Line-of-Duty Death (LODD)
Since its inception in 1997, the Police Unity Tour has donated more than $33 million to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
A compelling look into the stark realities faced by rural police officers through a rigorous five-year data collection effort
Molly Winters’ journey with C.O.P.S. as a widow of a fallen LEO showcases her transformation from tragedy to advocacy, highlighting the organization’s role in her life
Detective Bryan Van Brunt died in 2019 after suffering “profound PTSD” related to his undercover work; six years later, he was honored on the PD’s memorial wall in a special ceremony
“Captain [James] Myers provided ‘service above self’ to the Orangeburg community for over a quarter of a century,” his obituary reads; Myers was killed by Mikal Mahdi in 2004
Wood County Deputy Melissa Pollard was fatally injured when she hit the truck from behind in her cruiser
The man fled a traffic stop, drove through two red lights and smashed into the passenger side of Hartford Police Officer Robert “Bobby” Garten’s cruiser
Detective Joseph Azcona was shot before exiting his car; the shooter and another officer were also wounded in the gun battle
Just 25 to 30 seconds after arriving, Walton County Deputy Will May was shot multiple times during a call to escort a man out of a store
“In my professional opinion, the gentleman should never have been out of jail,” Marysville Police Chief Christian Sachs said. “And yet here we are”
Sacramento Officer Tara O’Sullivan was shot and left critically wounded while Adel Ramos continued firing at police, preventing rescue efforts for nearly an hour
Mikal Mahdi was sentenced to death for the 2004 killing of Orangeburg Officer James Myers, whom he ambushed and shot at least eight times
A multi-agency SWAT team was working to serve more than 20 search warrants when a suspect began to fire at officers; Marysville Officer Osmar Rodarte was fatally wounded
“Sergeant [Ryan] Kenedy was universally loved by everyone he worked with, and his passing is an immeasurable loss,” the King City Police Department stated
Man sentenced to 45 years for ramming cruiser, killing Fla. deputy hours before he was set to retire
The man swerved across several lanes with his car’s gas pedal fully depressed, striking the driver’s side of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian LaVigne’s cruiser
Sgt. Grant Candies, a nine-year veteran of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, was married with two children
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr., a six-year law enforcement veteran, was described as a dedicated officer and father
Pelletier had served 11 years with the state, and was vested in his pension; however, the funds are currently inaccessible to his widow because he did not reach retirement age
Antoine Fielder had already been charged with two other killings before overpowering and fatally shooting Wyandotte County Deputies Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer
The man was originally sentenced to death in 2016, but the ruling was overturned on appeal due to changes in Florida’s death penalty laws; in Sept. 2024, a jury voted 9-3 in favor of execution
Newark Police Department Officer Joseph Anthony Azcona was shot to death while investigating illegal gun activity; a 14-year-old is suspected in the killing
Officers faced historic challenges during the pandemic, with many falling ill in the line of duty; NLEOMF has formally recognized COVID-19 as a line-of-duty death
Antoine R. Fielder pleaded guilty in exchange for a life sentence, avoiding the death penalty for killing Wyandotte County Deputies Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer
Detective Joseph Azcona, 25, was shot before he could even step out of his vehicle, said Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda
The second officer is hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said
The man will be deported after serving his sentence for running away after crushing Pinellas County Deputy Michael Hartwick with a front-end loader
Former St. Paul police officer Felicia Reilly was responding to a call at a home when a suspect knocked her to the ground and assaulted her
Among the speakers at Saturday’s memorial service was Officer Cameron Girvin’s wife, Jessica, who is expecting the couple’s first child in August
“Andrew’s last physical act on the face of this earth was to run back towards the threat area,” dragging the other officer to safety and holding his hand in comfort, West York Police Chief Matthew Millsaps said
Texas union calls judge setting bond for men accused of killing deputy ‘disgraceful’ as 1 posts bail
After granting bond to one suspect in Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda’s murder, Judge Hilary Unger set a $3 million bond for the second suspect
“Deputy Byrd was one of our own, and we have never stopped working to ensure justice is served,” Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe said
Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, 34, a nine-year veteran of the Connecticut State Police, was working overtime on a traffic enforcement detail when he was struck and killed
John Lee McCoy III, who previously served time for drug trafficking, shot Officers Christopher Reese and Cameron Girvin before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound
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