them to write. Still, as long as those who have sworn to protect and serve the rest of us meet an untimely death, I will continue to remember them and remind others of their final sacrifices. Now, sadly, I have three more heroes to honor ...

A hiding inmate used a makeshift knife known as a shiv to fatally stab a veteran female corrections officer who was trying to take him into custody inside a Florida prison facility on Wednesday, June 25th. Correctional Officer Donna Fitzgerald was stabbed to death at the Tomoka Correctional Institution in Volusia County after she had entered a welding shed, spotted a missing inmate, and tried to take him into custody.

Officer Fitzgerald, who served for 13 years with the Florida Department of Corrections, became the first corrections officer murdered at Tomoka Correctional as well as the second female corrections officer to die in the line of duty in Florida. Department of Corrections Secretary Walter McNeil explained the dangers officers face daily - "The general public does not always understand the dangers our officers face behind these fences," McNeil said. "As correction professionals, we know that each and every day the possibility of death and injury is an ever-present aspect of the job. Yet, when it happens -- like we all are across our department today -- it is shocking and heart-wrenching. We are dismayed."

Officer Fitzgerald, age 51, is survived her 20-year-old son, Kyle Antonelli, who was understandably inconsolable. Kyle's father died from cancer two months ago and he is now mourning the loss of his mother who said was "the best person in my life. She would do anything for me. We did everything together."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the attack. At this time, no charges have been filed pending an administrative review which should conclude within a few weeks.

A Prince George's County Police Department officer was killed in the line of duty on Friday, June 27th, when he was was struck and killed by a stolen automobile while attempting to arrest its occupants. Corporal Richard Findley, a 10-year veteran of the department, and other officers were conducting surveillance on a stolen vehicle when it was entered by two occupants who then attempted to drive it away. During an attempted traffic stop, the suspects rammed Corporal Findley's cruiser then struck and killed the officer when he got out of his vehicle.

In addition to his duties with the police department, Corporal Findley was a life member of the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department where he had served for approximately 20 years.

Corporal Findley, age 39, is survived by his wife Kelly, also a member of the Beltsville VFD, and two young daughters.

On Sunday, June 29th, Police Officer Gary Gryder of the Houston Police Department was killed when an Asian male in his early 20s, crashed through construction barricades and plowed into three officers who were working traffic control at a West Houston construction site on the Katy Freeway eastbound feeder and Highway 6 around 5:15 a.m. One officer managed to jump out of the way, a second was hospitalized, and Officer Gryder - who was thrown 75 feet upon impact - died as a result of his injuries.

A 23-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, Officer Gryder worked a variety of beats during his career. Fifteen years ago, he was one of the lead investigators to crack the case of two teenage girls who were raped, tortured, and killed by five young gang members. His most recent assignment was to track down parole violators from the department's southeast precinct. Officer Gryder was working HPD-approved overtime when he was killed.

''To lose a great guy like Gary Gryder over something as stupid as an impaired driver, that's the tragedy," said friend Gary Blankinship, president of the Houston Police Officers Union. In a statement issued Monday, Houston Police Chief Harold Hurt said, "We have lost a good officer and an important part of the HPD family. We will miss him. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Gary's family during this very difficult time of loss," Hurtt said.

Officer Gryder, age 47, is survived by his wife and 13-year old son Austin.

My thoughts and prayers go to the families of these three brave souls who have more than earned peace and eternal rest.

Deadly Month for Law Enforcement Continues

Three more deaths in the law enforcement community across the country bring the June death toll up to eleven officers since June 2nd, making it the second deadliest month of the year so far. I’ve got my fingers crossed that it doesn’t pass January’s total of fourteen officers lost.

On Thursday, June 19th at approximately 3:00 a.m., Detective Sergeant Robert Deichman of the Youngstown Police Department in Ohio was killed when his patrol car struck a truck which was hauling a water tank that had backed out of a business driveway and into his path. The Detective Sergeant was on call and driving an unmarked car near his home at the time of the collision.

Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said Deichman, who worked in the accident investigation unit, was given the vehicle during off-duty hours in case he was called to the scene of a crash.

A nine-year veteran of the Youngstown Police Department, Sergeant Deichman, age 40, is survived by his wife, Lori; two daughters, Jenna and Juliana; and his parents.

At the United States Federal Penitentiary in Atwater, California located in Merced County at the site of the former Castle Air Force Base, Correctional Officer Jose Rivera was stabbed to death by two inmates on Friday, April 20th. The inmates stabbed Officer Rivera with homemade knives as he was locking cell doors in preparation for the 4:00 pm headcount.

Other officers immediately responded to the location and restrained both suspects while Officer Rivera was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds several hours later.

Deputy Tom MacKenzie with the Merced Country Sheriff's Department called it a real tragedy. "Our hearts go out to the family. God be with them. That's a hard thing to go though, especially with someone that's 22 years of age."

Officer Rivera had served with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for only 10 months.

In Colorado, the Pueblo Police Department is mourning the death of an officer who collapsed and died while responding to a disturbance downtown. Police Officer Nicholas Heine and several other officers were attempting to break up several bar fights when he complained of feeling short of breath and collapsed.

Other officers rendered medical aide performing CPR until Officer Heine was transported to Parkview Medical Center, where he died a short time later of an apparent cardiac arrest. “This has been devastating to the whole department but more his own crew than anyone else because they were so tight," said Pueblo Police Chief James Billings.

Officer Heine, age 30 and a picture of good health, had been with the Pueblo Police Department for nine years. His mother Patricia, a detective with the department, pinned her old badge on him when he joined the force. "He was everything you hoped your kids would grow up to be," she said.

In addition to his mother, Officer Heine is survived by his wife and two daughters, Nichole and Rebecca. "They're having a hard time with this," said Pat Heine. "They keep expecting daddy to come home and he's not going to."

For too many families lately, Daddy is not coming home.

June Death Toll Continues to Rise for Law Enforcement

Another young law enforcement officer was killed this week when he was shot during the course of a traffic stop on Interstate 40 in western North Carolina. The shooting occurred on Tuesday, June 17th after North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper David Shawn Blanton, Jr. pulled over a motor vehicle at approximately 10:20 pm. An argument ensued and the suspect, who is now in custody, struck Trooper Blanton with two shots, one that was not life-threatening and the other entering his torso in an area not protected by his bulletproof vest. That shot struck vital organs inside his body and proved fatal shortly after the trooper had been transported to Mission Hospitals in Asheville.

"Incidents like this remind us of what a dangerous profession law enforcement is," said Brian E. Beatty, Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety in North Carolina in a news release.

Trooper Blanton was from Cherokee, N.C., and a member of the eastern band of the Cherokee Indian tribe. He was the first of that tribe to serve with the Highway Patrol according to his father, David Blanton Sr.

The elder Blanton said his son had recently married and had one child, who had been born premature on May 31st. The baby boy, Brendan Tye, had medical issues when he was born and was still being treated at the same hospital in Asheville where his father died Tuesday night. Trooper Blanton's wife issued a brief statement through the hospital and talked about their newborn son who is listed in serious condition, "We sincerely appreciate all of the prayers for our family and especially for our son Tye," Michaela Blanton said.

Trooper Blanton, age 24, was a two-year member of the North Carolina Highway Patrol and the first to die in the line of duty since 1997. He is the 59th trooper to die in the line of duty since the North Carolina Highway Patrol formed in 1929.

Please join me in thanking this brave young man for his service and in sending prayers to his family, especially to his infant son.

"It hurts your soul." ... Yes, it truly does.

It is only the middle of June and it is with great sadness that I need to add two more names to the Honor Roll for Fallen Officers on my sidebar with the deaths of two more law enforcement officers in recent days. In addition to these two fine men, I am also going to pay tribute in this post to a volunteer firefighter who was also killed in the line of duty. All three men died needless and tragic deaths helping to protect and serve their respective communities.

Traffic control for a fire near Fort Lejeune, North Carolina outside of Jacksonville turned tragic for a sheriff’s deputy and a volunteer firefighter during the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14th, when they were both struck and killed by a tractor trailer whose driver sped carelessly into an area with low visibility. Both men were directing traffic and assisting with two accidents on the road when a tractor-trailer struck them.

Deputy Sheriff Steve Boehm, a 10-year veteran of the Onslow County Sheriff’s Department, and Firefighter Gene Thomas, a member of the Verona Volunteer Fire Department for 33 years, both died instantly when the truck failed to slow down. A second deputy received minor injuries from the same accident and was released after treatment at a local hospital.

The tragedy has left hundreds of people in Onslow County numb and saddened as they mourn two fallen heroes. Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said that they will never be forgotten. Deputy Boehm worked as a School Resource Officer at White Oak High School and had started his first day on summer assignment on Saturday. Sheriff Brown described Deputy Boehm as quiet and reserved, “SRO was more than a job to him, he was a mentor for the school - it was a project for him, not a duty, and he was committed to that job," Brown said. "We will miss him and his family is going to miss him."

In addition to his duties with the Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Boehm, age 36, was also the junior varsity football coach for White Oak High School. An 8-year veteran of the United States Army, he leaves behind his wife, one son, and three daughters as well as one brother and a department and community stricken with grief.

Firefighter Gene Thomas, age 51, had been a firefighter for over 30 years “something he was born to do,” according to Verona Fire Department Captain Kevin Davis. “He has grown up in the fire service," Davis said. "His father was a firefighter, his two brothers are firefighters ... they enjoyed careers as volunteer firefighters and it takes a special breed to do that. He enjoyed volunteering and he enjoyed doing the work," stated Davis. "He was a (Department of Transportation) worker, he enjoyed doing that work and he enjoyed volunteering. He lives right across the street from the department and he was always the first one in the building.”

Thomas is survived by his wife and daughter as well as his mother and two brothers in addition to a department that is shocked over the loss of a member of their “family”.

On the other side of the country, members of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Department are also mourning the loss of one of their own. Deputy Sheriff Jose Antonio (Tony) Diaz , a ten year veteran of the department, was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Dunnigan, California, north of Sacramento, on Sunday, June 15th.

The incident began Sunday night after Davis Police issued a bulletin to all local law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for a subject who was reportedly driving under the influence with an infant in his car. Shortly after Deputy Diaz spotted the suspect, a high-speed chase ensued that ended when the suspect exited his vehicle and fired several shots at Deputy Diaz. The injured deputy radioed into dispatch that he had been shot with a high-powered rifle that penetrated his Kevlar vest. After other law enforcement units arrived, he was airlifted to Woodland Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:51 p.m.

The suspect, a verified gang member, fled the scene on foot leaving behind the infant in his car. He was apprehended following a massive manhunt on Monday morning. He is charged with one count of first degree murder.

In a statement issued Monday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "Deputy Tony Diaz was a true hero who sacrificed his life to protect the citizens of his community. The people of California will never forget Tony's selflessness, bravery and tireless dedication to keeping Yolo County safe. Maria and I extend our deepest condolences to Tony's family, friends and fellow officers during this difficult time."

"It's just tragic," Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto said during a news conference. "It hurts your soul." Deputy Diaz, age 37, leaves behind three daughters, ages 2, 4 and 16, from a previous marriage as well as a fiancée and her three daughters to whom he was a father figure.

Rest in peace, gentlemen. Thank you for your service to your country and your communities.

Law Enforcement Death Toll Climbs Again

The sixth law enforcement officer to die in the Line of Duty for the month of June was shot and killed at approximately 11:05 pm on Friday, June 6th in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Police Officer Todd Bahr of the Fredericksburg Police Department was on foot looking for a male suspect in a domestic violence call with other officers when he was shot once in the head. Nearby officers heard the shot and located the suspect who then opened fire on them. Officers returned fire, striking the suspect several times before he turned his gun on himself and ended his own life.

While Virginia State Police are assisting in the investigation, the Stafford Sheriff’s Office has sent trained workers to help Fredericksburg Police officers and dispatchers deal with the tragedy. Officer Bahr is the second area officer killed in the line of duty within the past year; Stafford Deputy Jason Mooney died in October when he wrecked while responding to a serious accident on Interstate 95.

Office Bahr, age 40, joined the Fredericksburg Police Department in August of 2006. Prior to that he owned a gun shop in Stafford and worked as an auxiliary officer. "He was a great guy, one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet," Fredericksburg Police Chief David Nye said. "But sometimes bad things happen, and they happen to good people."

Sadly, bad things happening to good people seem to be happening way too often lately.

A Sad Week in Law Enforcement Continues With Three More Deaths

People have told me that I have been doing way too many "Line of Duty Death" posts and I've got to agree as here I am writing another one less than a week after the last one I did. These stories are sad and tragic and as much as I'd like to stop writing these posts, I can't as these men and women need to be recognized and remembered and that is my whole purpose behind writing these posts - not to depress people but to honor the officers who have fallen. Please bear with me; it's a depressing journey but one that needs to be made.

Police Officer Everett William Dennis, age 23, died in a one-vehicle automobile accident early Tuesday morning, June 3rd, in Carthage, Texas when his patrol car went out of control and overturned, ejecting him from the vehicle. At the time of the accident, Officer Dennis was pursuing another car for motor vehicle violations.

Officer Dennis joined the Carthage Police Department on July 9th, 2007, after completing the East Texas Police Academy of Kilgore in June of 2006. Prior to that he had worked as a jailer and dispatcher for the Harrison County Sheriff's Office, served on the Lakeport Lake Patrol, and served as a peace officer in Marion County. In addition to serving on the Carthage Police Department, Officer Dennis also served as a firefighter with Nesbitt and Hallsville volunteer fire departments.

"He was such a nice young man," Brenda Nix, administrative assistant to the city manager said. "He was a very conscientious and dedicated officer even though he was so young. He loved doing his job. It was his life."

June 3rd saw the death of a second officer as a result of a motor vehicle accident when Transport Officer Virgil Lee Behrens of the Marion County Sheriff's Department in Iowa died from the injuries he had received 12 days earlier. He and two detention officers were en route to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to attend in service training when the vehicle driving next to them struck a deer throwing a portion of the deer through the windshield of the department vehicle that Officer Behrens was driving. The van went out of control and rolled, ejecting Officer Behrens. All three officers were transported to a hospital in Des Moines where Officer Behrens remained on life support until succumbing to his injuries.

A 43-year veteran of law enforcement, Officer Behrens, age 68, had served with the Marion County Sheriff's Department for 13 years and had previously served 30 years with the Iowa State Patrol. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and grandchildren.

Deputy Sheriff Shane Tate of the Grundy County Sheriff's Department in Tennessee was shot and killed on Thursday, June 5th, in a small town about 35 miles northwest of Chattanoga as he and a reserve officer from the Monteagle Police Department served a probation violation warrant related to felony drug charges on a suspect.

Deputy Tate had graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy just two weeks ago and one of his first assignments was serving the probation warrant. After fatally shooting Deputy Tate and wounding the other officer, the suspect fled from the scene and was later found near his girlfriend's house where officers negotiated with him for about twenty minutes before he fatally shot himself in the head.

"He was a good police officer," said Grundy County Mayor Ladue Bouldin about Tate. "He was young, energetic, worked hard and wanted to catch the bad guys."

Deputy Tate, age 28, leaves behind his wife and five children as well as a stunned community. "This is definitely a great tragedy and a loss that really makes you wonder about where society's headed when things like this can happen," said Tate's friend, Al Wiley.

Good point, Mr. Wiley. Very good point.

Three More Officers Become Line of Duty Death Statistics

The number of Law Enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty in 2008 increased again in the past few days with the deaths of two more officers in unrelated motor vehicle accidents as well as a third officer who was killed in a shooting ambush.

Sergeant Leslie (Les) Wilmott of the Keifer Oklahoma Police Department died Thursday, May 29th after his cruiser was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Rogers County. The accident happened shortly after midnight when Sergeant Wilmott’s patrol car rear-ended a tractor trailer near his hometown of Oologah; the other driver and his passenger were not injured in the crash.

"There wasn't a person in this department that did not look up to him or would hesitate to go to him for advice," Kiefer Police Chief Stacey White said. "He was always there to give a listening ear. He was a mentor and a friend to everyone here. He was, in my opinion, as close to the perfect cop as you could ask for.”

Sergeant Wilmott, age 54, had been in law enforcement for 33 years previously serving as a Patrolman at the Jenks and Claremore Police Departments, the Chief of Police for Inola and Beggs Police Departments, and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office.

"He's going to be deeply missed by both his true family and his law enforcement family," Creek County Undersheriff Rick Ishmael, who worked with Wilmott for 25 years, said. "He was as good and honest and decent of a law enforcement officer as anyone I've had the privilege to meet or work with." Surviving Sergeant Wilmott are his wife, a daughter, two sons, and two grandchildren, as well as his parents and one sister.

A 26-year veteran of the New Mexico State Police, Lieutenant Michael Avilucea, died Friday, May 31st, in a single vehicle rollover crash north of Santa Fe in Rio Arriba County. Lt Avilucea, assistant commander of the Alamogordo District Office as well as commander of the State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, had supervised the disposal of some explosives in the Chama area and was on his way home when his truck flipped throwing him from the vehicle at approximately 2:30 p.m.

State Police Chief Faron Segotta, called Lt Avilucea a dedicated "state policeman's policeman” whose “experience and passion for his job will be irreplaceable.” “He was dedicated to serving the citizens of New Mexico and loved the department dearly. We will miss him very much."

Lt. Avilucea, 51, a native of New Mexico and Las Cruces resident, is survived by an adult son, his parents, and a brother who is a retired state police officer.

In Arizona, Police Officer Erik Hite, a four-year member of the Tuscon Police Department, passed away on June 2nd at the University Medical Center as a result of injuries sustained during an ambush that occurred on Sunday, June 1st.

Officer Hite was shot several times including once in the head while sitting in his patrol car during an incident that began about 10 a.m. Sunday morning after residents in a county area reported shots fired at homes by a man driving a red Ford Mustang. The suspect, dressed in camouflage, wounded two Pima County sheriff's deputies less seriously before he surrendered without incident to deputies part-way up Mount Lemmon in the northeast side of the city.

“From what preliminary information I have, I’m going to say it bluntly that Officer Hite was ambushed,” Tucson Police Chief Richard Miranda said Sunday. “There was some thought behind what the shooter did.” On Monday Chief Miranda called Hite an exemplary officer and stated that "there's a tremendous feeling of sadness" at the Tuscon Police Department where they are trying to come to grips with the first Line of Duty Death in five years.

Hite, age 43, joined the Tucson Police Department in February 2004 after a 21-year career with the Air Force. He is survived by his parents, his wife, Nohemy, and their daughter, Samantha, who will turn a year old next week; as well as a son, Roy David, who is currently serving in the military. Officer Hite was also a member of Shadowriders.org, an online motorcycle enthusiast group.

Please keep these men, as well as their families and communities, in your thoughts and prayers as I add their names to the honor roll that is growing way too rapidly on my sidebar.

Accidents Account for Two More Line of Duty Deaths

The Kern County Sheriff's Department in California lost an officer in a line of duty motor vehicle accident this past Friday, May 23rd, when Deputy Sheriff James Throne collided with another officer while both were en route to back up other deputies in a foot pursuit following a theft.

Fourteen firefighters responded to the accident that occurred around 11:35 p.m. on a highway north of Bakersfield. Deputy Throne was driving a marked patrol car without lights and siren on when he pulled into the path of fellow officer 30-year-old Deputy Doug Swanson of Bakersfield, who was driving a marked patrol car with lights and siren activated. Deputy Swanson was taken to Kern County Medical Center with multiple injuries but is expected to survive.

Sgt. Mike Dunham, supervisor for both Deputy Throne and Deputy Swanson at the Lamont Substation, who responded to the scene of the accident said “Your only thought while you’re trying to get there is ‘How are they?’ What happened or how it happened is at least secondary.” He described the mood amongst the other deputies as one of disbelief: “It’s a universal feeling that one moment everybody is thinking about the future and the next moment it’s gone.”

Deputy Throne, age 29, was a two and a half year veteran of the Kern County Sheriff's Department after previously serving with the Taft Police Department. He is survived by his wife Amanda and three sons ages 12, 10, and 7.

On Sunday, May 25th, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office in Georgia announced the death of Deputy Sheriff Michael Sean Thomas who passed away as a result of injuries sustained in an accident that occurred on April 26th. Deputy Thomas, a motorcycle patrol officer and eight-year veteran of the sheriff's department, had sustained multiple injuries when he collided with a 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck while on duty almost a month earlier. The pickup failed to yield the right of way while entering the highway and Deputy Thomas was thrown from his motorcycle when it impacted the side of the pickup truck.

Deputy Thomas was only 26 years old at the time of his death.

Please remember these young men and their family and colleagues they leave behind as well as offer up thoughts and prayers of recovery for Deputy Swanson who remains hospitalized.

Three More Officers Fall in the Line of Duty in May

The Orangeburg Country Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina lost one of their own on Saturday, May 3rd, when Deputy Sheriff William Howell Jr. was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance. As Deputy Howell arrived to assist a female victim with removing clothing from a residence, her husband opened fire with a rifle striking the Deputy in the neck. As the suspect attempted to flee the home, he was run over and killed by his wife but not before Deputy Howell died from his wounds.

A three year veteran of the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Howell served in law enforcement for a total of 16 years having previously served as a jailer at the Berkeley County Detention Center, with the Moncks Corner Police Department, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and as an officer with the Jamestown Police.

Deputy Howell, age 46, leaves behind his wife Michelle and three sons.

In a second Line of Duty death on the same day, Sergeant Stephen Liczbinski, a 12-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, was gunned down following a bank robbery at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Sergeant Liczbinski encountered the suspects and stopped their car but as he exited his patrol car, a suspect opened fire with an SKS carbine striking him several times. Several citizens who witnessed the shooting rushed to assist the fallen officer who told them “I want you to tell my wife I’ll miss her” before he lost consciousness. Another officer and a citizen carried Sergeant Liczbinski to a patrol car and transported him to Temple University Hospital where he died from his wounds.

The third Philadelphia police officer to be shot and killed in the past two years, Sergeant Liczbinski was assigned to the 24th District and would have turned 40 on May 6th. He leaves behind his wife and three children.

A deadly week for Line of Duty deaths continued with the motor vehicle death of Special Agent Aaron Garcia of the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department on Wednesday, May 7th.

Special Agent Garcia, a 2-1/2 year veteran of his department, was killed in a single vehicle accident in Mecca, a small town south of Palm Springs, California while on patrol shortly before 12:30 a.m.

Agent Garcia, age 39, leaves behind his wife and children.

Please keep the families and Departments of these brave men in your thoughts and prayers as you have for the others who have gone before them.

Honoring Three Fallen Heros

I crossed my fingers that I was going to get through April with only one law enforcement line of duty death but sadly, such was not the case with the death of two more men over the past several weeks.

Corrections Officer Kenneth Duncan, a 17-year veteran of the New York City Department of Corrections, was shot in the face and killed on April 22 while off-duty and in his own driveway. Officer Duncan and a friend were working on his motorcycles when they were approached by two males who drew a firearm and attempted to steal the motorcycles. Officer Duncan drew his off-duty weapon and identified himself as a corrections officer. The suspect opened fire hitting Officer Duncan once in the face who was able to return fire, but was not able to hit the suspects. The wounded officer was transported to Brookdale Hospital in New York City where he died.

Officer Duncan, age 40, was a former Marine and is survived by two children.

Trooper James Scott Burns of the Texas Highway Patrol was shot and killed on April 29th during the course of a traffic stop in Kellyville, Texas, about 135 miles east of Dallas. Trooper Burns had attempted to pull over the suspect's vehicle when the suspect vehicle took off and led the Trooper on a short high-speed pursuit. Suddenly the suspect stopped the vehicle and then, according to a spokesperson for Texas Department of Public Safety, "The suspect quickly exited the vehicle before our trooper could even do anything, He proceeded to fire rounds into the patrol vehicle, striking and killing our officer."

The suspect, a former law enforcement officer who had been previously arrested on drug charges, fled the scene and committed suicide two days later.

Trooper Burns had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for 5 years and is survived by his wife, Michaela, and 5-month-old daughter Micah.

In addition to the April losses, May 1st saw the death of yet another law enforcement officer when a traffic accident claimed the life of Deputy Sheriff Robert Griffin of the Decatur County Sheriff's Office in Georgia. Deputy Griffin was responding to the report of a juvenile threatening suicide when his vehicle left the highway and struck a tree on the driver's side of the vehicle killing him at the scene.

Deputy Griffin was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Decatur County Sheriff's Office for 3 years where he was a member of the Sheriff's Emergency Response Team, SWAT. He is survived by his wife, three children, and his mother.

Please take a moment to say a prayer for the family, friends, and colleagues of this brave men.

Kentucky Constable Dies in the Line of Duty

April 1st brought yet another death to the law enforcement community with the passing of Constable Joe Howard of Harlan County, Kentucky who died from an apparent heart attack shortly after arresting a suspect who had to be restrained.

Constable Howard had just made an arrest and dropped off his prisoner at the Harlan County Detention Center on Tuesday when he felt ill and pulled into the Harlan City Police Department parking lot, a place where his son, Tim Howard, is employed as a police officer. According to Harlan Chief Frank Doan, Howard wasn’t able to get out of his car and he used his cell phone to call inside the station for help. He was rushed to Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital where he died a short while later.

A graduate of Harlan High School and veteran of the U.S. Navy, Howard was a lifelong resident of Harlan and the Harlan County District 1 Constable for 13 years who spent the last 13 years serving court subpoenas and warrants and helping to keep peace in his district. He was well-known in the county as "a friendly, kind person who would always greet you with a smile and never walk through a door before you," according to the The Harlan Daily Enterprise.

“He is going to be missed, especially by the people at the High Rise Building where he lived — he did a lot for them,” Chief Doan said. “He never met a stranger, and he was the same every time you would see him.”

Constable Howard, age 55, is survived by three children and one grandchild as well as one brother and three sisters.

March Ends With Two More Line of Duty Deaths

I had hoped to make it through March without having to post any more line of duty deaths in the Law Enforcement community but sadly I received notification today of the deaths of two more officers, both of whom died in motor vehicle accidents.

Officer James D. Fezatte of the Millbrook Police Department in Alabama was killed late Saturday night while responding to a report of a civil disturbance when his police vehicle left the road and struck a tree. It had been raining heavily at the time of the accident and police believe that his vehicle hydroplaned and left the roadway. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Officer Fezatte's death is the first line of duty death in the history of the Millbrook Police Department which has been operating for 28 years and has 30 law enforcement officers. “This is the first officer that our department has lost in the line of duty since its inception, and it’s going to be hard on all of us,” said Millbrook Police Chief Kenneth Bradley in a newss release. “We will be here to support his family and lean on each other to get through this.”

Officer Fezatte, age 41, had retired from the Air Force where he served as a Security Police Officer before joining the Millbrook Police Department in September of 2007. He leaves behind a wife, two children, and a Department that has lost one of their own.

Border Patrol Agent Jarod Dittman of the United States Department of Homeland Security died at approximately 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning in rural East County, California following a motor vehicle accident en route to his patrol area in Jamul. The single vehicle wreck involving Dittman's department issued Jeep Wrangler was found by another Agent on a curving county highway between Chula Vista and Campo.

Agent Dittman, age 28, was transported to a local emergency department with multiple injuries where he was pronounced dead at about 2:00 a.m. according to Richard Smith, a supervisory agent for the U.S. Border Patrol. Smith said he had no details on the cause of the crash which is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol.

Originally from Centre County, Pennsylvania, Agent Dittman attended Penn State College before serving in the Army National Guard and being deployed to Kosovo for half a year. Moving to California, he lived in San Diego with his wife and young daughter and had been working as a Border Patrol agent for just over a year.

Once again I ask you to please remember these officers and their families in your prayers as I also ask you to pray that no more officers die in the line of duty. I know it's a tall order but wouldn't it be fantastic?

Connecticut Police Officer Dies in the Line of Duty

A Line of Duty Death hit very close to home today with the shooting death of Officer Matthew Morelli of the Norwalk, Connecticut Police Department. Officer Morelli, age 38, became the third officer to die in the line of duty for the month of March and the first fatality in the line of duty at the Norwalk Police Department in 26 years, the 5th in the Department's history.

At 12:26 a.m. today, Officer Morelli contacted dispatch to advise them that he was exiting his car in South Norwalk to investigate suspicious activity in a rear parking lot. He contacted dispatch a second time and then nothing more was heard so back-up was immediately sent to the area. When officers arrived on-scene they found Officer Morelli next to his cruiser where he had been shot once in the head with an AK-47 which was found at the scene. Police believe that Officer Morelli may also have fired one shot from his service gun but there is no evidence that he hit anyone. Witnesses reported hearing a car leave the area at high speed, shortly before more Norwalk police officers arrived on the scene.

"He was patrolling the area, and in fact noticed suspicious activity, and stepped out to investigate what was happening," said Norwalk Police Lt. Paul Resnick. He was working alone and died at the scene. No arrests have been made.

In a statement released this afternoon, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman said he was "saddened" by Morelli's death. "I hope the perpetrator of this horrible act is quickly apprehended and punished."

Officer Morelli, a decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served as an intelligence analyst, was a member of the Norwalk Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by a young daughter.

I echo Senator Liberman's sentiments and hope and pray that whoever committed this cowardly act of violence against a man who was simply doing his job is found, arrested, and convicted to the furthest extent of the law. My heart goes out to Officer Morelli's family and all of the members of the Norwalk Police Department.

Second Line of Duty Death in the Month of March

Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Special Agent Robert Patrick (Pat) Flickinger died as a result of injuries following a motor vehicle accident on Friday, March 7th. Agent Flickinger was pronounced dead at the scene after authorities say he was pinned in his vehicle following a head-on collision with another vehicle after he had attempted to pass a slow moving vehicle. The crash happened shortly before eight o'clock Friday night on State Highway 199 just west of Glasses Creek near Madill, Oklahoma.

Agent Flickinger had a total of 16 years of law enforcement experience, was a veteran of the US Navy, and graduate of the FBI National Academy. He was hired as a uniformed police officer with the Chickasaw Nation’s Lighthorse Police Department on September 27th 2004, promoted to a Special Agent on October 15th 2007, and assigned to work narcotics enforcement. Agent Flickinger was a member of both the Lighthorse Police Scuba-Dive Team and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team.

“We are all saddened to hear of the loss of Special Agent Flickinger,” said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. “He has been a dedicated member of the Lighthorse Police Department for more than three years. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family members and all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.”

“The Chickasaw Nation and State of Oklahoma have lost a hero,” added Lighthorse Police Chief Jason O’Neal. “Agent Flickinger considered it an honor to serve his community and was well respected within the law enforcement community. He will be missed dearly and our prayers go out to his family.”

Agent Flickinger, age 37, leaves behind a daughter and a community deeply saddened by his loss.

Cleveland Police Officer Becomes First Line of Duty Death in March

Officer Derek Owens, Badge No. 746 of the Cleveland Police Department, succumbed to a gunshot wound to the abdomen on March 1st at the MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio making him the first line of duty death in the month of March.

According to Cleveland Police spokesman Lt. Tom Stacho, Officer Owens and his partner approached four men around 6:20 p.m. on Friday evening in the southeast side of the city after receiving complaints that men were drinking beer in an abandoned garage. Police had received numerous complaints from residents about the neighborhood, which is made up of duplexes, many of which are boarded-up and vandalized, and the officers recognized the men from previous neighborhood patrols. When the men attempted to flee the scene, the officers chased the men on foot.

Officer Owens caught up with one of the men, who turned around and shot the officer in the abdomen just beneath his bulletproof vest. Owens returned fire and the suspect then exchanged shots with Owens' partner but no one else appeared to be injured. "This was two officers aggressively doing their jobs," Lt. Thomas Stacho said. "This is what they do every day."

Fellow officers rushed the injured Owens to MetroHealth Medical Center in the back of a cruiser where he underwent surgery receiving over five pints of blood. Despite the best efforts of hospital surgeons, the 10-year veteran of the department died from his wounds at approximately 12:13 a.m.

At 2:45 a.m. Saturday morning, Officer Owens’s body was escorted by a contingent of fellow police officers to the Cuyahoga County coroner’s office where a brief ceremony was held that ended with an American flag draped over his body.

“It is a sad day for the Cleveland Police and all of Greater Cleveland. The death of Officer Owens is senseless and tragic. He was a true hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving his community. My prayers go out to his family," said Police Chief Michael McGrath.

Officer Owens had worked in the 4th District since he was hired in September of 1998. He leaves behind his wife, an 8-year-old daughter, and a 6-year-old son.

Again, this was a senseless and tragic killing of a man whose job it was to protect and serve made even more senseless by the fact that the suspected shooter is a 19-year old male who had his whole life ahead of him before this life-ending event. This senseless killing of our Law Enforcement officers needs to stop and it needs to stop soon.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Joins Line of Duty Death Honor Roll

A member of the Nevada Highway Patrol died at approximately 2:45 a.m. this morning from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Monday night and becomes the 25th officer to be placed on my sidebar's honor roll. Honestly, this is growing way too fast - way too fast.

Trooper Kara M. Kelly-Borgognone, 33, of Sparks, was responding lights and sirens en route to a report of a possible bomb at a Spanish Springs, Nevada gas station when her northbound patrol car was struck by an eastbound Chevrolet sport utility vehicle at an intersection controlled by a traffic light.

Her family, through the Nevada Highway Patrol, had announced on Tuesday that she was not going to survive and that her organs would be donated per her wishes and directions as an organ donor. She was kept on life support at Renown Regional Medical Center while doctors conducted tests to find suitable recipients for the organs. Doctors finished the harvesting procedures early this morning before declaring Trooper Kelly-Borgognone dead.

Trooper Kelly-Borgogone spent eight years with the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation before joining the Nevada Highway Patrol almost two years ago. She and her husband, Dirk, have two young daughters, ages 3 and 13. Her brother, Chris Kelly, is a 14-year veteran with the Highway Patrol and is assigned to the Reno area.

People who worked with Kelly-Borgognone remembered her as a good worker and someone with wit. "Kara was a tireless worker, who truly took her commitment to the citizens to heart, this shift and I will greatly miss her," said Sgt. Robert Stepien, who was Kelly-Borgognone's supervisor.

Tests are being performed on both vehicles to determine whether all components were functioning at the time of the accident. Five or six members of the sheriff's major accident investigation team are on the case in an attempt to determine what happened.

I would like to personally thank Trooper Kelly-Borgognone not only for her dedication and service to her community as a Nevada Highway Patrol officer but for also being an organ donor and wanting to help people in death just as she did in her life. She truly is a hero and my thoughts and prayers are with