Veterans' Day 2009

 "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." ~ Elmer Davis

Thank you to the brave men and women of America's Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard who have served or who are serving so that we may continue to be free.

Memorial Day 2009 - A Tribute to Canterbury Veterans

This past Friday I had occasion to be up in my hometown of Canterbury and after finding my mother not at home, I decided to stop by the cemetery where my father is buried and see how things looked for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

Carey Cemetery, established in 1750, has been the "family cemetery" for as long as I can remember and was strategically located between my grandfather's house and my Aunt Eleanor's house. If one were to walk from one house to the other, you had to go right past Carey Cemetery wherein was buried my mother's mother who died the year I was born, my mother's oldest brother who came home with strep throat one day and was dead the next at age 9, as well as other relatives that I had never met.

In later years Carey also became the final resting place of my beloved grandfather, two more uncles who died way too young, and other relatives and family friends. In 2003, it also became the last stop for my father when he succumbed to the non-Hodgkins' lymphoma that he had contracted as a result of exposure to Agent Orange during his tour in Danang, Vietnam in 1967-1968. My Dad's grave is through those gates pictured above and nearby are the graves of five other veterans; it makes me think my Dad is in good company.

After spending some time at my Dad's grave, I decided to take a walk through the rest of the cemetery and check out the graves of the other veterans whose brand-new flags flapped in the breeze and marked the spots where their physical remains reposed. At Carey Cemetery there are veterans from the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War as well as seven wars in between and as I stopped at each grave, I thanked each person for their service to our country and their role in keeping our country free.

As I walked amongst the gravestones, I noticed that the majority of the veterans are from the Civil War era which somehow seems appropriate being that Memorial Day originated from the observance of a national Decoration Day to honor those who had died in that war. The first official Decoration Day was held on May 30th, 1868 as proclaimed by General John Alexander Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic (a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army who had served in the American Civil War). If you're interested in reading more about how Memorial Day came about, I did a post last year that explains it in more detail.

It appears that the small town of Canterbury (with a population of approximately 1,700 in the 1860's) sent more than its fair share of men to fight in the War of Northern Aggression (as Miss Bee likes to call it). Even if you didn't know the number of men who died fighting to keep the Union as one - best estimates put the total deaths at 620,000 - you would know that it was a large amount just by the number of graves belonging to Civil War soldiers in Carey Cemetery.

Of the Civil War veterans, there are five graves of soldiers who died on September 17th, 1862 at the Battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, Maryland. Antietam was the first major battle to be fought on Northern soil and, with approximately 23,000 causalities, it was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. More Americans died on September 17th, 1862 than on any other day in our nation's military history; five of whom lie beneath the soil of Carey Cemetery.

Naturally I had my camera with me so I decided that as a tribute to the veterans whose graves I visited while walking through Carey Cemetery, I would take a picture of their grave markers and then put them all in a slideshow to honor their service to our country. It seemed like the least I could do for all that they had done for myself and all other Americans who enjoy the freedoms that we so often take for granted.


If you haven't done so yet, please remember to thank a veteran for his or her service to our country. Memorial Day is set aside to remember those veterans who died but wouldn't it be nice to acknowledge them while they're still alive and can hear your thanks? I'd like to think so!

Tragedy Strikes in Oakland, California Over the Weekend

Some of you may have noticed that I have not been doing Line of Duty Death posts for law enforcement officers this year - most of you may not. I did the posts all during last year to honor those officers who gave their all for their communities as well as to bring attention to the fact that good men and women were being killed right here in our own backyards simply doing the jobs whose oaths they took. The problem though was that with 140 officers becoming statistics last year, I have to admit that it got to be kind of depressing and I decided not to write the posts this year.

Just because I'm not writing the posts, though, doesn't mean I haven't been paying attention and no longer get the emails advising me every time there is a Line of a Duty Death. I have and I do and I say a prayer for each officer and his or her family every time I get one. Not writing about it doesn't make it go away as brave men and women are still losing their lives way too frequently fighting the battle against crime right here in America.

As I was watching the news at work Sunday morning, my heart skipped a beat when a story came on about three law enforcement officers in California who were killed Saturday with a fourth barely hanging on. Naturally the lead-in didn't say where in California and I think I held my breath until it was revealed that the shootings had occurred in Oakland - which is still way too close to Stockton for my liking. As a lot of you know, there are people I know in Stockton who are in law enforcement that I still worry about and Stockton isn't exactly one of those places where crime is on the decrease. Unfortunately.

Saturday's shootings were among the deadliest in California history and began when two motorcycle officers attempted to pull over a 1995 Buick on a routine traffic stop at approximately 1:00 p.m. near the Eastmont Town Center in East Oakland. The operator of the vehicle, a parolee who was wanted on a no-bail arrest warrant for violating parole on a previous assault with a deadly weapon conviction, opened fire on the two officers killing one and gravely wounding another.

Following the shooting of the motorcycle officers, the 27-year old suspect fled on foot and a massive manhunt ensued conducted by members of the Oakland Police Department, the Alameda Sheriff's Department, and the California Highway Patrol. The suspect was located approximately two hours later after a tip led officers to an apartment building just blocks away from a police substation in East Oakland. As heavily armed SWAT Team Members descended upon the apartment to take the suspect into custody, two more police officers were shot dead inside the apartment with an assault weapon.

A fifth officer, whom police did not identify, was grazed by a bullet; he was treated and later released from a local hospital. The gunman was also killed in the shoot-out that was described by some as a "Wild West" scene.

Acting Police Chief Howard Jordan identified the slain officers as: Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, of Tracy, who was killed during the traffic stop; and Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, of Danville, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35, of Castro Valley, both members of the SWAT Team that were killed at the apartment where the gunman was holed up. Dunakin was with the department since 1991, Romans since 1996 and Sakai since 2000.

A police spokesman said a fourth officer, 41-year-old Officer John Hege of Concord, was pronounced brain dead but was still on life support Sunday afternoon pending organ donation arrangements. Officer Hege, shot during the course of the first traffic stop, had been with the Oakland Police Department since 1999.

"This is probably one of the worst incidents that has ever taken place in the history of the Oakland police department," said Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason. The deaths of officers are nothing new in Oakland, though; the memorial wall in the Oakland Police headquarters shows that at least 47 officers died before Saturday with the last officer killed in Oakland in 2004 when William Seuis, 39, died in a hit-and-run crash. The department has been in operation since 1867.

Tension between the police and citizens has been running high since the shooting death of a 22-year old unarmed man in January by a Bay Area Rapid Transit officer at an Oakland train station. A preliminary hearing was set for today for the former officer who has pleaded not guilty to murder charges but has been delayed to May 18th due to the weekend's shooting deaths.

Tension aside, this weekend was horribly tragic for not only the families of the slain officers but also for their fellow officers from all over the State and for the citizens of Oakland themselves who find themselves living in a pressure cooker.

"In these moments, words are extraordinarily inadequate," Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums told reporters at a news conference Saturday night at Oakland police headquarters. "We come together in shock, in grief, in sadness and sorrow. Our hearts go out to the officers' families who are experiencing a level of tragedy that goes beyond our ability to comprehend."

"These folks leave their homes in the morning, with every expectation of returning," Dellums said, "but they did not." And they never will again.

My heart goes out to the families, friends, and colleagues of these four brave men who gave their all to the City of Oakland and the people they swore to protect and serve.

California Highway Patrol Officer Loses Life in Line of Duty Death

A Southern California Highway Patrol Officer was killed in the line of duty in the early morning hours on Monday, December 15th. Officer Joseph Sanders, 29, died when he was struck by a motor vehicle while attending to another traffic accident on the Pomona Freeway in Hacienda Heights.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:20 a.m. on a rain-soaked highway when two vehicles collided and one of them hit Officer Sanders as he set flares to direct traffic around an unrelated accident. Officer Sanders was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:25 a.m.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office announced Monday that flags will be flown at half-staff at the Capitol. "Maria and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Officer Joseph Sanders, who dedicated his life to ensuring public safety," Schwarzenegger said in a written statement. "California is a better place because of his service and his sacrifice will not be forgotten. On behalf of all Californians, we send our thoughts and prayers to Joseph's family, friends and fellow officers."

"These losses are tragic and we feel them deeply," said Capt. Dan Minor, who heads the Santa Fe Springs CHP office. "The members of my squad are very distraught. They lost a brother officer this morning."

Officer Sanders, a Marine Corps vet who had fought in Fallujah, Iraq, was a 14-month veteran of the California Highway Patrol serving out of the Santa Fe Springs Office. He is survived by his wife and three sons, ages 7, 3 and 10 months. His wife is pregnant with their fourth child.

Officer Sanders is the first CHP officer killed this year. He's also the 214th CHP officer to die in the line of duty since 1929.

Line of Duty Deaths Continue With Two More Motor-Vehicle Related Deaths

If it seems like I've been writing an awful lot of Line of Duty Death posts it's because I have been. As of this writing, there have been 122 brave men and women who have lost their lives in service to their communities with 56 of them involving some sort of motor vehicle whether it be an accident or assault just like the two officers in this post.

An early morning crash on Interstate 10 in New Orleans, Louisiana claimed the life of New Orleans Police Department Reserve Officer Curtis Jones. At approximately 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 29th, as he was returning from duty at the Superdome, Officer Jones' patrol car left the roadway, traveled about 150 feet across the grass, and struck a tree. Officer Jones, 74, was treated at Northshore Hospital, but died from injuries he received in the crash.

An army veteran who joined when he was 18 and served for 25 years, including action in Vietnam, Officer Jones put down roots in New Orleans and started a new career in primary school education upon his retirement from the Army. He began his teaching career at Helen S. Edwards Elementary School then went on to become an assistant principal at Bienville Elementary School and principal of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School, both in New Orleans.

Jones began a third career as a police officer around 1990, serving in the NOPD's 6th District where he served as a Reserve Officer until the time of his death. He did it because "that's what he loved doing: giving his time, no matter what," said his wife of 21 years, Brenda. "If someone asked him to do something, he would never turn away," she said. "There was a lady on the street . . . she lived under the highway. He would buy her food, check on her. He loved it, helping people."

In addition to his wife, Officer Jones is survived by two children from a previous marriage.

A San Antonio, Texas police officer who was injured in the line of duty on Friday, November 28th, succumbed to his wounds on Monday, December 1st, after his family disconnected his life support equipment.

Police Officer Robert Davis was injured while clearing roadway flares at the scene of a traffic accident around 7:30 p.m. Friday night when another San Antonio Police Officer, who was driving his patrol car to a shoplifting call, struck another car causing it to spin out of control. The officer's car veered to the right and struck Officer Davis who was pinned beneath his colleague's patrol car. Both officers were transported to the hospital with multiple injuries as was the civilian whose car was struck.

The accident was made especially tragic as the relatively new officers, who graduated from the police academy almost exactly one year ago, are close friends who would do anything to ensure each other's safety. "On any given day, they would have sacrificed themselves for each other," said Mike Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association.

Officer Davis, age 26, is survived by his wife and a department that is stunned by the incident.

Motor Vehicle Accidents Claim Three More Law Enforcement Lives

Shortly before 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, November 22nd, Hollywood Police Officer Alex Del Rio was on traffic enforcement duty in his Florida town when he was killed in a line of duty accident that happened when his cruiser slammed rear-first into a tree. Witnesses said he may have been following a speeder on the wide-open, six-lane divided road and swerved to avoid hitting a taxi cab when the accident occurred.

Officer Del Rio, 31, joined the Hollywood police force in 1996, at age 19, as a part-time community service officer. At 22, he became a sworn police officer. He wore badge number 2513, working patrol, special operations and -- his favorite -- traffic enforcement.

"He was a beautiful human being," Hollywood Police Chief Chadwick Wagner said. "And I am blessed and proud to have known him."

Officer Del Rio, who was born in Miami and lived in Hollywood, leaves behind his mother, Miriam Fernandez; his father, Alejandro Del Rio; and two sisters. His uncle Saul Fernandez, a Sweetwater police officer, recalled a nephew who even as an adult sat with the children, not the adults, at Thanksgiving dinner, "He always expressed how much he loved you -- a reflection of his mom and dad," Fernandez said.

"To know Alex is to love Alex," said his stepfather, Ron Koger. "You didn't have a choice."

Monroe County Traffic Enforcement Deputy Nick Pham died in a collision with a tractor-trailer while apparently making a U-turn to chase a vehicle violating a traffic law in the Florida Keys on Wednesday, November 26th.

The accident, which occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. on the busiest traffic day of the year, happened when Deputy Pham u-turned directly in front of a 2007 Freightliner 18-wheeler which had no time to stop and slammed squarely into the driver's side of the 2008 Dodge Charger he was operating. Witnesses say the officer may have been pursuing a vehicle when he crashed with the tractor-trailer.

Sheriff Rick Roth said Pham was a ''great officer who was doing his job.'' Roth had recently given Pham an award for providing lifesaving CPR to another deputy who had suffered a seizure.

Capt. Bob Peryam, who was elected sheriff earlier this month to replace retiring Roth, said of Pham: "Boy, I will tell you he was one of the best. He had the highest regard for honesty, integrity and professionalism.''

Deputy Pham had worked for the sheriff’s office since September 15, 2004 where he was initially assigned to road patrol in the Upper Keys in Sector 7 — the Key Largo area. In July of 2006 he transferred to the Traffic Enforcement Division, working traffic enforcement countywide. He had previously worked for the Florida City Police Department and the Dade Correctional Institution. Deputy Jason Keith, a close friend of Deputy Pham, said that his friend was planning to transfer to the Miami-Dade Police Department to be able to work closer to his home.

The 38-year old native of Hawaii leaves behind his wife Jackey and several children.

An East Texas Sheriff was killed in the line of duty early Thanksgiving morning as he was pursuing a suspect involved in a disturbance. The accident occurred around 4:20 a.m. when Sheriff Brent Lee lost control of his 2006 Ford Crown Victoria which veered off a left hand turn and struck a power pole. Sheriff Lee was ejected from the burning vehicle and died on scene according to a spokesman with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Sheriff Lee was elected for a term that begins January 1st, but he was sworn in this summer following the outgoing sheriff's resignation. Walker County Sheriff Clint McRae said, "We have already seen some positive reflection of his action and his department. He has done an excellent job and we're truly gonna miss him."

Angelina County Sheriff Kent Henson reflected, "You couldn't ask for a nicer person. He always had a smile on his face and that's one thing I'll remember him by is that smile. He was always willing to go an extra mile to help everybody out."

The son of a former Trinity County sheriff, Sheriff Lee, age 58, was a former state corrections officer and former Livingston police officer for the last thirty years working for the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission, retiring as a lieutenant out of the Lufkin office. He leaves behind his wife and three grown children.

The FBI Loses an Agent in a Line of Duty Death in Pennsylvania

An agent with the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was shot and killed while executing a federal search warrant associated with "a violent drug distribution ring" on Wednesday, November 19th. The wife of an alleged drug dealer has been charged with the killing and is in custody while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is being conducted.

Special Agent Samuel Hicks was accompanied by other members of a multijurisdictional anti-drug task force that was rounding up suspected traffickers in the Pittsburgh area around 6 a.m. when the shooting occurred. The team announced itself as police before smashing in the front door at a home in Indian Township. A bullet was fired from the upstairs of the house striking Agent Hicks in the shoulder. Agents and officers pulled him out of the house and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation but he later died at an area hospital due to blood loss from the wound.

"This is the most tragic information you can relay to any spouse, child, parent or colleague," said Michael Rodriguez, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh office. "He served with honor and bravery and will be greatly missed by his colleagues here in Pittsburgh and throughout the FBI."

Agent Hicks had been with the FBI since March of 2007 and was assigned to the Pittsburgh Office in July of that year. A native of western Pennsylvania, Agent Hicks taught school for a time in Maryland before joining the Baltimore Police Department in June of 2002. He served there until February of 2007 when he left to become an FBI agent.

Emily Hicks said that if there were any consolation to the tragedy, it was that her 33-year-old brother "died doing a job he loved."

Agent Hicks, who would have turned 34 on Thanksgiving Day, is survived by his wife, Brooke, with whom he just celebrated his 5th wedding anniversary two weeks ago, and his son Noah who turned two in August.

"The biggest tragedy in this is there is someone, she's 28 and she's a widow. She has got a son that is going to be heartbroken," said Angela Hohman, Agent Hicks' sister-in-law.

Two More Line of Duty Deaths Claim Lives of Arkansas and Pennsylvania Officers

A helicopter crash on Sunday claimed the life of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Sergeant Monty Carmikle, a passenger in an AGFC helicopter that was searching for possible night-hunters.

The crash of the Vietnam-era helicopter, a Bell OH-58, occurred around 1:00 a.m. in Cleburne County as Sergeant Carmikle, age 45, and the contract pilot, Jerry Fryar of Ozark, attempted to head off violators who were 'jack-lighting' deer in a field. The pilot was taken to a hospital where his injuries were not considered life-threatening.

“It’s my understanding they (Carmikle and Fryar) actually saw some headlights, and they were going down to try to see where they could head these guys off before they got out of the woods,” AGFC Spokesman Keith Stephens said. The crash, which occurred in a cow pasture about 60 miles north of Little Rock, is under investigation by both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

AGFC wildlife officer Major Mike Knoedl, said that the entire agency is deeply saddened by the death. "Being a wildlife officer is a very dangerous job. We're trained for just about everything, but in this instance it was out of the officer's control," he said.

Segeant Carmikle, who is survived by his wife and son, had been with the state agency since the summer of 1985 working the Cleburne County area as a wildlife officer and on the AGFC Dive Team for many years. He was the first wildlife officer to die in the line of duty since two officers died in a plane crash in the 1970s.

The fourth Philadelphia police officer to die in the Line of Duty in 2008 was killed on Monday, November 17th, following a dramatic two-vehicle crash involving a suspected drunk driver. Sergeant Timothy Simpson died at Temple University Hospital at approximately 11:55 p.m., where he had been rushed in critical condition following the 10:30 p.m. collision in the Port Richmond section of the city.

Sergeant Simpson was responding to a robbery call when his police cruiser was slammed on the passenger's side by a Chevrolet Camaro driven by a convicted felon from Levittown with illegal drugs in his pockets. The suspect, who has a long arrest record, was being chased by another patrol car after running a red light before the crash which was so violent that it rocketed the cruiser into a nearby building and slammed the other car into a light stand. Both vehicles were demolished and it took furious efforts by rescuers to pull the officer from his squad car as well as two civilians from the other vehicle.

Only hours before he died, Sergeant Simpson had received an award for outstanding service as Superintendant of the Month from his commanding officer in the 24th District. Sergeant Simpson's other honors included a heroism award, four merit awards and a letter of commendation.

This past May, Sergeant Simpson's former partner, Sergeant Stephen Liczbinski, was gunned down following a bank robbery and Sergeant Simpson was briefly in the public eye following the five-day man hunt for the suspect when he formally arrested the accused bank robber wanted in connection with the death of his former partner and friend. Following police tradition, Sergeant Simpson placed Sergeant Liczbinski's handcuffs on the suspect, who later confessed to the bank robbery but denied shooting Sergeant Liczbinski, before leading him to a 24th district police wagon.

Following his death, Sergeant Simpson was named supervisor of Sergeant Liczbinski's unit. Captain Kevin Hodges of the 24th Police District told reporters, "I had to make the tough decision of who was going to go in Steve's position in 2 Squad. I chose Timmy Simpson because he was a strong leader, a great cop, and an excellent supervisor." Captain Hodges said Simpson belonged to an old school when it comes to policing. "We would have taken this job for 10 cents ... because we loved it. It wasn't a job or a career for us - it was truly a life's calling ... and Timmy embodied that."

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said Simpson was "An excellent sergeant, excellent police officer. You can't say enough good things about him." Echoing Commissioner Ramsey's sentiments, Philadelphia Mayor Nutter said, "He was a good officer trying to do his duty."

A 20-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department who celebrated that milestone just this last Friday, Sergeant Simpson, age 46, is survived by his wife Cathy, their 11-year-old daughter, and 15-year-old twins - a son and daughter - as well as a brother who is also on the force.

Utah & California Officers Mourned as Line of Duty Deaths

Police Officer Charles Skinner of the North Salt Lake Police Department, Utah died on Friday, November 7th, as a result of injuries received in a crash earlier in the week. Officer Skinner, 30, suffered head injuries after his police cruiser skidded on a rain-slick road and slammed into a sign post while pursuing an alleged car thief at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Monday, November 3rd.

Officer Skinner was transported to the hospital in critical condition with massive head injuries. Doctors performed several surgeries but the 5-month member of North Salt Lake Police Department never regained consciousness and his family decided to take him off of life support on Friday night.

A former member of the Salt Lake City Police Department, Officer Skinner and his wife Kaitlyn had bought a house and welcomed two children into their lives - twins, a boy and a girl, who were born just four weeks ago.

Officer Skinner is the first officer of the North Salt Lake Police Department to die in the line of duty. "It's hard," North Salt Lake Police Sgt. Mitch Gwilliam said Monday. "It's a small department."

Officer Skinner's father-in-law, Sgt. Gary Koehn of the Bountiful Police Department, said "Our family will grieve this loss for years to come, but we will continue to honor his memory for his children, and they will always know their dad was a great man, a respected police officer, and a hero."

"We are so fortunate to have been blessed to have Charlie in our lives," Koehn said. "He told my daughter just a week ago that he felt like he had the perfect life. They had just purchased a home, just had the two twins, and he was doing what he loved."

In California, Deputy Sheriff Lawrence Canfield, a 43-year-old Sacramento County sheriff's deputy, succumbed to injuries sustained in a traffic accident on Wednesday, November 12th, in the town of Rancho Cordova .

The collision occurred around 2:00 p.m. as he was traveling with lights and sirens activated attempting to overtake a speeder when a vehicle turned in front of him. The accident took place just 50 feet away from the site of a similar wreck that happened three years ago involving a Sacramento County officer who spent two months in the hospital recovering from injuries. Witnesses called 911 to report that an officer hat been hit and several motorists stopped to aid the fallen officer until emergency officials arrived. Deputy Canfield was transported to San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael where he was pronounced dead approximately two hours after the crash.

Deputy Canfield, who had been assigned to the Rancho Cordova Police Department's motorcycle unit for four years, was a 13-year veteran of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff John McGinness, a personal friend of the deputy's father who is a retired sheriff's sergeant, called the accident "a horrible, horrible tragic loss" that "goes like waves through the department and I'll tell you, through the whole law enforcement community."

Sheriff McGinness described Deputy Canfield, who had also served in the U.S. Army, as "a very, very outgoing, personable, happy sort of guy. He absolutely loved what he did," McGinness said. "We know this job is not without its risks."

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to our officers and their families," said Chief Reuben Meeks of the Rancho Cordova Police Department.

Deputy Canfield is survived by his wife and two children both under the age of ten as well as his parents, and extended family

Line of Duty Death Toll Continues to Rise With Four More Fallen Officers

A 25-year veteran of the University City Police Department in Missouri was killed in the line of duty on Friday, October 31st, as he sat in his patrol car at an intersection in a suburb of St. Louis. Sergeant Michael King, 50, died late Friday night after being shot in University City 's popular University City Loop area after a male suspect approached on foot and shot him several times. The suspect, a known drug dealer, was still at large at the time of this writing.

Prior to joining the University City department, Sergeant King served as a St. Charles sheriff's deputy and a probation and parole officer. He often mentored new officers and was formerly a field training officer and detective in the Investigations Division at University City . "Our hearts and prays go out to his family, University Police Chief Charles Adams said. "We're at a loss, just like they are. He was an extremely good officer, very dedicated and always did a great job. He was a very professional policeman and he loved being a policeman."

Sergeant King is survived by his wife Susan.

On Saturday, November 1st, Police Officer Frank Russo of the Schaumburg Police Department in Illinois died while working a day-off duty assignment at a local nightclub following a struggle with two suspects that had fled the club after being involved in a disturbance.

As Officer Russo and another officer began to struggle with the men, he collapsed and his partner immediately called for assistance. Officer Russo was transported to Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk Grove Village , Illinois where he was pronounced dead a short time later of natural causes related to obesity.

Sgt John Nebal of the Schaumburg Police Department said that Officer Russo, 47, struggled to keep his weight down, but that it never hampered his police work and was never a source of concern around the department. "He was a big boy, but he always did his job without fail," said Nebl, who worked with Russo for more than a decade. "He was a phenomenal guy and he had an excellent sense of humor. He was a veteran, but he was still spunky and aggressive. If he needed to track down a suspect, he just did it."

Officer Russo, a 19-year veteran of the department, is survived by his wife, son, daughter, sister, and his parents.

South Strabane Township Police Officer Nathaniel Burnfield, 27, was struck and killed by a dump truck on Interstate 70 near Bentleyville , Pennsylvania Tuesday afternoon while trying to move debris from the roadway following an accident between a tire that was in the roadway and a double tractor-trailer belonging to UPS.

Officer Burnfield and two other officers had come upon the accident on their way back from a class and pulled over to assist. Officer Burnfield was attempting to remove the tire that had caused the accident from the roadway when an oncoming tri-axle dump truck carrying rocks swerved to avoid Officer Burnfield's police cruiser that was blocking the scene. The truck struck Officer Burnfield as he tried to get out of the roadway before striking the UPS tractor-trailer and overturning. The 44-year old driver of the truck also died at the scene of the accident.

"To try to move something off the road that could possibly hurt someone else, that's Nate, that's what he did," said Mayor Mark Pacilla, of East Washington .

"Nate was dedicated to public service, we're going to miss him," said South Strabane Police Chief Don Zofchak.

Officer Burnfield, a 5-year veteran of the South Strabane Township Police Department, was also a volunteer firefighter in Canton Township and a part-time officer in East Washington . He is survived by his parents and two older brothers.

A Chicago Police Detective who was shot in the line of duty seven years ago while leading an FBI Task Force at the home of bank robbery suspect, succumbed to his injuries on November 4th.

Detective Joseph Airhart, Jr. was shot in the head on August 24th, 2001, as he posed as a delivery man at the Southside apartment of the suspect when an intense gun battle erupted. The suspect took the wounded officer hostage following the shooting; he was finally rescued after over two hours of negotiations. The suspect was arrested and sentenced in February 2006 to life in prison plus an additional 132 years on 15 felony charges including two counts of attempted murder.

Detective Airhart suffered severe brain injuries and was left unable to walk, feed himself, or breathe without the assistance of a ventilator as a result of the shooting which left him in a coma for two months before he recovered enough to communicate by blinking. He was pronounced dead at 12:50 p.m. on November 4th at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago , according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. An autopsy found he died of bronchial pneumonia as a result of the gunshot wound to the head and his death was ruled a homicide.

Retired Chicago police officer Len Bajenski, Detective Airhart's partner on the force for five years, mourned his loss. "I lost a close friend," said Bajenski, "The world lost a great kid."

A 19-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department at the time of the shooting, Detective Airhart, 53, was a 25-year veteran of the police department at the time of his death. He is survived by his brother and two sisters.

Honoring Fallen Officers in Virginia and Arizona

Second Lieutenant Frank Stecco of the Fairfax County Police Department drowned on Tuesday, October 21st, while participating in a helicopter water rescue training scenario around 3:00 p.m.

Lt. Stecco had entered the waters of Pohick Bay wearing only a dry suit to role-play a victim but failed to resurface. An intense round-the-clock search was immediately launched but Lt. Stecco's body wasn't recovered until approximately 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, October 25th. According to police, the murky waters and make-up of the bottom of the bay made the search particularly difficult. Divers likened the search to dropping a quarter on a football field and attempting to find it by hand.

Colonel David Rohrer, Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department, confirmed the recovery saying, "My heart goes out to Frank's family; my heart goes out to his police family; and my heart goes out to the community Frank worked in and loved."

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and 19-year veteran of the department, Lt. Stecco spent 11 of those 19 years assigned to the Mount Vernon District station where Chief Rohrer said Lt. Stecco was a highly decorated member of the department; he was awarded a Silver Medal of Valor in 1994, a Bronze Medal of Valor in 1997, and a Certificate of Valor by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce in 2000 for acts of bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

Fueled by his passion and dedication for serving the children and teenagers of the county just one month ago before his untimely death, Lt. Stecco opted to leave the Mount Vernon district and join the Fairfax County Police Department's Youth Services Division

Lt. Stecco, 42, leaves behind his wife, their three children, and his mother.

A 25-year old Phoenix , Arizona police officer was killed early Saturday morning when his cruiser was struck by a vehicle that turned in front of him while he was responding to a "shots fired" call.

Officer Shane Figueroa was responding to a call west of downtown Phoenix at approximately 1:22 a.m. on October 25th when witnesses state that a small white pickup truck with two occupants turned left in front of his cruiser. The impact spun Figueroa's vehicle and sent it crashing into a block wall. He was pronounced dead at St. Joseph 's Hospital and Medical Center .

The vehicle was driven by an illegal immigrant who was also wanted on four separate warrants. "He told officers at the scene that he was in this country illegally. He was also suspected of being under the influence of alcohol," says Phoenix Police Sgt. Andy Hill. "He does have, in addition, four warrants for his arrest under another name, which he admitted were his."

"This is a tremendous loss, not only to Officer Figueroa's family, but to the Phoenix Police Department and the community," said Sgt. Hill.

"This is a tragedy, not just for us," Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris said. "We will do everything we possibly can to assist his family." Harris said four Phoenix police officers have died this month, either from illness or in the line of duty.

Officer Figueroa, who served less than three years with the Phoenix Police Department, is survived by wife and three-month old daughter in addition to his father, who is a retired officer from the Phoenix Police Department and currently serves as an officer in the town of Maricopa , and his father-in-law, a lieutenant with the Mesa Police Department.

Honoring Three More Line of Duty Deaths

A collision between an 18-wheeler and a state van on Friday, October 3rd, left a fiery, mangled heap on a rural highway in Alabama that killed six applicants for prison jobs along with their driver, Correctional Officer Rodney Kelley.

Alabama Prison System spokesman Brian Corbett said all seven aboard the van died as flames that rose from the twisted wreckage made it difficult for responders to cut into the overturned van to recover the bodies. The process took several hours, and towing company workers said the wreck was among the worst they'd seen. "The crash was horrendous enough, but the fire added to the tragedy," said Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, who went to the scene.

Former Eufaula High School principal, John Beasley, says he remembered Correctional Officer Kelley. age 36. "Rodney always had a great smile," he said. "He was one I took an interest in for some reason, but then lost track of him after school. I've seen him around often, and I always remember thinking to myself that he was one of the good ones in the world."

A Richmond police officer was taken off life support on Tuesday, October 7th, three days after he crashed his car on a rain-slicked road while answering another officer's call for help during an assault.

Police Officer Bradley Moody, an eight-year veteran, was headed north on Marina Bay Parkway at 8:05 a.m. Saturday when he lost control of his Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser and slammed sideways into a light pole near Regatta Boulevard, authorities said. Moody was declared brain-dead as a result of the crash.

Officer Moody died at 2:45 a.m. at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek , said Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan, a department spokesman. Moody's organs were donated to a man in San Francisco "who had 24 hours to live." "The last thing Brad did was to save a life," Gagan said.

Moody was a K-9 officer and SWAT team member whose dog, Rico, was in the car at the time of the crash. The dog is recovering from minor injuries.

"Brad was held in the highest regard by his peers," Police Chief Chris Magnus said in a statement. "His work ethic was extraordinary, and his commitment to the community of Richmond and his profession unparalleled. Needless to say, this is a very difficult time for RPD and Brad's many friends in the community."

Officer Moody, age 29, is survived by his wife, Susan, a former Richmond police dispatcher, and their two young children.

An Oconee County sheriff's deputy, Patrol Deputy David Gilstrap, died late Thursday, October 9th, after a car struck him as he directed morning traffic outside Oconee County Primary School.

Deputy Gilstrap was hit about 7:25 a.m. while standing in front of the school's Hog Mountain Road entrance, authorities said. The deputy was transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Athens where was pronounced dead at 10:25 p.m. after a period on life support.

The car's driver, a 62-year-old Watkinsville woman, has not been charged, pending the end of the investigation,

"This is devastating to the men and women who worked with David and appreciated the work he did," said Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry.

A 16-year veteran of law enforcement, Deputy Gilstrap, 49, joined the Oconee Sheriff's Office in 2005 after years as a deputy at the Clarke County Jail. He is survived by his wife Tammy, who is an executive assistant at the sheriff's office whom he married this year as well as his daughter, Mandi Jo.

September Ends With Two More Line of Duty Deaths

September was definitely one of the worst months of the year for fallen officers and even though I had hoped for otherwise, it didn't end before I received another email notifying me of two more line of duty deaths. Please join me in sending warm thoughts to the families of these two men who died protecting their communities.

Sergeant Robert Craig Douglas, a 19-year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department died on Sunday, September 28th, 2008 after he succumbed to injuries that he received in a motorcycle accident while on duty July 26th, 2003 when he was struck by a vehicle while riding his police motorcycle, police said. Sergeant Douglas was knocked from the motorcycle into the path of another vehicle which ran over him and had been in a coma ever since.

Sergeant Douglas graduated from the police academy and joined the police force in the spring of 1986. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in March of 1993. In November 1998, he transferred to the Solo Motorcycle Unit where he remained until the time of the accident.

During his career, he was commended for his role in working a security detail for President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and again in 1995 for his work after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.

Sergeant Douglas is survived by his wife Alycia; and their 6-year old son Bobby, along with his father and numerous friends at the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Chicago Police Officer Nathaniel Taylor Jr., known by his friends as "Nate," was killed by a convicted felon as officers attempted to execute a search warrant at the home of a Southeast Side drug suspect early Sunday, September 28th. Several officers were conducting surveillance and waiting to serve a warrant at a home when the suspect pulled up in a car, according to police. Several sources said the officers announced they were police, and the suspect opened fire striking Officer Taylor several times. Police fired back, striking the suspect who was a felon with an attempted murder conviction. Taylor, age 39, died about 6 p.m. Sunday at the hospital. He becomes the third Chicago officer to be killed since July.

Officer Taylor was assigned to investigate gang intelligence and was detailed to narcotics. "Their [narcotics officers’] work is very dangerous," said Monique Bond, a police spokeswoman. "You just don't know what to expect or what you're walking into."

Police sources said Taylor, a 14-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was a very “well liked, stand-up guy,” who went out of his way to give advice and self-defense tips to fellow officers. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Deadly Helicopter Crash Adds to Line of Duty Death Total

Sadly, my fervent wish that there would be no more Line of Duty deaths in September was not to be after a tragic crash of a Maryland State Police medical evacuation helicopter on Sunday, September 28th, claimed the lives of four people including two Maryland State Troopers, a Charles County emergency medical technician, and one of the two patients that were being transported from the scene of an accident in southern Maryland .

The crash occurred sometime after 12:30 a.m. in a park near Capitol Heights , Maryland when the medical helicopter encountered bad weather. A massive search for the helicopter was launched after air traffic controllers at Andrews Air Force Base lost radio contact with the crew; local, state, and federal authorities helped in the search. Using technology to track signal from the crew's cell phones, the search was narrowed down to an area near the Walker Mill Regional Park in Capital Heights . At approximately 2:00 a.m. an officer spotted the crash site deep inside the 470-acre park.

Killed in the crash was the pilot, Stephen H. Bunker, who had been with the Maryland State Police since 1972 and flown with them for more than 24 years. Pilot Bunker was a State Police corporal who had retired in 1998 and then returned to service as a civilian pilot. He held a commercial pilot's license and was a certified flight instructor and a certified instrument flight instructor. In addition he also had a single engine airplane pilot's license. Mr. Bunker is survived by his wife and three grown children.

Trooper 1st Class Mickey Lippy, the flight paramedic on board, was appointed to the Maryland State Police four years ago. He had been in the Aviation Command as a flight paramedic since April of 2007. Trooper Lippy was married and had recently returned from family leave after the birth of his daughter who is 4 months old.

Maryland State Police, which flies medical helicopters in the state, say this is a devastating loss for the agency. "They save lives every day, but they also take that risk when they get into that helicopter," said Greg Shipley, public information officer for Maryland State Police. "There's always a certain amount of risk and these are brave men and women who go out and do this every day."

Colonel Terrence Sheridan, superintendent of the Maryland State Police characterized the crash as the worst in the history of the police department. "This is a devastating tragedy," he said. "We have had crashes before but never with four dead. This is the worst." The crash was the deadliest in the 47-year history of the Maryland State Police aviation unit, and the department's first in more than 22 years.

Also killed in the crash was Tanya Mallard, an emergency medical technician with the Waldorf, Maryland , Rescue Squad who leaves behind her husband and two children; and patient Ashley Younger, 17. Another patient survived the crash and was hospitalized in critical condition.

September Continues to Be a Bad Month for Line of Duty Deaths

September has been a truly horrible month for law enforcement with more line of duty deaths then I care to count. As I add these last five fallen officers to my sidebar, I can only hope that this is it for September at the very least and it would be really, really, really nice if that included the rest of the year, too. Please join me in offering thanks and condolences for these men and women who gave all to their communities.

Sergeant Michael C. Weigand, a part-time sergeant with Latimore Township Police Department and full-time patrolman with Eastern Adams Regional Police Department died in the Line of Duty on Sunday, September 14th during a Blue Knights benefit ride to raise money for Latimore Township Park.

The 2000 Kawasaki police motorcycle he was riding was hit by a Ford F-250 when it lost control and skidded across the road striking and killing Sergeant Weigand on the scene.

“He had an outstanding reputation in this town,” said Latimore Township Supervisor Daniel Worley. “He was an outstanding person, loved by everyone. It is a tremendous loss not only to his family, but to the people who worked with him.”

Sergeant Weigand, age 25, is survived by his wife Amanda, and three-year old daughter, Lanie.

Detective Tommy Keen of the Harris County Sheriff’s Department in Texas succumbed to injuries sustained on Saturday, September 13th while assisting with recovery efforts following Hurricane Ike. While on his way into work his way was blocked by a fallen tree so he returned to his home to change out of his uniform, get a chainsaw, and clear the roadway. "He had already notified the dispatcher that he was on duty," said Capt. John Martin, a sheriff's department spokesman. "He was just determined to get to work."

As Detective Keen cut the tree, a branch lying against a high-tension wire suddenly shot into the air and struck him in the head. He was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital where he died from his wounds on Monday, September the 15th.

How much more devoted can you be to your job?" said sheriff's Major Juan Jorge. "On a day when everybody wanted to be home with their family, he literally lost his life trying to get to work. He was just a prince of a guy," Jorge said. "Nobody could ever say anything bad about him."

Detective Keen, who was scheduled to retire at the end of October, was a US Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Harris County Sheriff's Department for 35 years. He is survived by his wife and adult son.

A U.S. Forest Service officer was fatally shot Saturday, September 20th, while making a traffic stop of a man who investigators suspect had also killed the owner of the pickup truck he was driving when later captured.

Officer Kristine Fairbanks, 51, a canine officer with the forest service radioed dispatch at 2:22 p.m. and said she had stopped an old Dodge van without license plates near the Dungeness Forks campground in Olympic National Park. When a dispatcher tried to contact Fairbanks with information on the driver, there was no response and troopers and a sheriff’s deputy were dispatched. The deputy arrived first, at 3:10 p.m., and found Fairbanks dead. Her police dog, Radar, was unharmed in her vehicle.

“She was a very positive, very dedicated employee,” said Cynthia Bork, Forest Service spokesperson. As of 2007, Fairbanks was the only Forest Service officer in the state with a K-9 partner, and one of only 40 in the United States "She was considered one of the best K-9 handlers, if not the best," Bork said.

A 15-year veteran of the Forest Service, Officer Fairbanks is survived by her husband, Brian, a Fish and Wildlife officer; her 15-year-old daughter, Whitney; and her father, John Willits of Port Angeles.

Caldwell County Sheriff's Deputy Adam William Klutz, 25, died from wounds received after he was shot in the head Friday, September 19th, while responding to a 911 hang-up call at a local home. Deputy Lt. Chris Martin, who arrived after Klutz, was shot three times in his bulletproof vest and suffered minor injuries.

Investigators believe that Deputy Klutz was gunned down as he exited his vehicle after arriving on-scene. The suspect then shot Deputy Martin before fleeing on horseback. The suspect’s body was found five days later on September 24th dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"We're very saddened by the death of Adam Klutz," Caldwell County Sheriff Alan Jones said. "We ask that the citizens of our community pray for Adam and his family during this difficult time."

Deputy Klutz had served with the agency for one and a half years. He had previously worked at the Caldwell Detention Center for approximately one year and had served three months with the Hickory Police Department. He is survived by his parents.


Highway Patrol Officer Patrick McDonald, 30, an eight-year police veteran and the second Philadelphia officer to be killed in the line of duty this month and the fourth this year was gunned down on Tuesday, September 23rd shortly after making a traffic stop on a vehicle whose passenger was a violent felon and wanted man. Upon asking for identification, the passenger fled the vehicle and was pursued a short ways on foot by Officer McDonald before the suspect turned on the officer and shot him several times. While Officer McDonald was on the ground, the suspect then stood over him and shot him several more times.

Another officer, Richard Bowes, was shot n the leg before the suspect was killed by other responding officers. Officer McDonald was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:08 p.m., 23 minutes after he had radioed for backup.

A popular officer with the traffic division, Officer McDonald was the son of a retired Philadelphia Fire Department captain. His girlfriend Joanne Heary - a police officer in the Northeast's 15th District – said of McDonald, "He's very dedicated to Highway Patrol. He came out and did his job. He loved the motorcycle, the 25th District . . . Everything he did, he gave it his all."

September Continues to Be Deadly for Law Enforcement Officers

September has not been a good month for law enforcement as another five officers have fallen in the line of duty since I did my last post just a few days ago. This is truly beyond sad.

On Saturday, September 6th, in Franklin County, Ohio a Deputy Sheriff died as the result of a motor vehicle accident. Deputy Sheriff Marty M. Martin, who had served with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department for ten years, was working an undercover operation at approximately 12:30 a.m. with another deputy when the unmarked SUV they were in hydroplaned as a result of heavy rain, struck a culvert, and overturned. Deputy Martin was being rushed to Grant Medical Center when he succumbed to his injuries.

The young deputy, age 35, joined the sheriff's office in 1998 where he was known for his hard work and as a top dog handler who wrote lesson plans for the Ohio Police Officers Training Academy. Earlier this year, Deputy Martin beat out more-senior deputies for a job in the Special Investigations Unit where he was paired with his partner who was also injured in the crash and remains hospitalized at this time.

Deputy Martin s survived by his 6-year old son Kyle and his wife Jody Carrico-Martin who has been battling cancer for over five years. "We always had an understanding," she said. "He was in dangerous police work, and my health wasn't too good. We took advantage of every day. But I actually didn't expect him to go first."

Another law enforcement officer died in the line of duty on Saturday, September 6th, in Martinez, California. Sergeant Paul Stazyk, a 12-year veteran of the Martinez Police Department, was shot and killed while responding to a call at a local hair salon. The salon owner's estranged husband had entered the business with a weapon looking for her and as he searched the salon he fired several shots. As responding officers arrived at the scene, they exchanged shots with the man and Sergeant Starzyk was struck in the chest.

A former banker, Sgt. Starzyk started his career in 1992 as a Reserve Officer in Martinez and became a Police Officer December 19, 1994. He joined the Pleasant Hill Police Department in May of 1996 but returned to the Martinez Police Department on April 15, 1997 and was promoted to Corporal May 21, 2006; he was again promoted on December 1, 2007 to Sergeant.

"Even people that he was arresting from time to time said, 'You know, he was the nicest cop whoever arrested me,'" said Martinez Mayor Rob Schroeder.

In his obituary his co-workers wrote, "Here is a man that got all he ever wanted. Great career, good friends, the best wife, and a great life. He left this world with no regrets. No matter where he ended up, he is sure he will see some of his co-workers there."

Sgt, Stayzyk, age 47, s survived by his loving wife, Shannon, and their three children, Vincent, 6, Jacob, 4, and Jessica, 20 months.

A trooper with the North Carolina Highway Patrol died on Tuesday, September 9th, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Trooper Andrew F. Stocks, a 4-year veteran of the Highway Patrol, was responding to a report of a motor vehicle accident when his patrol car collided with a garbage truck, striking the cruiser in the driver's side door just after 1:30 p.m.
Trooper Stocks was transported to WakeMed’s Raleigh Campus where he was pronounced dead just before 5:00 p.m.

Trooper Stocks, a 1983 graduate of Cary High School, joined the Highway Patrol in April 2004 after leaving the military, where he had served as a Marine in Afghanistan and with the U.S. Army Reserve in Iraq. He joined the Highway Patrol in 2004. Tuesday was the one-year anniversary of Stocks' return from a tour of duty in Iraq.

"He is, was, a fine, fine young man, and I think I lost a good friend," said Bob Emerson, who lives across the street from Stocks' parents in Cary and watched Stocks grow up. "His devotion to his duties – to his country, to the state of North Carolina, to his family – are commendable."

The 60th North Carolina state trooper to die in the line of duty since its formation in 1929, Trooper Stocks, age 43, is survived by his wife, Liane, and a stepdaughter.

Here in Connecticut, the City of New Haven is mourning the death of Police Sergeant Dario "Scott" Aponte who was killed late Tuesday when he and another officer collided as they responded to a domestic violence call. Sgt. Aponte and veteran officer Officer Diane Gonzalez had been dispatched to a 911 call at 11:23 p.m. reporting a domestic violence incident in progress when their cruisers collided in downtown New Haven approximately 4 minutes later.

A 17-year veteran of the New Haven Police Department, Sgt. Aponte joined the department in November 1991 and was promoted to detective in April 2004. He worked in the crime scene unit until his promotion to sergeant on July 25, when he switched to the overnight patrol shift.

A native of New Haven, Sgt Aponte, age 43, served in the city where he grew up. “I’ve been through this several times. You’d think maybe it might get easier, but it doesn’t. At least for me, it seems to get tougher,” said Police Chief James Lewis Wednesday morning, his voice breaking at times. “When you spent the evening with the family in the hospital, it’s hard to describe. It’s like losing a family member.”

"He was a professional, and he paid the ultimate sacrifice," union president Sgt. Louis Cavalliere said. “He (Aponte) was responding to a call about people he did not know and risked his life, and ultimately sacrificed his life, to do his job,” Cavaliere said.

Sgt Aponte's wife, Donna, is also a New Haven police officer with whom he has two children with the youngest being born just four months ago. He also leaves behind two other children from a previous relationship.

In yet another motor vehicle accident, this time in St. Charles, Missouri, Police Officer Grant Jensen, a 13-year veteran of the St. Charles Police Department, lost his life when his vehicle went off the road at the end of his shift. Officer Jansen had just gotten off work from his overnight shift and was driving home in his patrol car with his K-9 partner, Czar, who suffered minor injuries in the accident.

A passing motorist reported the cruiser off of the road at approximately 2:45 a.m. Wednesday, September 10th. Officer Jansen had been thrown out of his car and died at the scene of the accident; it was not clear whether he had been wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. According to police the curve where the accident occurred was not known for frequent accidents, but has been known for deer crossings. The accident remains under investigation.

“He was a fantastic officer, a hard-worker, dedicated to his work and his family,” St. Charles Police Lt. Donovan Kenton said.

Officer Jansen, age 42, is survived by his two young children and wife, who works as a dispatcher at the same department. She was not on duty at the time of the crash.

“Remembering the past gives power to the present.”

Never forget.

September Starts Sadly for Law Enforcement Officers

We're only six days into September and four more law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty. I sincerely hope this isn't a portent of things to come. Please join me in honoring these brave men and women who protected and served their communities before their deaths came way too soon.

In New Jersey a Belleville police officer was killed and another seriously injured Saturday when their cruiser struck another vehicle while the officers were responding to a call just before 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 6th. Police Officer Kenneth Santucci was operating the cruiser while responding to a report of a suspicious person when he lost control of the car and hit a utility pole, ejecting both himself and his partner.

Officer Santucci, age 33, was taken to Clara Maass Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. His partner sustained serious head injuries and was taken to University Hospital in Newark, but a police spokesman said her injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

"It's horrific," Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. Dow said of the crash. "It's a very congested state we live in. They have tough duties to respond to and these horrific things can happen."

A married father of two children ages 2 and 7 with his wife expecting their third child in November, Officer Santucci had previously served with the Newark Police Department for 2 years before joining the Belleville Police Department in January.

In neighboring Pennsylvania, a veteran Philadelphia police officer died after being involved in a car crash while assisting in the pursuit of a suspected stolen vehicle on Friday, September 5th. Officer Isabal Nazario, an 18-year veteran of the department, died as a result of injuries sustained when the Cadillac Escalade she and her partner were pursuing broadsided their cruiser near the passenger door. The Cadillac was being operated by an intoxicated, unlicensed 16-year-old.

After being extricated by the Jaws of Life, Officer Nazario, age 40, and her partner were rushed to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where Officer Nazario later succumbed to her injuries while her partner remained in guarded condition. According to an eyewitness account, the teenager was driving between 50-70 miles per hour and had run several red lights before striking the police cruiser. The driver was arrested after a short foot pursuit with other responding officers.

"This is the second officer that we've had killed this year. It's a very difficult time," Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said late Friday, when he joined Mayor Michael Nutter and other police officers at the hospital.

Officer Nazario was assigned to the Narcotics Strike Force and detailed to the 16th Police District in West Philadelphia. She is survived by her her 13-year old daughter, Jazmine, her mother, and her sister Maritza and a fiance who are also city police officers.

Officer Christopher Kane, a 12-year veteran of the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff's Office was killed early Thursday, September 4th, when his cruiser hit a construction truck parked along a state roadway that had been closed for construction.

Police said Kane was on his way home after his shift at approximately 3:00 a.m. when stopped to talk to some officers working off-duty at a roadbock for the 9A road construction project. Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Leepe said the truck was parked nearby and Kane may not have seen it as he pulled out. Even though he was wearing his seat belt, Officer Kane died at the scene.

Officer Kane was very involved in his community as a Pop Warner football coach with the Orange Park Athletic Association. “Chris would do anything for any of the kids. That’s how he was,” Todd Sutter, the association’s football commissioner said. “He’d help pick up kids. He’d help take kids here and there. He’d take some kids for meals after games if they couldn’t afford it.”

A former Marine, Officer Kane, age 38, leaves behind his wife and two children.

A shooting rampage in which six people died claimed the life of Sheriff Deputy Anne Jackson on Tuesday, September 2nd, when she was killed after responding to a disturbance call at a home in Alger, Washington. The shooter's mother described her son as "desperately mentally ill" and said the sheriff's deputy he's accused of killing had tried to help the family for years.

"Anne just had compassion for those in need," said cousin, Jeanine Roe. "We knew the danger was there but how can you deny someone's passion for helping the community? It's very tragic for not only Anne but all the others who were wounded. We feel for the police force. It's overwhelming to come up here and see the love and support and outreach for Anne. It confirms the person she was."

Deputy Jackson, age 40, joined the Skagit County Sheriff's Office in 2002 as the department's first animal control officer before becoming a Deputy in 2005. “She was someone who really wanted to be a deputy,” Chief Criminal Deputy Will Reichardt said. “She loved her job.”

“She did an excellent job,” Sheriff Rick Grimstead said, “She was always smiling and upbeat and fun to be around.” Deputy Jackson is survived by her parents as well as a community stunned at this tragic loss.