Police Heroes
Police heroes come in many forms. On the Police Heroes topic page, we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the mission to protect their communities.
Kiara Badalamente, daughter of retired NYPD officer Joe Badalamente, reflects on how her work with 9/11 survivors has profoundly shaped her outlook on life and resilience
Seeing the brave first responders on Sept. 11, 2001, showed me what I wanted to be when I grew up
With 24 years in policing, Isabel McDonald brings the compassion, dedication and empathy of a former funeral service director to her role as a K-9 officer and peer support advocate
The troopers, identified as Michael Abbate and Alberto Felix, were both husbands and fathers
“Sgt. Ashley Harkins swiftly and skillfully climbed over the safety fence, putting herself in a perilous position on the narrow ledge above the chilly, flowing river,” State Police wrote in a statement
“Bane did a wonderful job working for us. I cannot explain enough how much Bane did for this community,” said Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter
“You have to take what you have within your training and your plans and improvise — kind of call an audible and put it to work,” said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia
Lt. Thomas Kelly and another officer were shot while executing a search warrant in 2010
“I heard [my father’s] stories growing up and saw how much impact it had … I wanted the same thing,” Officer Calyn Dausch said
“I wanted to tell (Joel) ‘Thank you’ and that I appreciated the painting,” K-9 Rico’s handler Special Agent Richard Hunton said
Detectives Sean Stumpf and Mike Slatcoff were honored for their actions during a manhunt for the fugitive who killed Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire
A mural was painted in the officers’ honor by American painter Steve Penley
Det. James Michael “Mike” Lett was a military veteran and had served in law enforcement for 30 years
Deputy Lucas Watts was shot in the head by a suspect who has since been arrested
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott accepts award on behalf of the men and women of the Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department
“If not for the heroics and sacrifice of Bradley Haas ... [and] the unflinching response of New Hampshire State Police, this tragedy could have been much, much worse,” Gov. Chris Sununu said
Body camera footage from the October incident shows the officer moving toward the car as explosions erupt
Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Bane was released into the drain to help arrest a robbery and domestic violence suspect
Three deputies with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office pulled a driver out of the car, which was “fully engulfed in flames”
“That was the scariest moment of my life,” Deputy Manuel Santos said
Officer Mia Goodwin was struck and killed by a vehicle in 2021 as she and other officers worked to close a highway
“Everything about what he did, he was being so genuine. It was easy to have someone to talk to there,” Trooper Josh Osche said
Officer J. Gibson was shot in the leg by a suspected carjacker; the good Samaritan saw the officer needed help and pulled him to safety
“It’s a pretty unusual, pretty eventful series of events,” Officer Vinny Brown said. “Both of those situations don’t happen for a game warden, that is for sure”
The move will put more officers on patrol, saving the department in officer overtime pay
In previous years, the Harper Toy Drive has donated more than 1,000 toys to children receiving cancer treatment at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
Officer Ohavyah Soto saw the suspect in a restaurant while she was out with friends; she pursued him, allowing other officers to make the arrest
Officer Tiffany Wood suffered numerous broken bones and a head injury, but says the positivity of her supporters is helping her recover quickly
Officers Jonathan Valle and David Carnarte rescued the man with the help of a good Samaritan
Deputy Scott Pracht responded to a 911 call from a boy who just wanted to hug an officer
The man, in his 70s, was changing the transmission cable on a car when one of the jacks gave out
“We’re just incredibly grateful,” the woman said. “It was just a pure blessing that they were there”
Tyler Moldovan was not expected to survive his injuries, but has made a “miraculous” recovery
MOST POPULAR
- Mich. State Police motor carrier officer dies days after crash
- Police Week poem: ‘Between the Monsters and the Weak’
- Watch: 36th Candlelight Vigil honors 282 fallen LEOs during National Police Week
- ‘Be strong’: SFPD officer recounts rushing to aid NFL player wounded in shooting until help arrived
- Why one cop carries 145 rounds of ammo on the job