National Police Week 2016
This is National Police Week, first proclaimed by President Kennedy in 1962 as Peace Officers Memorial Day. Now it is National Police Week when thousands of officers descend on Washington, DC to remember their fallen comrades in blue. This year, the Roll Call of Line of Duty deaths at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial will include;
Colley David 4/4/15 AL Montgomery Police Department
Mitchum Charles 1/26/15 AL Loxley Police Department
Odell Roger 1/28/15 AL Town Creek Police Department
Woods Richard 3/17/15 AL Pell City Police Department
Smith Sonny 5/15/15 AR Johnson County Sheriff’s Office
Francies Carlos 8/13/15 CA Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office
Galvez Ricardo 11/18/15 CA Downey Police Department
Hanes Bryce 11/5/15 CA San Bernardino Police Department
Herring, Jr. * John 7/7/14 CA Fresno Police Department
Johnson Michael 3/24/15 CA San Jose Police Department
Lunger Scott 7/22/15 CA Hayward Police Department
Nelson David 6/26/15 CA Bakersfield Police Department
Jursevics Jaimie 11/15/15 CO Colorado State Patrol
Renfro Sean 1/3/15 CO Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Swasey Garrett 11/27/15 CO University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Police Department
Thyfault Taylor 5/23/15 CO Colorado State Patrol
Watts Warren 6/16/12 CO Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
Faggio * Andrew 1/11/12 CT New Haven Police Department
Cross* Carolyn 9/7/14 DC District of Columbia Department of Corrections
Forsyth Jared 4/6/15 FL Ocala Police Department
Myers William 9/22/15 FL Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
Green Terence 3/4/15 GA Fulton County Police Department
Hall Richard 9/16/15 GA Chatham County Sheriff’s Office
McCrystal James 7/14/15 GA Georgia Department of Corrections
Mitchell Gregory 7/7/15 GA Georgia Department of Corrections
O’Connor Ladson 6/16/15 GA Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Solomon William 11/19/15 GA Georgia Ports Authority Police Department
Toatley Kevin 9/19/15 GA DeKalb County Police Department
Wallace Darryl 3/15/15 GA Clayton County Police Department
Colburn Neville 2/23/15 HI Honolulu Police Department
Moore Gregory 5/5/15 ID Coeur d’Alene Police Department
Maness Dwight 9/14/15 IL McHenry County Sheriff’s Office
Whisenand Craig 8/10/16 IL Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office
Newport* Kent 10/27/14 KS Kansas Highway Patrol
Chrisman Eric 6/23/15 KY Kentucky State Police
Ellis Daniel 11/6/15 KY Richmond Police Department
Ponder Joseph 9/13/15 KY Kentucky State Police
Rhoads Burke 3/11/15 KY Nicholasville Police Department
Travis Clifford 3/5/15 KY Bullitt County Detention Center
Tribby * Anson 1/22/13 KY Kentucky State Police
Bennett, Jr. James 5/24/15 LA Housing Authority of New Orleans Police Department
Brown, Jr. Vernell 7/17/15 LA New Orleans Police Department
Condall Rodney 1/28/15 LA Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office
Gilliam, Sr. Juandre 4/8/15 LA Jeanerette Police Department
Holloway Daryle 6/20/15 LA New Orleans Police Department
LaValley Thomas 8/5/15 LA Shreveport Police Department
Nelson Henry 8/26/15 LA Sunset Police Department
Vincent Steven 8/24/15 LA Louisiana State Police
Chandler Craig 1/9/15 MD Baltimore City Police Department
Leotta Noah 12/10/15 MD Montgomery County Police Department
Rabain Brennan 3/7/15 MD Prince George’s County Police Department
Abdella Joseph 8/14/15 MI Detroit Police Department
Green III Arthur 8/9/15 MI Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Wolf Chad 8/28/15 MI Michigan State Police
Sandberg Steven 10/18/15 MN Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office
Deen Benjamin 5/9/15 MS Hattiesburg Police Department
Gatson Johnny 3/10/15 MS Warren County Sheriff’s Office
Gorman John 1/21/15 MS Mississippi Gaming Commission
Smith Iris 5/25/15 MS Mississippi Department of Corrections
Tate Liquori 5/9/15 MS Hattiesburg Police Department
Bava James 8/28/15 MO Missouri State Highway Patrol
Hawkins Steven 9/13/15 MO Harrison County Sheriff’s Office
Vassallo Peggy 8/24/15 MO Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department
Orozco Kerrie 5/20/15 NE Omaha Police Department
Howell Carl 8/15/15 NV Carson City Sheriff’s Office
McCarson Eli 12/17/15 NJ New Jersey State Police
Raspa Anthony 5/30/15 NJ New Jersey State Police
Stevens John 1/21/15 NJ Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office
Thompson Scott 4/10/15 NJ Manchester Township Police Department
Benner Gregg 5/25/15 NM New Rio Rancho Police Department
Webster Daniel 10/29/15 NM Albuquerque Police Department
Digiacomo Diane 11/20/15 NY American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Humane Law Enforcement
Fredenburg, Jr. Donald 3/13/15 NY New York State Police
Holder Randolph 10/20/15 NY New York City Police Department
McKee John 9/12/15 NY City University of New York Department of Public Safety
McLaughlin Roy 9/10/15 NY Yonkers Police Department
Meier Eric 9/17/15 NY Crawford Police Department
Merriweather * Tommy 1/21/13 NY New York City Police Department
Moore Brian 5/4/15 NY New York City Police Department
Moran* Thomas 7/22/12 NY New York State Police
Thompson* Edward 3/9/08 NY New York City Police Department
Bowling Robert 5/21/15 NC North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau
Smith* Keith 12/1/12 NC North Carolina Department of Public Safety – Division of Adult Correction
Brandle Michael 5/21/15 OH Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Kim Sonny 6/19/15 OH Cincinnati Police Department
Van Oort, Sr. Nathan 11/7/15 OH Ohio University Police Department
Dees Nicholas 1/31/15 OK Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Datan Gil 4/20/15 OR Coos County Sheriff’s Office
Eslary Eric 5/5/15 PA Ligonier Township Police Department
Koropal Paul 5/5/15 PA Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office – Investigative Division
Moyer Scott 9/23/09 PA Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office – Warrant Division
Reed, Jr. Lloyd 11/28/15 PA St. Clair Township Police Department
Wilding John 7/12/15 PA Scranton Police Department
Wilson III Robert 3/5/15 PA Philadelphia Police Department
Alia Gregory 9/30/15 SC Forest Acres Police Department
Case Stacy 11/7/15 SC Columbia Police Department
Bolton Sean 8/1/15 TN Memphis Police Department
Hamer * Eddie 1/27/14 TN Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office
Starrett Michael 1/30/15 TN Jacksboro Police Department
Vela Rosemary 9/28/15 TN Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Wallen, Jr. James 10/25/15 TN Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department
Allen Darrell 11/10/15 TX Marlin Police Department
Arellano Adrian 3/18/15 TX El Paso Police Department
Davis Christopher 1/14/15 TX Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Davison Timothy 7/15/15 TX Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Garcia, Jr. Eligio 1/14/15 TX Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Goforth Darren 8/28/15 TX Harris County Sheriff’s Office
Jones Tronoski 8/20/15 TX Harris County Sheriff’s Office
Keesee William 10/29/15 TX Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Highway Patrol
Kennedy Korby 6/25/15 TX San Angelo Police Department
Martin Richard 5/18/15 TX Houston Police Department
Radford Jeffrey 10/28/15 TX Bell County Constable’s Office – Precinct 3
Kelley Christopher 6/24/15 TX Hutto Police Department
Young Kyle 9/17/15 VT Vermont State Police
Smith Nathan-Michael 9/21/15 VA Virginia State Police
Snow* W Kevin 12/19/12 VA Bristol Police Department
Hanger Brent 8/6/15 WA Washington State Patrol
Silva Rick 6/18/15 WA Chehalis Police Department
Casper Trevor 3/24/15 WI Wisconsin State Patrol
Copeland Ryan 11/23/15 WI McFarland Police Department
Bonacasa Louis 12/21/15 Federal United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Cinco Michael 12/21/15 Federal United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Lemm Joseph 12/21/15 Federal United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Lossiah Anthony 10/6/15 Federal Cherokee Indian Police Department, Tribal Police
McBride III Chester 12/21/15 Federal United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Sheldon William 3/2/15 Federal United States Department of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Taub Peter 12/21/15 Federal United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Toro, Jr. Zacarias 6/14/15 Federal United States Department of Justice – United States Marshals Service
Vorderbruggen Adrianna 12/21/15 Federal United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Wells Josie 3/10/15 Federal United States Department of Justice – United States Marshals Service
Yazzie Alex 3/19/15 Federal Navajo Division of Public Safety
Hernandez Rosario 12/28/15 PR Puerto Rico Police Department
Perez-Rios Miguel 9/7/15 PR Puerto Rico Police Department
Roman-Acevedo * Edwin 11/26/14 PR San Juan Police Department
Roman-Rodriguez Frank 12/28/15 PR Puerto Rico Police Department
Rosa-Ortiz Elsa 8/17/15 PR Puerto Rico Police Department
Soto-Segarra Luz 12/28/15 PR Puerto Rico Police Department
Category: Police
There are wolves, sheepdogs, and sheep. Each and every one of these names represents a sheepdog that gave their last breath in service to keep the wolves from the sheep.
Each and every day I pray that I do not see another sheepdog in the news having fallen to the wolves who hide in the shadows and prey upon those who want to do nothing more than go to work and provide for their families.
Today I mourn their passing, while at the same time praising the fact that men and women like this live among us.
I was proud to be a sheepdog. Retired in ’07 after 29 yrs. It tears me up to see how LE is now treated in this country. BUT, the thin blue line still holds.
National Police Week is not only about officers killed in the line of duty. Many of the listed officers died of natural causes or through negligence. Some are not recognized as police officers at all in most states, such as the Texas correctional officers who died when their van ran off a road. Others gave their lives while enforcing the law or protecting others from harm. My point is this: National Police Week is a week to honor all police officers for doing the work they do. JFK signed the proclamation in 1962. A link to it is attached but I believe this paragraph from the proclamation really sums it up: “Whereas it is fitting and proper that we express our gratitude for the dedicated service and courageous deeds of law enforcement officers and for the contributions they have made to the security and well-being of all our people….”
So, thank you our former police officers across the country but, most especially, those who are part of the TAH community.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=24099
Without a doubt the most moving event I’ve ever attended. I was Vietnam era, but was on submarines so never saw combat. But I was a street cop for 22 years and lost several friends. It brings me to tears right now remembering standing among thousands of other officers at the candlelight vigil and hearing the name of a fallen partner called out, someone I laughed with, went on dangerous calls with, someone I considered a brother.
All officers should try and make the pilgrimage to Police Week at least once in their career.
I have a friend who is heavily involved at the national level making sure that Police Week goes off without a hitch. He loves the fact that he gets to honor his fellow police officers, and it’s a reminder to all of us that the guys in the blue uniforms are putting their lives on the line every time they leave the house.
You’re exactly right, Bobo.
In the military, we routinely trained for combat operations, but we were always relatively sure that we wouldn’t be put into a combat situation until we were forward deployed somewhere in harm’s way.
However, Our Brothers in Blue have the potential to be in a combat situation every single day when they report to work, and it can start at any time during their shift.
I have the highest respect for our LEOs. They perform an extremely difficult job with courage, honor, and professionalism in an unforgiving hostile environment on behalf of an often thankless citizenry.
God bless every one of them.
And on the other side of the coin at Dartmouth in New Hampshire, BLM’s tore up the exhibit the college had for the week saying it represented institutionalized oppression or genocide or some such bullshit. I suspect even through the school knows who did it (one name was even published) they will do nothing.
A friend rode the Police Unity Tour this year. As they passed through the Washington Heights area of D.C., the riders were greeted with shouts of “Fuck the Police”. One denizen even threw a bottle at them.
Fortunately, it was early in the day, so not many of the dindu nuffins were awake.
I hope to make it to the events next year.
RIP brave souls. I did that job for a little over 12 years. Lost several friends all over SC.
Lord knows I don’t always agree with LEO tactics and behavior, but I would never lower myself to disrespect any of them. Praise be the sheepdogs!!!
The Medal of Valor is being awarded to 13 Public Safety Officers today.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/05/13/advisory-president-obama-award-medals-valor
I am forever grateful for the Public Safety Officers that protect my community and our nation.
Congraulations to every one of them, but I don’t think that, if I received one, I would let our douchebag President touch me. He has proven with his actions that he is no fan of the police.
My older brother, who also served in Vietnam. Served as a city policeman was shot in the head by a drunk in a bar. He survived, but was never the same. He died while in his early fifties. Such a waste. Being a cop gets harder all the time.