2010 - Present Tributes For Police And Military K9 Handlers

Note :  Some of these tributes are for police canine officers that were killed in the line of duty and some for officers that died while off duty. Also included are military canine handlers that were killed during wars.

Flashing star on both sides of officer name indicates both officer and K9 were killed in line of duty

Officer Sfundo Musa

February 1, 2019 - KwaNongoma, South Africa - Age 39

Officer Musa was killed during a shoot-out with heavily armed robbers in KwaNongoma on 2/1/19 and was from Murchison and was previously an officer based at the Port Shepstone Saps K9 unit. Warrant Officer Sfundo Erasmus Musa, 39, from the Special Task Force and his colleagues came under attack during an attempted cash-in-transit robbery. Warrant Officer Musa his colleague Lieutenant-Colonel Carl van der Vyve, 51, and seven robbers died. Officers of the South African Police Service’s Special Task Force and Crime Intelligence were following up on intelligence that a cash-in-transit vehicle was going to be attacked. At about 7pm a group of heavily armed suspects attacked the security vehicle and used explosives to access the cash along Hlabisa Road. However officers from the SAPS, STF and Ci responded speedily which resulted in a shootout between them and the robbers. National police spokesman, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the two officers and seven suspects were killed and a woman officer was shot in the leg and is recovering in hospital. “Four AK-47 assault rifles have been recovered. A BMW which was used by the suspects was reportedly used during other robberies.  

Sergeant Lawrence Milton Beatty (RET)

January 22, 2019 - Northborough, MA - Age 77

Lawrence Milton Beatty, 77, nicknamed Larry, passed away peacefully at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester on January 22, 2019. After graduation Larry enlisted in the United State Army. Following basic training at Fort Dix Larry was sent to Fort Gordon for Military Police Training and Lackland Air Force Base where he received K-9 handler training. Larry loved his dog- they served closely together for several years. After successfully completing their training Larry and his canine partner were stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base where they provided security patrol services. After completion of that duty Larry made his way to Fort Hood, Texas where he was eventually honorably discharged as a permanent corporal. During his career in the Army he was awarded the good conduct medal, was a marksman with a rifle, a sharpshooter with the M-1 carbine and an expert with his service pistol.. In early 1965 Larry began working as a special police officer with the Northborough Police Department. On December 1, 1965, he joined the force as a full-time patrol officer. Larry was promoted to sergeant in 1983, a position which he served with pride and distinction until his retirement in September of 1993. After remaining single for almost 50 years he married the love of his life, Adele Kelly in July 1991. While working a 40 hour week with the police department Larry also worked full time as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service, a position he held for over 40 years. Larry was also extremely active in the Vincent F Picard American Legion Post 234 of Northborough. He served as both commander and vice commander of "his" Post. Larry is survived by his step-sons Geoff Kelly of Northborough and Scott Kelly of Worcester. Memorial contributions to support the Northborough Post 234 Baseball Team, in Larry's memory, may be made in care of Vincent F. Picard American Legion Post 234, 402 West Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532.

Inspector Johan Deysel

January 11, 2019 - Amanzimtoti, South Africa - Age 59

Metro police officer Inspector Johan Deysel died on 1/11/19. Deysel died after being knocked over by a taxi at a roadblock near the Galleria shopping mall on January 11. Deysel had worked in the police service for 34 years, with his duties ranging from protection services to a dog handler. Originally from Johannesburg, Deysel leaves behind his wife Rina of 20 years and a one year old baby.

Officer James Richard Kinney (RET)

January 6, 2019 - Abilene, Texas - Age 89

James Richard Kinney,89, passed away on 1/6/19. Kinney worked for the Abilene Police Department for 28 years. Ten of those as a K9 Officer.

Officer Donald Knabenshue

January 5, 2019 - South Bend, Indiana - Age 48

Officer Donald Knabenshue died on 1/5/19 at 12:25 p.m. at his home in South Bend at the age of 48. A South Bend resident, Knabenshue had been on medical leave from the police department. He served for more than 22 years as a patrol officer, detective and K9 handler with South Bend Police.  Donald leaves behind his dogs Otis and Ike. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Donald may be donated to Pet Refuge, Inc, 4626 S. Burnett Drive, South Bend. 46614.

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Sergeant Trevor Blevins

December 30, 2018 - Pismo Beach, California - Age ?

Trevor Blevins died in his Nipomo home on 12/30/18 in what was called a “tragic accident” while he was off duty. At 5:35 p.m., a caller reported Blevins had been shot in his home on the 800 block of Tanis Place  Deputies then discovered Blevins with a gunshot wound to his face and died at Marian Medical Center. He was measuring a loaded firearm when it discharged, He was reportedly taking measurements of the gun to purchase leather for a holster. Toxicology reports came back negative for drugs or alcohol. Sgt. Trevor Blevins, had been with the department since July 2007. Some local residents may have noticed a police procession from the hospital to the mortuary following Blevins’ death. A private memorial service is planned. Sgt. Blevins started his law enforcement career with the Pismo Beach Police Department eleven years ago. He was a K9 handler until 2017 when his dog, Cannix, retired.

Corporal Ronil Singh

December 26, 2018 - Newman, California - Age 33

Corporal Ronil Singe, 33, was shot and killed on 12/26/18 while conducting a traffic stop because for suspected drunk driving at the intersection of Merced Street and Eucalyptus Avenue shortly before 12:57 a.m. Approximately three minutes later he called in "shots fired,I've been hit" Responding officers found Corporal Singh at the scene suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Cpl. Singh's K9 parnter, Sam was in the vehicle at the time of the shooting and was not hurt. Sam was confined so he could not come to the Corporal's aid. The suspect fled in his car after the shooting. Images of the suspect were captured on surveillance video. The sheriff's office described the car as a grey, extended cab Dodge Ram pickup. At 3:15 p.m. on 12/26/18 police found the suspects vehicle and was taken in for evidence. Corporal Singh had served with the Newman Police Department for seven years. He previously served with Merced County Sheriff;s Office and the Turlock Police Department. Singh had been working overtime on Christmas night to provide the best for his family. Cpl. Singh was also an immigrant, coming to the U.S. legally from his native Fiji to pursue his dream of serving in law enforcement, Singh is survived by his wife Anamika and 5 month old son and his K9 Sam. Corporal Singh's K9 partner "Sam" was retired and given to his family to live out the rest of his life. For in-person donations, donors can go to any West America BankBranch and make a donation to the Corporal Ronil Singh Memorial Fund ( Newman Police Department). Donors can also mail donations to Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association, Corporal Ronil Singe Memorial Fund at PO Box 2314, Ceres, Ca 95307. Or donations can be made on line on the SSDA website.

Perez Arriaga was arrested on 12/28/18 for the murder of Corporal Ronil Singh. Arriaga was in this country illegally and was trying to cross over the border before his arrest. Perez Arriaga made his first court appearence on 1/2/18  in Modesto California for the shooting death of Corporal Ronil Singe but did not enter a plea. Perez Arriaga's attorney, Stephen Foley, questioned his client's mental competency, leading the court to delay the case until the suspect gets a mental health evaluation. Perez Arriaga told the judge that his real name is Paulo Virgen Mendoza, but authorities were still referring to him as Perez Arriaga. Perez Arriaga is set to return to court Feb. 7, 2019 when a court-appointed doctor will provide a report on his mental health. Arriaga had two previous drunken driving arrests and known gang affiliations. Three adults there were arrested for aiding and abetting: Bernabe Madrigal Castaneda, 59, Ermasmo Villegas, 36, and Maria Luisa Moreno, 57, all from Bakersfield.

Sergeant Benton "Ben" Hurley Bertram

December 12, 2018 - Charlestown, Indiana - Age 33

Sergeant Benton Bertram,33, was killed on 12/12/18 while on duty after crashing his squad car during a pursuit. The chase began near Charlestown in Clark County around 10:20 p.m. and made its way into Scott County. Sgt. Benton Bertram of the Charlestown Police Department tried to stop a teal 1998 Toyota Corolla for a traffic violation, but the car wouldn’t pull over and headed north on State Road 3 into Scott County. As the pursuit continued, Bertram approached the intersection of State Road 3 and State Road 56 near Scottsburg; his vehicle crossed State Road 56 and went off the road, hitting a tree in the front yard of a residence. Other responding units stayed to help Bertram, but the officer succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Bertram was a nine-year veteran of the Charlestown Police Department. He worked in the K9 Division and was a member of the North American Police Work Dog Association. He leaves behind his currant canine partner, Franco and his recently retired canine partner, KuBo. Police later located the Corolla and its driver, 35-year-old Benjamin Eads of Freedom, Indiana, in Clark County faces multiple charges in both Clark and Scott counties. He was booked into the Scott County Jail. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Ben Bertram Memorial Canine Fund in C/O The New Washington State Bank, 1059 Market Street in Charlestown, IN. 47111.

Eads was arrested on preliminary charges of: Resisting Law Enforcement Causing Death – Level 2 Felony,In Clark County, Resisting Law Enforcement – Level 6 Felony,Auto Theft – Level 6 Felony. He faces an escape charge due to being on home incarceration at the time of his latest arrest. Scott County Prosecutor Chris Owens is also seeking a habitual offender enhancement penalty against Eads for prior felony convictions.. Prior convictions for Eads include a 2017 case in Clark County for battery against a public official and a 2007 Owen County case for resisting law enforcement. Eads was appointed a public defender Monday and ordered held on $100,000 cash bond.His next court appearance will be Feb. 8, 2019, and a jury trial was scheduled for March 2019.

Fire Chief Thomas Campbell  Hetherington

December 9, 2018 - Middlesex, New York - Age 46

Thomas Hetherington, 46, Middlesex firefighter and former Churchville fire chief, died   operating a 2004 Ski-Doo snowmobile when he lost control and struck a tree on 12/7/18 in the Adirondacks. Mr. Hetherington was in the Adirondacks for the start of snowmobiling season in the North Country. He was driving near Raquette Lake in the town of Inlet. Police reported Mr. Hetherington may have been traveling too fast for icy conditions when his snowmobile ran off a curve and hit a tree. A friend who was traveling with him also crashed and tried to give aid, but could not save him. Mr. Hetherington was pronounced dead shortly after the accident.  With a long career in fire protection, Mr. Hetherington had been a fire chief and was fire protection specialist/investigator with the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Mr. Hetherington’s work with the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control involved its arson bureau, and he also was a canine handler. Mr. Hetherington’s dog Taz was specially trained as an ignitable liquid search dog. The pair traveled to fire scenes around the state for investigations through the Office of Fire Prevention and Control. In Churchville, where Mr. Hetherington was a firefighter nearly 25 years, ultimately becoming chief. Tom is survived by his wife of 22 years, Karen.

Deputy Antonio "Tony" Hinostroza

November 25, 2018 - Stanislaus County, California - Age 45

Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deputy Antonio “Tony” Hinostroza, 45, died on 11/25/18 on his way to help Riverbank police officers in a pursuit with his lights and siren activated to apprehend a man who was a suspected drunken driver and had at least five prior DUI arrests. At 9:52 p.m., Hinostroza pushed a button on the computer in his 2009 Crown Victoria that indicated to dispatch he was en route to assist on the call. Six minutes later, dispatch received a call that a deputy had crashed at Claribel and Termina. During the pursuit the suspect was traveling between 50 and 80 mph, swerving into opposing traffic lanes and running stop signs. Riverbank police officials received a call shortly before 10 p.m. about a driver passed out behind the wheel of a silver Cadillac Escalade. As deputies arrived, the man awoke and fled in the SUV. The driver, later identified as Jonathan Carrillo-Gonzales, 30, of Modesto, was stopped when deputies deployed spike strips and Carrillo Gonzalez ran over them at 10:01 pm. at Claus Road and Sylvan Avenue. Driving on rims, Carrillo Gonzalez continued south until the vehicle stopped at Fine Avenue and Cambrooke Court. Carrillo-Gonzales got out of the vehicle and began fighting with deputies, who used a bean bag gun to subdue. The suspect, whose driver’s license was suspended in June for drunken driving, is charged with driving under the influence, felony evasion, and resisting arrest. Carrillo-Gonzales has had five prior arrests for DUI and he’s done state prison time for DUI. As deputies were dealing with Carrillo-Gonzales’ arrest, dispatchers learned of Hinostroza’s crash. “Dispatch began getting 911 calls of a Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle crashed into a power pole at Terminal Avenue and Claribel Road,”.California Highway Patrol, deputies, ambulance and fire responded to the scene in an attempt to rescue Deputy Hinostroza, but he died of his injuries at the scene.”  The deputy, who is survived by an adult son and was a 19-year veteran with the department. Over the nearly two decades of his career, he served as a patrol deputy, K-9 handler, gang detective, SWAT team member, and field training officer.  Hinostroza was with the Security Force Company, SebanaSeca, Puerto Rico, Anti-Terrorism Navel Intelligence, Marine Expeditionnary Unit Special Operations Capable Camp Pendleton, California, 1st Battalion 9th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 2nd Bsttalion, 1st Marines Division. Amphibious Assault Company, Scout Swimmer Platoon. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Southwest Asia Medal, Pistol Expert Service Badge, Rifle Marksman Badge, and numerous Certificates of commendation and appreciation. Hinostroza was discharged and became a deputy sheriff with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office in 1999. Deputy Sheriff Hinostroza received many commendations, accolades and letters of gratitude in his service, along with awards for vehicle theft recovery, known as the 10851 award presented by the California Highway Patrol. A fund is set up to help the Deputy's family in its time of need. Sgt. Hinostroza is survived by his sons Michael and Steven Hinostroza. Donations can be made at any Westamerica Bank branch to the Tony Hinostroza Memorial Fund, or mailed to Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association, Tony Hinostroza Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 2314, Ceres, CA 95307.

Carrillo-Gonzalez was sentenced to two-years in prison in April 2016 for a felony DUI conviction in which he admitted to three prior DUIs, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office. He entered prison with 480 days of pre-sentencing credits for his time served in county jail while awaiting adjudication and was released in May 2017, according to Terri Hardy , spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In May of this year he was again arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence.That case is pending and Carrillo-Gonzalez was out of jail on his own recognizance when he was arrested on 11/25/18. During his arraignment on 11/29/18 Judge Carrie M. Stephens read each of the charges against him and entered a plea of not guilty and a denial of the enhancements on his behalf. She kept his bail at $500,000, which was enhanced from the scheduled bail of $125,000. Gonzalez-Carrillo faces a maximum of six years and eight months in prison if convicted of all the charges and enhancements from Sunday’s arrest and an additional eight months if convicted of the DUI from May. He is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on 12/3/18.

Lieutenant Robert John Daucher

October 30, 2018 -Westtown, New York- Age 64

Bob Daucher, 64,  died on 10/30/18 surrounded by his family.. Lt. Daucher and his K9 partner “Radar” were very active members of Region 7 (Regional President 1990-1992) and the original NY Metro North Canine He trained many teams in explosives and patrol. Although the MNR Canine Unit was smaller in size, it was very well respected nationally because of leaders like Lt. Daucher. Bob helped pave the way for many handlers today. 

Officer Anthony Hanlon

October 21, 2018 -Merrick, New York- Age 49

Officer Anthony Hanlon, 49, died on 10/21/18 some 17 years after he served at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11 attacks,  joining the increasing ranks of public servants who have succumbed to 9/11-related cancer. Hanlon, died a day before his 50th birthday of multiple myeloma. He had been eager to help after the attacks in New York City that leveled both World Trade Center towers. He performed search and rescue duties.

Sergeant Kevin Barber

October 13, 2018 -Camden County, Georgia - Age 44

Sgt. Kevin Barber of the Camden County Sheriff's Office died on 10/13/18 from cancer. He worked with Camden County Sheriff's Office from 1994 to 1997 and the Glynn County Sheriff's Office from 1997 to 2000, thenreturning to the Camden County Sherff's Office in 2000 and became a deputy in March 2001. He was named Officer of the Year in Camden County in 2003 from the VFW children. He is survived by his children Jacob Allan Barber, Joshua Aaron Barber, Ashley Elizabeth Barber, Austen Perry Barber, Katlyn Cheyanne Barber, Ethan Fuller, Austin Googe and his K9 partner "Diego". Contributions in memory of Kevin can be made to the Camden County Sheriff's Office K9 fund, c/o Camden County Sheriff's Office, 409 E. Fourth St., Woodine, GA 31569.

PC Mick Aky Atkinson

October 8, 2018 -West Yorkshire, England - Age 37

PC Mick Atkinson was found dead on 10/10/18 while off duty inside a home in West Yorkshire, England at 11:00 a.m. after receiving a call of a sudden death. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Atkinson was a distinguished officer and had been part of the North Yourshire Police family for 17 years. He started his service as a Police Constable in Scarborough and then moved into the Dog Support Unit and became a handler. He leaves behind his K9 partner "Max". Mic has recently became a father to a baby daughter Elizabeth and also has two stepsons. Mourners are asked to make donations to the Leeds Rhinos Foundation charity.

Officer Grant Tamio Shirahama

August 24, 2018 -Portland, OR  - Age 62

Portland Police Officer Grant Shirahama passed away on 8/24/18 after suffering a heart attack while hiking on Mount Hood. Shirahama worked at KATU News as photographer and production assistant, then as a cameraman for KGW, before joining the Portland Police Bureau as a Youth Services Division Student Resource Officer, where he served for 17 years. He also volunteered with Mountain Wave Search and Rescue and served as a member of Search ONE K-9 Detection with his K9 partner, Zuke.

Officer Johnny Almendarez

August 19, 2018 -Baytown, TX  - Age 50

Officer Johnny Almendarez,50,died on 8/19/18. He was found unresponsive at his home and died of a heart attack. Officer Almendarez was with the department for 20 years. He was a canine handler along with his K9 partner Robby Mac aka "Hero". Officer Almendarez earned the department's Purple Heart award in 2012 after apprehending a suspect after being attacked while investigating a suspicious person call.

Sergeant Paulina Nakale Uusiku

August 13, 2018 -Walvis Bay, Namibia - Age 40

Sergeant Paulina Nakale Uusiku 40, a member of the K9-unit at Walvis Bay, died on the way to the Omaruru State Hospital due to a vehicle crash on 8/13/18 in Erongo. Two other police officers were killed in the crash. Sergeant Haididila Paulus Likuwa 34, died on the scene. He was a member of the second-hand goods sub-division at Walvis Bay. Sergeant Allan Hoëbeb 42, also died on the scene. He was an officer at the Kuisebmond Police Station. The police minibus with 12 occupants was travelling on the B2 road from Kalkfeld towards Omaruru. The cause of the crash was due to the left rear tire bursting , causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle before it overturned. Two of the eight officers injured in the accident who were transferred to Windhoek, are in the Katutura State Hospital in a serious but stable condition. The others were discharged from the Omaruru State hospital yesterday morning. Police have opened a case of culpable homicide and reckless and/or negligent driving against the driver.

Deputy Clint Wallace

August 8, 2018 -Dyer County, Tennessee - Age 37

Deputy Clint Wallace, 37, of Dyersburg, died in a single vehicle crash on 8/8/18. K-9 Deputy Clint Wallace was off-duty when he crashed his Ford F150 that happened about 10:00 a.m. near Highway 412 and Highway 88. He ran off the side of the road, hitting a guardrail and rolling multiple times. Deputy Wallace was taken to a hospital in Jackson before being transferred to Regional One in Memphis, where he died. The deputy was taken to a Jackson hospital by ambulance because a medical helicopter could not land due to the weather. Deputy Wallace was a K-9 officer for the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office with 5 years of service. He was a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2011, and served in the United States Army as sergeant of the 5th Special Forces Group A from 2005-2010, receiving many commendations, achievements and service metals. Wallace leaves behind a wife, two daughters ages 4 and 13 and his K9 partner "Lucky".

Officer Brian Rickards

August 7, 2018 -Abington, Pennsylvania - Age 47

Officer Rickards,47, died on 8/7/18 at home surrounded by his family. He served Abington for 19 years. He lost his brave fight with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was diagnosed in February 2017. Since then, he's fought to live as normal a life as possible between treatments. In 2006 he joined the K9 Unit. He trained with the New Jersey State Police and received certification to patrol with a dog and take the dog on drug and SWAT team assigniments. His first dog was named Ransom. Ivan was his second dog. Rickards served in the Abington Police Department K-9 Unit alongside his partner dog, Ivan. The pair excelled and earned commendations in narcotics detection and patrol operations. He was also recognized for putting in almost 17 consecutive years of service without a sick day before his ALS diagnosis. Rickards also worked as a K-9 SWAT officers, field training officer, emergency vehicle operation instructor, firearms instructor, and more during his lengthy career. Officer Rickards served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1988 through 1992 at the Coast Guard Station at Beach Haven, NJ, as a medic and a rescue crewman. Rickards leaves behind his wife Cindy and daughters Abigail,10,Emily,2, and son Gavin, 15. Donations can be made to his family via the GoFundMe page or the Abington Township Police Assocation (A.T.P.A.), to Bryan Rickards Memorial Fund PO Box 211, Abington, PA 19001. Donations will be used to fund his children's education and support other families struggling with ALS.

Sgt. Anthony “Tony” Knox

July 17, 2018 -Hyattsville, Maryland - Age 42

Sgt. Anthony “Tony” Knox, 42, of Hyattsville City Police Department, Marland passed away on 7/17/18 from cancer.  Knox had been battling cancer since 2016. Knox joined the HCPD on Jan. 25, 2006. Prior to his service with HCPD, he served with the Town of Edmonston Police Department, the Department of Defense Police, and the United States Army. Knox had earned the following awards; Silver Medal of Valor, Bronze Medal of Valor, Police Officer of the Year, Lifesaving Award, Leadership Award, and several other commendations. Knox served as the K-9 Supervisor. Knox and his K-9 partner, Ori, met in April of 2012. The two graduated from the Prince George’s County Police Department’s K-9 School on Nov. 15, 2013. Together, they then built one of the Washington Metropolitan Area’s leading K-9 units.Knox also served as the police department’s Lead Firearms Instructor, Taser Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and the Emergency Response Team’s Point Man. Knox is survived by his wife Meredith; his four children, Kellen, Logan, Ethan, and Taylor. He was preceded in death by his K-9 partner, Ori, in August 2017.

Officer Clifton Joseph Robert "Cliffie" Francis

 July 9, 2018 -South Africa - Age 60

The former K9 Unit officer served in the South African Police Service for 38 years and decided to take his retirement in May this year. At his farewell party, Cliffie was described as an officer who left the SAPS with a clean record; no cases against him or misconduct – a rare find and an officer certainly from the ‘old school’! Cliffie will be dearly missed by fellow colleagues and the K9 Unit. Officer Francis leaves behind his wife Anne, sons Justin and Mark and his daughter Sheri-Lee.

Officer Raymond Hahn

June 14, 2018 - Trumbull, Connecticut - Age 60

Officer Raymond Hahn, 60,  died on 6/14/18 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a year long battle with cancer.  Hahn was a 31-year veteran on the force, most recently working the last 12 years as a communications officer in the dispatch center. Earlier in his career, Hahn served as the department's only canine handler from 1990 to 1995. Hahn in more recent years worked in a ground support position with the department's Dive Team, where he was still an active member. His personnel file includes numerous letters of thanks from residents, as well as commendations that he earned during his policing career, many with his K9 partner "Thunder." Hahn was awarded the Life Saving Award from the CT Department of Public Safety for an incident in December 2003. After responding to Route 8 for an overturned vehicle, Ray and an on-duty State Trooper rescued the entrapped driver from the crashed vehicle and provided Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) until medical assistance arrived. The driver survived the incident and made a full recovery. Ray Hahn began his career with the police department in 1986. Ray's dedication to serving his community began in 1974 when he joined the Trumbull Center Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter. He served there for thirteen (13) years and attained the rank of Captain before being hired as a police officer. His volunteer career also included a three (3) year term with the Trumbull Emergency Medical Service starting in 1977, shortly after the service was founded. Ray leaves behind his wife Justinein his home surrounded by his loving family. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.

Trooper Walter Greene

May 31, 2018 - Norwalk, Connecticut - Age 51

Trooper Greene, 51, Died on 5/29/18 after fighting a courageous battle with a rare form of cancer he acquired while serving as a first responder during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City. Trooper Greene was a member of the agency’s K9 unit, which was immediately called to New York in the wake of the attacks, to assist in the search for survivors and to recover victims’ bodies. For days, Trooper Greene and his K9 partner combed through the rubble at Ground Zero. Trooper Greene went to Ground Zero on Septmeber 11, 2001. He was diagnosed with a rare form of late-stage colorectal cancer on June 30, 2016. Trooper Greene joined the State Police’s 101st Training Troop in 1990, after having  served  four years in the U.S. Marine Corps . During his 28 years with the state police, Trooper Greene was assigned to numerous divisions, and spent the latter portion  of  his  career  with  the  traffic services unit. He was also a master instructor for police motorcycle operators. Tro oper Gre ene  was prece ded  in dea th  by his daughter, Taylor, who  died  in  2017  at the age of 22 from a pulmonary embolism. He leaves behind his wife of 32 years, Suzanne, and his three sons, DJ, Thomas, and Cody. Memorial contributions may be made to CCSU Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 612. 

Sergeant Kent Donald Swanson

May 21, 2018 - Shelley, Idaho- Age 47

Sgt. Kent Swanson, 47, collapsed on duty while at a disturbance call at 10:30 pm on 5/21/18. Another officer on scene performed CPR until he was transported  by ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead of a massive heart attack.  Sergeant Swanson had served with the Shelley Police Department for 16 years. Kent’s first K9 drug dog was a German Shepherd named Myrra.  She was injured in the line of duty and retired and currently resides with Kent’s family as a beloved, 110 pound pet.  After Myrra’s retirement, Kent  obtained Magnum, a Belgian Malinois. Magnum was also trained as a drug dog.  Kent and Magnum achieved 1st place in scent detection at the Idaho Police Canine Association Conference held May, 2018.   Survivors include his wife Shaney of 26 years, son Keegan, 17, and daughter Saybree,16. Contributions can be made to the Idaho Peace Officers Memorial Fund Incorporated, 700 South Stratford Drive, Meridian, Idaho 83642.

Officer Michael Joseph Colangelo III

May 20, 2018 - Ulster County, New York- Age 31

Canine Officer Michael Colangelo, 31, and Detective John Martinez, 39, were killed on 5/20/18 in a vehicle crash in Ulster County in upstate New York. Canine Officer Colangelo had just been married that day at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. Officer Colangelo was a K9 trainer and in the Special Operations Division assigned to the 84th Precinct. John Martinez was also assigned to the Special Operations Division and with the 84th Precinct. Officer Colangelo was driving a 2018 Maserati which "struck a large tree before overturning and coming to rest on its roof" on Oliveria Road in Shandaken, Ulster County. State police responded to the scene at 11:23 p.m., and Colangelo and Martinez were pronounced dead at the scene. Both Officer Colangelo and Detective Martinez were not wearing their seatbelts. A third passenger who was riding in the back seat, Cody Kalina, 28, was wearing a seat belt was taken to Albany Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries. The "victims were coming from the reception at the time of the fatal crash," and the Maserati had been rented. Officer Colangelo leaves behind his wife, Katherine Berger and his K9 Jimbo.

Officer Ryan D. Garner

May 5, 2018 - Mansfield, Ohio - Age 33

Retired officer Ryan Garner, 33, who worked with the Mansfield Police Department in Ohio died on 5/5/18 after his battle with stage 4 lung cancer. He served from 2007-2017. He became a K9 Officer in 2014 with K-9 Elliot. He was the division's officer of the year in 2015. Ryan learned he had stage 4 lung cancer in 2015 when he went to a hospital for some pain in his back after struggling with a suspect he was trying to arrest. Contributions can be made to the Richland County Humane Society.

Officer Sean McNamee Gannon

April 12, 2018 - Yarmouth, Massachusetts - Age 32

Officer Sean Gannon, 32, of the Yarmouth Police Department was among officers serving an arrest warrant for a probation violation at a home on 109 Blueberry Lane in the Marstons Mills village of Barnstable, Massachusetts when he was shot in the head and fatally wounded about 3:30 p.m. Gannon was rushed to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, where he was later pronounced dead. The suspect, 29-year-old Tom Latanowich of Somerville, is a career criminal who has 111 criminal charges, was taken into custody around 6:00 p.m. after an lengthy standoff with police while remaining barricaded inside the home. Latanowich was hiding in the attic and shot Officer Gannon and his dog as the K9 team started to enter the attic. Latanowich was charged with murder on 4/13/18. Officer Gannon's K9 partner “Nero” was seriously injured in the tragic incident and underwent emergency surgery after being shot in the face and neck  “K9 Nero survived emergency surgery and is being treated and taken care of at Dennis Veterinary Hospital. Gannon joined the Yarmouth police in December 2010 and became the department's first full time drug detection K9 patrol officer in December 2011.Before Yarmouth, Gannon worked with the Stonehill College and Nantucket police departments. Gannon was promoted posthumously to sergeant before his funeral. Sergeant Gannon graduated with honors from Westfield State University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Master’s with honors from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a degree in Emergency Management in 2011, and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Municipal Police Academy.Gannon earned certifications as an Emergency Medical Technician and Life Saving Instructor. After retiring K9 Thor, Sergeant Gannon acquired his beloved K9 patrol dog Nero. Gannon leaves behind his wife Dara. His funeral attendance was the largest on record to date for police K9'S and handlers attending along with non K9 officers and citizens who also attended. Donations can be made to Yarmouth Police Foundation or the Cape Cod Foundation.

Corporal Dale Shannon Hallman

April 5, 2018 - Saluda County, South Carolina - Age 30

Cpl. Dale Hallman, 30, a Saluda County Sheriff's deputy was killed in a crash while on duty on 4/5/18  at approximately 1:00 a.m. while driving to help track down a suspect who was holding a child hostage. Cpl. Dale Hallman, a member of Saluda's Bloodhound Tracking Team, was driving to assist Uniform Road Patrol with an Edgefield County chase when he crashed his car. Hallman was responding with lights and siren activated in a 1994 Chevrolet Tahoe. Cpl. Hallman was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. The suspect police were tracking was armed and had a child with him. Hallman was taken to Self Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries. His K9 "Copper, a Belgium Malinois was found at the scene, and is expected to recover. He worked at the Saluda County Sheriff's Office for five years, and was awarded the Medal of Valor in 2016. He also served as a lieutenant in the County Fire Service.Hallman was a Medal of Valor recipient in 2016. Hallman leaves behind a pregnant wife Brandi Perry Hallman two sons Jase and Jonathan and a daughter, Laney Grace due in June.

Sergeant Mark A. Quimet

April 2, 2018 - Hampden County, Massachusetts - Age 51

Sgt. Mark Ouimet,51, collapsed while out for a walk on Easter morning. Ouimet was revived and taken to Baystate Medical Center and died there that day.  Ouimet was hired by the Hampden County Sheriff's Department in March of 1996. He most recently led the K-9 unit. Sgt Mark Quimet's son, Sgt. Alex Quimet recently became a K-9 officer with U.S. Marines in California. Sgt Mark Ouimet's family and four-legged partner, Dalka, got a chance to say goodbye and Dalka even jumped up onto Ouimet's bed at Baystate to be with him one last time. Dalka was Ouimet's newest K-9 and was already certified in narcotics detection. The dog was three weeks away from getting certified to go out on patrol. The Hampden County Sheriff's department plans to complete Dalka's training and then donate the dog to Alex, his son, so the two can work together as a team for the U.S. Marines. Sgt Quimet was awarded numerous Distinguished Service and professional Excellence Awards during his over 20 year career and was certified in Counter - Terrorism, Explosive & Bomb Threats Recognition, Firearms instruction, Fire Safety and Tactical EMS Training. Sgt Quimet was buried with Military Honors. Quimet leaves behind his wife, Tracie, and two adult sons, Alex and Josh. Donations in his honor may be made to the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center, 627 Cottage St. Springfield, MA, 01104.

Deputy Jacob M. Pickett

March 2, 2018 - Boone County, Indiana - Age 34

   Deputy Jacob Pickett, 34, died as a result of injuries sustained during a shooting. Lebanon Police were serving a search warrant to a woman on Yates Street around 8:30 a.m. when a foot chase ensued. While serving the warrant at approximately 9:32 am officers recognized another wanted person, John D. Baldwin Jr. 28. who had warrants for two 2017 cases: auto theft and possession of syringe. John Baldwin Jr  was ordered to stop but instead got into a car and drove away with his father, 55-year-old John Baldwin Sr., and 21-year-old Anthony Baumgardt. Baldwin was behind the wheel. After a short pursuit, Lebanon officers were joined by deputies from the Boone County Sheriff's Department. The car, silver Ford Focus, eventually came to a stop approximately 9:39 am on Indian Springs Road in Lebanon and all three occupants fled on foot. That's when Deputy Pickett was shot in the head as he rounded a corner of a building. One passenger, Anthony Bumgardt, 21, was wounded by officers. He was last listed in stable condition. John Baldwin Sr. fled but was soon arrested by police. Authorities caught Baldwin Jr. a short time later on Interstate 65. Pickett was transported to Witham Hospital following the shooting and a short time later he was flown to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis where he later died from his injuries after a gunshot wound to the head just before 1:30 a.m. Duputy Pickett was being kept alive on life support until the evening of March 4, 2018  so that his organs could  be donated. The suspected shooter is 21-year-old Anthony Baumgardt. Deputy Pickett graduated from the Marion County Sheriff's Training Academy in 2010 and the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 2014 with class 202 as a pistol expert. He was employed with the Marion County Sheriff's Office from 2010 - 2013 as a detention deputy and was on the Sheriff's Presentation Corps. He received the County Correctional Officer of the Year in 2012 and the Sheriff's Jail Deputy of the Year in 2013 and began his service with the Boone County Sheriff's Office in 2015. Deputy Pickett was the lead K9 handler for the BCSO and patrolled with his partner Brik for more than two years. K9 Brik was with him at the time of the shooting. Thousands attended Duputy Picketts funeral including his K9 partner Brik. A 52-mile procession took Pickett from the church to his final resting place in the Heroes of Public Safety Section at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. The procession, which had around 575 cars and was about 5 miles long, lasted several hours.  Deputy Pickett is survived by his beloved wife of 10 years, Jennifer A. Pickett, his two sons ages 3 and 4 and his faithful K9 partner Brik.

Anthony Baumgardt, the man police say shot and mortally wounded Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Pickett, was transferred from St. Vincent Hospital to Boone County Jail on 3/3/18. Baumgardt  was booked on 1/7/2018 at 3:12 a.m. Baumgardt has been charges in Boone County with a felony count of murder, two felony counts of possession of methamphetamine, felony and misdemeanor counts of carrying a handgun without a license, two misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana, and a  misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement. According to police records, Baumgardt has two pending cases against him, one being for felony theft. The other one is a misdemeanor for visiting a common nuisance with controlled substances. Records indicate the first time he was arrested for in June of 2015 for theft and illegal possession of an alcoholic beverage. The following summer, he was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, paraphernalia and visiting a common nuisance. In total, Baumgardt has six criminal cases pending or completed on his record. Baumgardt remains held without bond and is expected to appear for a pretrial hearing on May 16. On 7/11/18, 29-year-old John Baldwin Jr. and 22 old-old John Ball were charged in nshooting of Jacob Pickett..

Another man, John Baldwin Jr. was with Baumgardt at the time and is charged with criminal recklessness, auto theft, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Officer David Yoo (RET)

February 11, 2018 - Dennis, Massachusetts - Age 72

Retired Dennis Police Patrol Officer David Yoo, 72, died on February 11, 2018.  Officer Yoo served on the Dennis Police Department as first a Special Police Officer and then was appointed as a full time Patrol Officer in 1977. Officer Yoo served as a K9 officer for most of his career, receiving numerous letters of commendation and thanks for his K9 work from members of the community, as well as the department, and organizations for which he and his K9 partners performed demonstrations. Donations can be made in his name to Hope Hospice, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis Ma 02601 or Cape Code Police K9 Relief Fund, PO Box 582 South Dennis, MA 02660.

Officer Eric Joseph Joering

February 10, 2018 - Westerville, Ohio- Age 39

Officer Eric Joering, 39, was shot and killed on 2/10/18 in Westerville, Ohio while responding to a 911 hang-up call regarding a potential domestic situation. Officers received a 911 call at 12:02 p.m. and were at the scene responding to the hang-up call at 12:10.  Officer Anthony Morelli, 54, was also killed  as both entered the residence and were immediately met with gunfire. Joering, a 17-year veteran, was killed at the scene. Morelli, a 29-year veteran, died in surgery at Ohio State University Medical Center. The suspect was wounded and taken to an area hospital.  Officer Joering’s  K9 partner was “Sam”. The suspect, Quentin Lamar Smith, 30, was hospitalized and taken into custody and charged with two counts of aggravated murder. Officer Joering was three times recognized with the Exceptional Duty Award. He was also recognized with a commendation in 2013.In 2013, Joering was also recognized for his role in an investigation that led to the arrest of dealers with links to high-level drug traffickers in Mexico.  Joering's K9 partner Sam was in the back of the cruiser during the shooting. Officer Joering and K9 Sam visited several schools in Marion County. Officer Morelli was recognized in 2012 as the Westerville Division of Police Officer of the Year. In a 911 call around noon Saturday from Candace Smith's phone, a sob is heard before the line abruptly drops, according to recordings released by the City of Westerville. When an operator calls the number back, more sobs and wails can be heard before the line drops again. In another call about 10 minutes later, Candace Smith tells the operator she is hiding in the bushes outside their home. She expresses fear for her one-year-old daughter, who she says is in the apartment with her husband. "Please help, please help, please help," she cries. "My husband ... he shot the police officers. Please hurry up." On September 14, 2017, Candace Smith called police reporting that while her husband was moving out, he was drunk and "doing something to her car," according to an incident report released by the city. Then, on November 29, 2017, Candace Smith visited the Westerville Police Department to inquire about protection orders, according to another incident report. She told police that she was not getting along with her husband, and that when she threatens to leave he tells her that he will kill her, their daughter and himself, the report says. She left the department to pick up her daughter from day care without taking action against him, the report states. About 30 minutes later, Quentin Smith called police to their home after Candace had locked him out, the report states. The two got into an argument after Candace accused him of cheating on her and giving her a sexually transmitted disease. Quentin Smith denied the allegations and refused to leave despite his wife's request that he do so, the report states. The officer who responded to the scene recommended that Candace stay with her daughter in a different part of the home. Officer Joering's K9 partner was retired and given to his family. Eric is survived by his wife Jami, and his daughters Eva (12),Elena (11). and Ella (6). Donations be made to COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors), P.O. Box 3199, Camdenton, MO, 65020.

Quentin L. Smith, 30, of Westerville has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder of a law enforcement officer.  Gerald A. Lawson III, 30, of Westerville Heights, faces a federal charge for allegedly supplying Smith with the gun used to kill the two officers. 

Spc. Robert William. Jones

January 6, 2018 - Vail, Arizona- Age 21

Spc. Robert Jones, 21, died on his birthday while serving in the Army in Kosovo on 1/6/18  at Camp Bondsteel, where he served as a military police working-dog handler. His death is under investigation and no further details were available, the Army said. Jones served with the NATO Kosovo Force Multinational Battle Group-East at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo. Robert was a military working dog handler, assigned to the 131st Military Working Dog Detachment, 709th Miltary Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade based at Grafenwohr, Germany before he was deployed to Kosovo in April 2017. Robert enlisted in the Army in August 2015. After completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, Robert married Charlee De La Ossa the Day after Christmas in 2015. He loved working his military dog Maco.His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal (Kosovo), and German Marksmanship Badge.  Robert is survived by his wife, Charlee De La Ossa Jones; Donations in Robert's name can be made to Fisher House Foundation (www.fisherhouse.org)which provides support to military families.

Officer Craig E. Lehner

October 13, 2017 - Buffalo, New York - Age 34

Officer Craig E. Lehner,34, with the Buffalo Police went missing on diver training in the Niagara River off Broderick Park on 10/13/17 and his body recovered on 10/17/17 after a five day search of the river.. Divers, in pairs of two, were conducting search patterns on the river bottom. Search teams were using "robotic vehicles with cameras" to try and find the missing officer. The Air One helicopter from the sheriff's office was used in the air. Cadaver search dogs brought in from the state Federation of Rescue Teams were also used on the shore and on boats in the hope that they can provide clues and narrow the area where the officer went missing. In addition to the agencies on the scene, a piece of "extremely sophisticated sonar technology" that normally is used by the U.S. Navy is being flown to Buffalo from the New York Police Department by a State Police Aviation Unit to assist in the search, Lehner went into the Niagara River at the foot of West Ferry Street during a training exercise 10/13/17 but did not come out. The search for Lehner, a police diver and full-time K-9 Unit officer, started at about 12:50 p.m. on 10/13/17 and stretched until 9 p.m., with portable flood lights on the shore. Four rescue boats equipped with sonar conducted a grid search in the swift waters off Broderick Park, and underwater robots scoured the river's bottom. Lehner's fellow divers repeatedly searched the 25-foot deep water off Bird Island Pier, but they were called to shore at dusk to avoid the possibility of more tragedy. The water moves anywhere from 12 to 15 knots, and under the water here there was a number of serious  obstacles, debris, downed trees, rocks, shopping carts, cars, over the years things found themselves in the water right there. It is extremely dangerous, and that's why our teams train for these situations. Divers don upward of "40 to 80 pounds" of additional equipment when they dive. That just adds to the challenge. Police explained that the team trains there because practicing in the swift currents enables them to be prepared for hazardous missions. Visibility beneath the water is about 10 feet, at the time the team was training. First responders from about 15 agencies, including from Canada, were taking part in the search. Even Shield, Lehner's 4-year-old German shepherd K-9 Unit partner, was at the scene for a short time. Lehner named the dog Shield last year in honor of Buffalo Police Officer James A. Shields, 36, who was killed in the line of duty in October 2002 when his patrol vehicle crashed into a tree on Delaware Avenue while he was responding to a robbery call. Lehner, who is not married, joined the police department in 2008 and served in the Army National Guard with deployments to Iraq and the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.  The U.S. Coast Guard, which provided a 45-foot response boat to the search effort. A Coast Guard helicopter from Detroit also aided in the search along with the Air One helicopter from the Erie County Sheriff's Office and another from the U.S. Border Patrol.

Walter Mallinson (RET)

September 9, 2017 - Harrison, New York - Age 56

Retired K9 officer Walter Millinson, 59, who responded to Ground Zero died from cancer related to the response. Walter Mallinson died after a “long and courageous battle.   Before his retirement, Mallinson was a K-9 officer with the Harrison Police Department. Mallinson leaves behind a wife, daughter, and son,Trooper Sean Mallinson and Kaitlin Anne Mallinson.

Corporal Thomas Hannon

September 1, 2017 - Dover, Delaware - Age 42

Sergeant Michael Pershall

August 22, 2017 - Modesto, California - Age 38

Sergeant Michael Pershall, 38, was killed on 8/22/17 when he was involved in a  vehicle vs bicyclist crash, He was off duty at the time and was a member of the Modesto Police Department. The accident occurred at 6:10 p.m. along Merle Avenue. Sergeant Michael Pershall was pronounced dead at the scene. CHP's investigation determined Matthew Gibbs, 32, of Modesto, was driving westbound in a Volkswagen, when he struck Pershall on his bicycle, ejecting him in the process. Gibbs' vehicle then jumped a curb, struck a fire hydrant and came to a stop.  Gibbs was taken into custody by CHP after he displayed signs of impairment. He was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail. Matthew Gibbs, was arrested at the crash scene and is being held without bail on homicide and DUI charges. Pershall was a 9-year veteran in law enforcement  worked in a variety of positions, including field training officer certified critical incident hostage negotiator and adviser to the Police Explorer Program. In Tuolumne County, he was on the sheriff’s SWAT team and was recognized as rookie of the year in 2008.  Sergeant Pershall served four years in Tuolumne County as a sheriff deputy before joining the Modesto Police Department. He had recently been promoted to Police Sergeant on Aug. 8. As a canine handler, Pershall was active in the department’s community outreach, providing canine demonstrations to schools and youth organizations. His most recent outing with his canine partner “Ike” involved visiting several block parties at this year’s National Night Out. Pershall is survived by his wife, Christine, and two sons of junior high and high school age.

Officer Matthew L. Hazelton

August 6 2017 - Dunkirk, New York - Age 39

Illinois State Trooper- Ryan Albin

June 28, 2017 - Farmer City, Illinois - Age 37

Illinois State Police trooper, Trooper Ryan Albin , was killed in a crash on 6/28/17  involving his squad car while on duty with a semitrailer truck near Farmer City. The crash happened about 3:10 p.m. while on patrol on I-74. Trooper Albin was airlifted to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries at 8:45 p.m. at  Carle Foundation Hospital. The truck driver, a 47-year-old Normal man, and his passenger, a 38-year-old Bloomington man, refused medical treatment, The preliminary investigation showed both vehicles were in slowed/stopped westbound traffic approaching a merge area ahead of a construction zone when the crash occurred. Albin joined the ISP in 2006 and worked as a canine officer assigned to District 6 in downstate Pontiac. His police dog, Biko, was in the back of the squad car at the time of the crash and was taken to the University of Illinois Emergency Veterinary Teaching Hospital with minor injuries.  Albin leaves behind a 6-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son. It was determined that the Illinois State Trooper failed to reduce his speed to avoid the acident.

Officer Sascha Naidoo

June 27, 2017 - KwaZulu-Natal, India - Age 45

Officer Tanner Kitelinger

June 9, 2017 - Burlington, Wisconsin - Age 27

Officer Tanner Kitelinger, 27, of the Burlington Police Department, died at his home on 6/9/17 due to medical issues stemming from diabetes. Kitelinger had been with the department since March 2015, had successfully managed his diabetes since his diagnosis at age 12. .”Kitelinger was the department’s canine handler, had trained and bonded with the Zander, the department’s canine unit. The two began patrolling together on May 7.

Officer Robert Allen Seich

June 6, 2017 - Roseville, California - Age 34

Corporal Francis Onekalet

June 5, 2017 - Hoima, Uganda - Age ?

Corporal Francis Onekalit attached to the Canine unit at Hoima Central Police station was killed in a car accident on 6/5/17 in the evening that also injured another officer, Sam Murura at approximately 6:00 p.m. Corporal Onekalit was driving a Toyota Premio when he lost control and hit an electrical pole. Onekalit died on spot while Murura sustained broken limbs and admitted to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital. The sniffer dog escaped unhurt. The two officers were returning from tracking thugs connected to a robbery in Kyangwali Sub County at Kyarushesha Police Post.

David Michael Simpson

June 1, 2017 - Mulberry, Florida - Age 35

David Simpson took his life on 6/1/17. He suffered from PTSD.  A deputy got there within a few minutes of his taking his life and first responders were there from another call but it was to late. His MWD Robson served faithfully in the U.S. Air Force from July 27, 2007 to February 11, 2014 as a Patrol and Explosive Detection Dog. His first duty duty station was Kunsan AFB in South Korea and then he was stationed at Yokota AFB in Japan. Next he was stationed in Iceland at Keflavik Navy Base. He was assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany and has traveled extensively supporting U.S. and military interests and operations. His MWD Robson provided thousands of hours of exceptional explosive detection and random anti-terrorism measures in the warfighting mission. MWD Robson was deployed to Iraq for approximately seven months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. During that time, he located a weapon cache and improvised explosive device materials which protected the lives of coalition forces. He searched several Iraqi polling locations with the Army ensuring Iraqi citizens had a safe place to vote. They protected Air Force One, the Vice President, the Secretary of Defense and many others. During his service to the Air Force while assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, MWD Robson protected billions of dollars in Department of Defense assets and over fifty thousand military and civilian personnel. MWD Robson provided explosive detection for multiple distinguished visitor visits including the United States President in Rome, Italy and Lisbon, Portugal, and the United States Vice President in Beirut, Lebanon and Munich, Germany. When his MWD Robson became retired he went all the way to Germany himself  to pick him up for adoption. He leaves behind his wife Erin and three children, daughters Alexandrea and Madison along with a son Elijah.    

Ashland County Sheriff Sgt. Timothy Kitts, 51, died unexpectedly at home on 4/13/17. He served 26½ years with the sheriff's office beginning June 7, 1991. Kitts worked as a special deputy, dispatcher, corrections officer and as a patrol deputy. He was promoted to sergeant on June 2, 2001 and became a K-9 handler in 2002. He was currently serving with K-9 Meeko as the day shift patrol sergeant. Meeko will be retired and remain with the Kitts family.

 

  

Police Officer Sherwin Cedeno attached to the Caroni Canine Unit was killed in a car accident on 2/27/17 in Claxton Bay. Sherwin Cedeno was in a vehicle proceeding south along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, when the car crashed on the Macaulay Flyover. Cedeno along with three female passengers were subsequently pulled out of the wreck. He was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The other three passengers were listed in a serious condition.

Unified Police Officer Jon Richey, 52, was found dead on 2/11/17. A hero police officer who was shot in the line of duty during a foot pursuit with a convicted felon in January 2016. Richey is nationally known and recognized as a hero after a shooting on January 17. The shooting left Richey injured, and killed his colleague Officer Doug Barney. The suspect was also killed during the incident. Richey joined the Police Explorers at age 14 and was hired as a bank security guard at 17. Two years later, he became the youngest police officer in Utah when he joined the West Jordan PD at 19 years old. In 1988 he joined the Salt Lake City Police Department where he worked for nearly 20 years as a Detective Sergeant and K9 Trainer, developing the SLC Police Dogs into one of the top K9 units in the country and winning several competitions. In August of 2002, he encountered Brian David Mitchell and kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart at the Salt Lake City Library but Smart''s face was covered by a veil and she did not alert him that anything was wrong. After 7 more months of captivity and sexual assaults Smart was found in March of 2003. Officer Richey testified at Mitchell''s trial. He retired from the SLCPD in 2007 to go to work for the Salt Lake Unified Police Department as a K9 trainer and bloodhound handler, tracking down suspects with his partner Molly. He was working a patrol shift on Sunday January 17, when he was wounded in the shootout with Corey Lee Henderson. Some of the awards and commendations Jon received during his career include: The Medal of Honor, The Purple Heart, Two International Police K9 Championships (Germany, Canada), Four National Police K9 Championships, The International Police Dog Championships - First Place Award 1993, 1994, 1995 with his K9 Drago, the Distinguished Service Medal, Officer of the Month (twice), Meritorious Unit Citation, Distinguished Unit Citation, and over 25 letters of Commendation. 

Boynton Beach Police K9 Officer Joe Crowder, 44, died on 12/12/16 at JFK Medical Center after going out for a run. Officer Crowder was a 14-year veteran of the force and had been a member of the K9 unit since 2012. Crowder's famous partner, K9 Daxxx, had to retire last December due to health reasons. Daxxx had an illustrious career, with some major take-downs that made headlines. The dog tracked down murder suspect Michael Correa-Ortiz on Valentine's Day in 2013. Correa-Ortiz is now serving 60 years for killing Lyssa Moody and seriously injuring her husband in Tara Lakes. Daxxx also took down the driver of a car that had led police on a 50-mile chase from Miami Gardens. The chase took officers along Interstate 95 to Gateway Boulevard where one suspect ran from the car and jumped over a barrier wall. Daxxx chased the man down into some bushes in a nearby neighborhood. After Daxxx retired, Crowder became teamed up with K9 Iro, a 4-year-old Czech-Shepherd. In April, 2013, Crowder was named officer of the month for when he tracked down a man who was hiding from police after his alleged involvement in a fatal home invasion case. Before joining the Boynton Beach Police Department in June, 2002, Crowder served as a community service officer at the Chickasha Police Department in Oklahoma. Crowder served in the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant. Crowder was the father of two young boys, Jeremiah and Kaleb.

Former police canine handler with the Sierra Vista Police, Michael Mitchell, 39, committed suicide on 10/3/16. Cpl. Mitchell was on paid leave while FBI were investigating allegations back in July of 2015. Mitchell was having sexual relations with a woman that started in May of 2015. Mitchell resigned in November of 2015 after it was discovered that he was having a sexual relationship with a confidential informant. Michael Mitchell resigned from the Sierra Vista Police Department in November of 2015. An internal investigation revealed that he removed evidence from a crime scene to protect an informant he had a sexual relationship with. Marana Police officers and Northwest Fire District personnel responded to the 1200 block of North Sabal Palm Way at about 2 p.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive male. Mitchell was pronounced dead at his Marana home. Mitchell began working for the Sierra Vista Police Department in 2004 and served as the department's lead K9 handler for years. He was involved in the investigation and arrest of several drug dealers and other criminals. Mitchell's resignation came after Sierra Vista Police, acting on a tip from a man arrested on burglary charges, discovered text messages between the former officer and a confidential informant indicating they had a sexual relationship. Police also say Mitchell removed the woman's cellphone from a vehicle that was seized as evidence. In an interview with police, the informant denied ever having been paid for information she provided to Mitchell. At least 17 pending criminal cases that relied on testimony from Mitchell had to be dismissed once the investigation into his misconduct began. The police department also reviewed all of Mitchell's previous cases but found no misconduct.

Sgt. Ronald Dale Mathis Jr. of Charleston, WV, passed away on Sunday, September 25, 2016. He served the citizens of Kanawha County as a Deputy Sheriff for 20 years. Ronald was a master K9 trainer, certified in tracking, narcotic detection, apprehension, and bomb detection. He was nominated for the Top Cop Award in 2005. Those left to cherish his memory are children, Christin Mathis, Kelsey Mathis, Ronald Mathis III, and Zackary Mathis.and mother of his children, Jennifer Mathis; loving K9 partner DEA, Ronald was preceded in death by his first K9 partner, Bern. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Kanawha County Deputy Sheriff's Association, 301 Virginia St. E, Charleston, WV 25301, Attn: Adam Crawford, or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 3 International Drive, Suite 200, Rye Brook, NY 10573.

PC Carl Tyrrell, 49, a dog handler for South Yorkshire Police committed suicide on 9/20/16. He was found hanged at his home in Fitzwalter Road. He was recognized several times for his skill and bravery while working as a dog handler. He suffered from serious mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, relating to various aspects of his job and family life. This included having to reapply for his job three times due to cuts to the force and struggling to move on from the breakdown of his two earlier marriages.   Mr. Tyrrell had been hit hard by the death of his first police dog Atos, with whom he had won his awards, and had been badly affected when his second dog Cairo was taken away after two biting incidents - although he was allowed to keep another dog, Duke.

Officer Tim Brackeen, 38, who was shot on 9/10/16  at  approximately 12:20 a.m.  was taken to Cleveland Regional Medical Center and then taken to Carolinas Medical Center for treatment where he died from his wound on 9/12/16 at 11:42 a.m. Brackeen was shot in the line of duty in the area of Shelby’s Parkview Street, in Shelby North Carolina while searching for Irving Lucien Fenner Jr., 23, of Grover, North Carolina. The subject was wanted on outstanding warrants who had failed to show up to an August court date for misdemeanor charges of carrying a concealed weapon and marijuana possession.  Officer Brackeen was a 12-year veteran of the department and was wearing a bullet-resistant vest when shot in the torso,  Officer Brackeen was named the Shelby department’s officer of the year in 2012. He leaves behind his wife Mikel of eighteen years, and his four-year-old daughter, Daphne. and his K9 partner Ciko. Brackeen’s service was held at Keeter Stadium where approximately 7,000 people attended the service along with   Brackeen’s K9 partner who was retired from service following the memorial.The state offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the shooting before the suspect was captured. In lieu of flowers, Memorials can be made;Shelby Police Department K-9 Unit, PO Box 207,  Shelby NC 28151.

On 9/14/16 SWAT team members took 23-year-old Irving Lucien Fenner into custody at around 2:35 a.m. at an apartment in Coventry, Rhode Island. Fenner was taken to a hospital to treat a gunshot wound he suffered in the deadly incident with Brackeen. Deitria Morris was arrested as an accessory after the fact. On 9/22/16, Fenner, signed extradition waiver papers in Rhode Island court to return to Cleveland County to face a first-degree murder charge. On 10/3/16 Fenner made his first court appearence in Cleveland County, North Carolina. Fenner is being held without bond in the Gaston County Jail. Five other people have been charged for their alleged involvement in the case. Casey Fenner of New York and Deitra Morris of Shelby were each charged with accessory after the fact of first-degree murder, which is a Class C felony. Fenner’s uncle, Corry Peeler and his girlfriend Hope Wyman, are both charged with harboring a criminal which stem from “aid that they provided the suspect after the murder. Ashley Hamrick was charged with felony harboring a fugitive “for giving Fenner aid and comfort while he was subject to outstanding warrants for 1st degree burglary, robbery with dangerous weapon, and second degree kidnapping. Hamrick is accused of harboring Fenner, knowing he was wanted, when officer Brackeen attempted to serve warrants on him.

  Special Agent De'Greaun Frazier, 35, of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was investigating illegal drugs in Jackson, Tennessee, on 8/9/16 in the afternoon afternoon when he was shot and killed. TBI said the shooter tried to rob the undercover agent before killing him. TBI spokesman Josh Devine said this was the first TBI agent who has ever died in the line of duty. Frazier was in a car with an informant and another man conducting an undercover drug purchase. The other man, who was sitting in the back seat, pulled a gun and tried to rob Frazier and the informant, who were in the front seat, TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said. The gunman fired once, striking the TBI agent. Frazier was pronounced dead at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Agent De'Greaun Frazier was was married, and he was a father." TBI said the man who killed agent Frazier was arrested a short time after the shooting. Frazier was formerly a Millington Police Officer and an officer for the University of Memphis. Frazier served in Millington for six years, including time as a K9 officer and a detective. He also worked for Shelby County Sheriff's Office.

 

Well known retired Scunthorpe policeman John Ellis died at a his home at the age of 68, after a long illness. Mr Ellis was a dog handler with the Humberside force based in Scunthorpe. He became a familiar and often welcome sight on the streets of the town with a succession of dogs named Dirk, Zeus, Jason, Jed and Heini. He was also a member of the firearms squad. He joined the force in 1969 His family have requested mourners if they wish to make donations to the Healthtree Foundation to help the work of the local Macmillan cancer nurses.

Bibb County Deputy, Anthony Joseph “T.J.” Freeman, 29, was killed on 5/4/16 while pursuing a suspicious vehicle in Bloomfield Village in Georgia. Freeman's dog, K9 Bojar, was with him at the time of the crash but did not appear to be injured. Deputy Freeman was pronounced dead at the Medical Center, Navicent Health at 3:36 a.m. The accident happened on Columbus Road near Buena Vista Drive. Freeman's patrol vehicle was hit on the driver’s side by the suspect's vehicle, which came from Buena Vista Drive as Freeman was coming down Columbus Road. Freeman’s vehicle went off the road, coming to a stop in the front yard of a residence in the 2800 block of Columbus Road. Because of the recent burglaries and entering autos in recent weeks, investigators attempted to stop the vehicle and see what was going on.The driver, later identified as Montavious Kinder, 24, sped off and investigators pursued, calling for additional units to assist. Kinder was treated at Coliseum Northside Hospital for minor injuries. He was taken to the Monroe County Jail, charged with pre-existing warrants. Other charges are pending. He was a narcotics investigator for the last five years. A veteran of seven years, he was also a SWAT officer, a K-9 handler and was about to start training to become a training instructor. Freeman is survived by his wife, Jessica, and their two children, Braden, 11, and Blaiklyn, 6. His K9 partner "Bojar" was given to the family. TV show “Cops” theme song, “Bad Boys”, to close Freeman’s service. Approximately eleven hundred attended his service. Donations can be made to the Macon Shriners, 222 Mecca Drive, Macon, Georgia, 31206.

Montavious Kinder is charged with vehicular homicide, felony murder and reckless driving.

Ronald Heist, 71, a retired York City Police canine officer was one of two people killed on 3/20/16 during a Pennsylvania Turnpike tollbooth robbery attempt. Danny Crouse, 55 who had been on the job only a few months was also killed. Police identified 54-year-old Clarence Briggs of Newville, a retired state trooper, as the man who attempted the armed holdup at a tollbooth in Fort Littleton, off i-76 in Fulton County, around 7:00 a.m.  Briggs is a former state trooper whose tenure included time spent with a division overseeing turnpike operations in the area and ended with him being honorable discharged in 2012. Briggs was fatally shot by police during the shootout. Heist was assigned to the K-9 corps in 1968 and served with the police dogs until the unit was disbanded in 1970. An avid K-9 handler, Heist trained dogs and launched an elite training program for the dogs.  

Officer James R. Olsen, 48 , was found dead in his home on 12/16/15 of natural causes. Officer Olsen had handled K9'S for the St. Petersburg Police Department. Officer Olson joined the department in 1990 and began working with the police dog unit two years later. In 2016, he was to become the lead police dog trainer for the department. In 2001, Olson was awarded the department's Medal of Valor for his "bravery and decisive action" in helping rescue a Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy. Deputies had responded to a domestic dispute and found a woman shot in a front yard. A deputy had been shot with a powerful rifle and was pinned down as well. Olson volunteered to help him, the department said, reaching the deputy and bringing him to medical personnel, all while under fire. He helped instruct other officers about active-shooter incidents, explosive detection and techniques for managing crowds. He helped develop "an innovative building search technique for use during routine patrol or active-shooter scenarios," the department said. Olson's police dog partner, K9 Soren, of four years, will be cared for by another handler while the department evaluates the dog's readiness to return to work. Olson helped train several police dog officer teams as a canine instructor and evaluator.

 

Sgt. Lisa Zuk, 37, died 11/30/15 at the Rose Arbor Hospice Residence after a long and hard fought battle with breast cancer. Sgt Zuk was a 14-year veteran with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Zuk was diagnosed with breast cancer on Aug. 9, 2013. She underwent 16 weeks of chemotherapy. Upon her return to work, her fellow officers unveiled a patrol car, lettered in pink and bearing the pink ribbon symbol connoting breast cancer awareness. She is survived by her husband, Zachary Zuk and her daughter, Zoey Zuk. Memorials may be directed to an educational fund for Zoey Zuk in care of Lake Michigan Credit Union.

Captain Tustin died on 11/25/15 from complications linked to his injury when he was shot a point blank range in the throat with a 9mm  pistol on 7/16/01. Tustin was a decorated Empangeni police dog handler. The shoot-out with criminals in 2001 left him paralyzed. On 16 July 2001 police officers were conducting an operation looking for illegal weapons at a home in the Isithebe Reserve near Mandini. Tustin was searching a man named Mandlinkosi Nene when the suspect shot. He was 31 at the time. Tustin  suffered with pain since the incident. He was 45. Tustin beat the odds when in 2004 his rehabilitation allowed him to do an office job for the police. Five years later, he fell down the stairs and injured his hip and lower back. Tustin was left in severe pain and medically boarded. After 14 surgeries and seemingly endless drug treatments at hospitals across the country, Tustin went home and had to readjust his life. Tustin had written about his immense pain, and how even wearing clothes irritated his skin. Tustin in 2003, exceeding his doctors’ wildest expectations, he improved and could walk short distances. But in 2009, his condition suddenly worsened and he became bedridden. Tustin's K9 partner's name was "Bishop" at the time of the shooting.

 

Officer Ryan P. Copeland, 33, of Janesville, died while on duty on 11/23/15 around noon time in a vehicle accident in the Town of Albion, Wisconsin when a  pick-up truck driven by Colleen M. Sutheimer, 25, of Fitchburg, crossed the center line and hit the squad car head-on with Copeland on County Road N in southeastern Dane County, just north of Edgerton. Officer Copeland was just starting his shift when the crash occurred. Copeland died at the scene. A medical helicopter was called to the scene but was canceled. Both drivers were wearing their seat belt and that Copeland's air bag had deployed during the accident. Sutheimer is a Wildlife Biologist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources employee who was driving a Ford F250 pic k-up truck belonging to the Wisconsin DNR. She had been picking up deer specimens during the 10-day gun deer season when the accident took place. Sutheimer was transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Janesville with minor injuries. Copeland worked exclusively with the department's K9 Boris, a German shepherd, since October 2014. K9 Boris was not in the vehicle at the time of the crash and was en route to pick up the dog at a kennel after just coming back from a vacation hunting deer when the crash happened. Photographs and videos from the scene show the hilly stretch of road with snow and ice covering parts of it. It's not clear if the condition the road was a factor. Officials said that Sutheimer was not impaired, speeding or on the phone at the time of the accident. Copeland graduated from Blackhawk Technical College's Law Enforcement Basic Recruit Academy. Copeland was McFarland Police Department's first K9 officer. From January 2003 to March 2005, Copeland was with the Army. From March 2005 to December 2012, he was a weapons sergeant with the Green Beret and also served as a special forces sniper. He did two tours of duty in Iraq. As an extension of his Army work during the decade, he learned to speak fluent Indonesian. Copeland served 10 years active duty in the United States Army with the Special Forces, Green Beret and sniper. While working as a McFarland police officer, Copeland earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Excelsior College's online program in 2015. Ryan is survived by his wife,  Amanda Richter Copeland of over ten years: In lieu of flowers, memorials would be greatly appreciated if they were made to: McFarland State Bank, 5990 US Hwy 51, McFarland, WI, 53558, in memory of Ryan Copeland.

Colleen M. Sutheimer blood test were negative and an investrigation estimated her speed between 55-60 MPH.and she was not charged.  Accident was due to slushy road conditions.

Officer Ricardo "Ricky" Galvez, 29,  of the Downey Police Department was shot and killed on 11/18/15 while parked in his own personal BMW 335 vehicle in a public parking lot next to the Downey Police Department, located at 10911 Brookshire Ave.,  when two people ran up and at least one opened fire around 11 p.m. Officer Galvez just completed K9 training and was nearing the end of his shift. He was in plain clothes and the victim of a botched robbery.  A fellow Downey officer who was beginning his patrol shift heard the gunfire and pursued the suspects in a Nissan sedan speeding away from the parking lot. The pursuit ended near Washington Boulevard and Carob Way in Montebello, where multiple people were detained. Three young men who fled the shooting were arrested at 11:15 in Montebello after a high-speed police chase on surface streets  and were being held for the murder. The car's driver, Jeremy Alvarez ,a 21-year-old Hispanic, was taken into custody immediately, after he tried to flee through residential backyards.  Steven Knott, 18, along with  16 year-old  Abel Diaz, both Hispanic, were taken into custody shortly after both fled into a home where they were eventually taken into custody and they were being held without bail. Officer Galvez was a five-year veteran of the Police Department who started in March of 2010 and was a U.S. Marine who served two tours during Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed overseas, once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. During the service of Officer Galvez, eight K9 handlers removed leashes from their dogs and tied the leashes to Galvez's casket. In lieu of flowers the Downey Police Officer's Association has set up an account for the family at Downey Federal Credit Union, Officer Ricardo Galvez Fund, 8237 3rd St., Downey, CA 90241, 562-862-8141.

Jeremy Alvarez, 21, and Steven Knott, 18, are brothers and have been charged with murder in the death of Officer Ricardo Galvez and are being held without bail. During a scheduled arraignment in Downey at Los Angeles County Superior Court when family members spoke. The trio's arraignment was then rescheduled for 12/17/15 at the Norwalk Courthouse. If convicted they face the death penalty. The trio are also charged with one count of special circumstance murder and one count of attempted second-degree robbery. Abel Diaz,16,  was charged as an adult in connection with the killing and because of his age faces up to life in state prison and his bail has been set at $1 million.

Officer Bashir Ahmad War

Bashir Ahmad War and a four-year old Labrador named Mansi lost their lives on 8/17/15 while foiling the bid of militants to cross over the Line of Control in Kupwara's Tanghdhar sector. He  joined the army in 2004 and served as a dog handler for several years. Both Mansi and Bashir Ahmad War belonged to the tracker dog unit of the 160 Territorial Army battalion in Kashmir. Mansi and War were posted in the dense forests where terrorists from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir made an infiltration. Bashir who was with the trekker dog volunteered to go with the search party to track down the militants. They made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly fighting a group of heavily armed infiltrators in the high altitude area along the line of control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector about 150 kms from Srinagar. Mansi, a trekker dog, prevented a huge ingress of militants when it noticed some movement on the LoC and alerted his master Bashir Ahmad War. Mansi sensed some movement and started pulling War towards an area where clouds were low. As Mansi started barking at the intruders, she received an enemy bullet, which prompted her handler to fire at the intruders, besides calling for reinforcements. The infiltrators showered a volley of bullets at Mansi and Bashir, killing them on the spot. Mansi's body was recovered and after necessary documentation which included a postmortem. During the ensuing gunfight, Bashir  was struck in the face with two bullets, one in the neck and one on his leg. Mansi was been the apple of the unit, given the prowess and successes it had in foiling infiltration bids this year. Mansi was part of the group that successfully foiled several infiltration bids along the LoC. War had been taking care of the canine since she joined the Army's Tracker unit.   War's body was brought to the Army cantonment in Srinagar where Lt General Subrata Saha, General Officer in Command of 15 Corps, laid a wreath on the coffin, before it was taken to his native village in Kupwara for last rites with full military honors. The mortal remains of the valiant friend of the Army were laid to rest at her unit lines at Trehgam in north Kashmir. This season, Mansi and War had three kills to their credit. They were involved in the killing of a terrorist at Kaisuri ridge in Tangdhar area on May 25, followed by gunning down of two militants on July 21. Bashir Ahmad War . War  was from Bohipora village, about an hour from his camp and was always in the company of his dog. Mansi was laid to rest at the army dog unit in Trehgam. A wreath was laid on its body too.

Officer Rob Grant, 37, committed suicide on 8/1/15. Grant took his own life just days following his arrest on charges, July 28, 2015.  Rob Grant died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound. Grant resigned after he was charged with two counts of official misconduct and one count of possession of a legend drug, all Level 6 felonies. A legend drug is a narcotic that can be acquired only with a prescription. He was arrested following an investigation by Indiana State Police, conducted at the request of Michigan City Police Chief Mark Swistek, who obtained information about illegal activity by one of the officers at the department. Later that day, after being released on $755 cash bond he was placed on administrative suspension, Grant tendered his resignation from MCPD. Grant's body was found by police on 8/1/15 inside his Dodge Ram pickup truck in the area of County Roads 300 North and 400 West, about three miles northwest of LaPorte. The search was triggered by a local attorney who contacted the sheriff's office just before 1 p.m. after the officer's wife was unable to reach him on his cell phone. A device at the family's home detecting pings transmitted from a cell phone indicated the officer's location was somewhere within a two-mile radius of his residence. LaPorte County coroner's office ruled the case a suicide and noted the cause and manner of death was obvious. He said the amount of time Grant had been dead was based on the testimony of a passerby's observation of approximately when the vehicle arrived in that location and was dead for about two hours prior to the discovery of his body.  Grant in 2007 rescued three children from a burning home by twice entering the structure. He also often ranked close or at top among officers in the number of yearly arrests. He was a member of the Fugitive Apprehension Team, which has made more than 600 arrests of individuals with outstanding warrants. Grant was a 12-year member of the Michigan City department. Grant leaves behind his wife Lindsay and two daughters, Makayla and Maura Grant along with his K9 partner "Henry". Memorial contributions can be made to the family of Rob Grant.

K9 Officer Zhang Nan, 29, was killed on July 26 2015 during a suicide attack by Al-Shabaab that was launched onto Jazeera Palace Hotel at around 4 pm local time in Mogadishu, which killed more than a dozen people.The six-story luxury hotel in the Somali capital houses embassies from China, Egypt, Kenya and Qatar, and hosts high-level government meetings. Zhang Nan, was providing security in the Chinese embassy in Somalia. He had been serving in the army for 11 years. The eulogy praised Zhang's skill and courage at an event attended by about 1,000 people, including representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Shandong provincial government and the armed police force.

Officer John Poole was one of the first dog handlers with North Yorkshire Police in England. He served with the military police. John was awarded a police commendation after he was involved in a chase which ended in him having to rescue a drowning man from the river and resuscitate him.  John  had been in York Hospital for about six months. He was first admitted with pneumonia, but died from vascular thrombosis of the lungs.

 

Canine Officer Benjamin J. Deen, 34, and Officer Liquori Tate, 25, were fatally shot on 5/9/15 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Officer Deen pulled over a 2000 gold Cadillac Escalade at 8:30 p.m. for a speeding violation. When the back up officer Liquori Tate arrived both were shot and killed with a  .40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol. Deen stopped stopped the vehicle driven by 22-year-old Joanie Calloway, he decided to search the car and asked Banks, Calloway and passenger Cornelius Clark to get out. At that point, Banks shot Deen and Tate, who was backing up Deen. Both officers were wearing protective vests but wouldn't have helped. Officer Deen was shot in the face and Officer Tate was shot in the lower back. Hattiesburg residents Tamika Mills and Pearnell Roberts discovered the two officers who had been shot while driving down the road. The pair got out to check on the officers and called 9-1-1. Mills said. "As we were coming down Fourth Street, we noticed a bunch of lights. As we came on through, (Roberts) told me to turn around because she saw somebody laying on the ground. "So I backed up. That's when we noticed the officer was down. We just saw that one, but in the course of me being on the phone with 9-1-1, I turned and I saw another officer across the street rolling on the ground. (Roberts) ran across the street to check on him. He wasn't all the way alert but he asked her, 'Am I dying? I know I'm dying. Just hand me my walkie-talkie.'" The officers were taken to Forrest General Hospital, where they died shortly after arriving. Tate was a recent police academy graduate on June 11, 2014 and won the Top Marksman award  while Deen was a K-9 officer who had been honored as the department’s “Officer of the Year” in 2012. Authorities were seeking two suspects that left the scene and identified them as  Curtis T. Lorenzo Banks, 26,  and his  brother, Marvin Banks, 29. After the shooting, the suspects fled and Banks allegedly fled in one of the officer’s cruisers, a 2013 Dodge Charger Police Patrol vehicle. Banks did not get very far and ditched the vehicle four to five blocks later. They  were captured later on that night. Lamar County authorities arrested Marvin Banks at a motel shortly before 1 a.m. about five miles away  Curtis Banks was arrested around 3 a.m. at an apartment complex. The murder weapon was found six days later on 5/15/15  when city workers cutting the grass along Railroad Street in Hattiesburg found the .40-caliber pistol. Officer Dean leaves behind his wife Robin and two children, 12-year-old daughter, Melah, and nine-year-old son, Walker. The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation has set up two funds to honor Deen and Tate. The first, the Benjamin J. Deen and Liquori Tate Memorial Scholarship Fund, was opened by an anonymous private donor and is designed to help police officers and their children in the Pine Belt go to any community college, university or police academy in the area. The second is the Benjamin J. Deen and Liquori Tate Hardship Memorial Fund, which is designed for families of slain officers who are experiencing hardship because of the incident. Both funds will have oversight by a committee of community leaders to assist with the grant-selection process. Donations can be made by mail, with checks being made out to The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation and sent to 1507 Hardy St., Suite 208, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Donors can differentiate between "Deen and Tate Scholarship Fund" or "Deen and Tate Hardship Fund" on the memo line. An account for Deen and Tate has been established by the City of Hattiesburg at The First – A National Banking Association. Donations can be made at any The First – A National Banking Association location, with checks made out to the City of Hattiesburg. Funds will be evenly divided between the immediate families of Deen and Tate to assist with funeral arrangements and other expenses.  Individuals also can donate at www.officerdown.us.

Marvin Banks, 29, appeared in court on 5/11/15 and was charged with two counts of capital murder, along with counts of grand theft auto and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Forrest County Justice Court Judge Gay Polk-Payton denied bond to Marvin Banks. If convicted, Marvin Banks could face the death penalty of life in prison without parole. In an earlier conviction, Banks pleaded guilty in 2010 to possession of a stolen handgun. He got a split sentence and was released from prison after serving about a year. But he returned to prison after violating terms of his release and faced a pending indictment on drug charges when the car he was riding in was stopped. Judge Polk-Payton set Curtis Banks' bond at $100,000. Curtis Banks faced a pending drug charge. Joanie Tischella Calloway, 22, Marvin Banks girlfriend who was allegedly driving the vehicle the night of the shooting, was originally charged with two counts of capital murder, but her charges were reduced in court on on 5/11/15 to accessory after the fact of capital murder and her bail was set at $75,000. Both Curtis Banks and Calloway could face up to 20 years if convicted. Cornelius Michael Clark is charged with obstruction of justice. Banks' older brother, 29-year-old Curtis Banks, is charged as an accessory to murder, apparently for driving his brother and Clark to the locations where they were arrested. The judge set $75,000 bond for Clark. Abram Wade "Pete" Franklin, 29,  was the fifth person arrested in the case on 5/13/15 and  charged with obstruction of justice and hindering prosecution. Franklin appeared in court before Judge Polk-Payton on 5/15/15 and bond was set at $75,000. Douglas Diquan McPhail, 21, and Anquanette L. Alexander, 19, were the sixth and seventh people arrested in the case on  5/13/15 and both charged with rendering criminal assistance to a fleeing felon. Both McPhail and Alexander appeared in court before Judge Robert Davis on 5/15/15 and Alexander's bond was set at $10,000 and McPhail's bond was set at $15,000. On 5/16/15 Jimmy Brady Jr., 22, was the eighth person arrested on 5/16/15 by the ATF, and was charged with possession of a stolen firearm. Brady appeared in court on 5/18/15 and bond was set at $20,000.

Marvin Banks, 29, was found dead while alone in an isolation cell when officers found him.  EMTs tried performing CPR before Banks was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on 12/11/15 at 7:40 p.m. local time. Autopsy results showed Banks died of severe heart disease, and toxicology tests are  pending, Banks' body showed no signs of trauma. Initial autopsy showed an enlarged heart and scar tissue on the heart. 

                                                                 

 

 

Jay E. Fleckenstein, 39, of Sioux City passed away April 17, 2015 at his residence from natural causes. Fellow officers found Fleckenstein dead in his home approximately 4:00 p.m.  Sgt Fleckenstein was 17-year veteran of the Sioux City Police Department.  K9 Eik was there, keeping watch over his partner, when two fellow officers arrived at the house. For six years Sgt. Fleckenstein and his K9 partner "Eik" were inseparable, and Eik grew from exuberant puppy to trusty police K9. Jay received his Bachelor Degree from the University of South Dakota in criminal justice before fulfilling a life-long dream of becoming a Police Officer by joining the Sioux City Police Department in 1997. Jay furthered his career by becoming a member of the K-9 Unit with his trusted service dog, Eik. He was promoted to the position of Sergeant of the K-9 Unit with the Sioux City Police Department. Jay loved training dogs and teaching obedience classes. He had won numerous awards, including exceptional duty awards, and Top Honors in 2010 at the National Detector Trials. Jay was an instructor for the Citizens Academy of the Sioux City Police Department, a firearms instructor, a member of the SWAT team, Jay is survived by his beloved K9 Eik and was given to the Fleckenstein family. Family requests memorials be made to the Friends of the Sioux City Police Department in care of the K-9 Unit. K9 Eik had cancer and had to be euthanized on 8/20/15.

Police Chief Christopher Pelchar, 38, was found dead on 2/22/15 in his parent’s home in Wilkes-Barre. There were no signs of foul play, and the cause of death remains unknown pending further testing. Pelchar had been on medical leave for more than a year for injuries he sustained in a fall. Pelchar was chasing a group of teenagers and fell when a second-floor porch of a vacant house gave way in October 2013. In November 2012, Pelchar received a partner named Mason, a German shepherd from Czechoslovakia. Pelchar took care of Mason, trained in drug detection and tracking. Pelchar used his own money to purchase Mason, and donations from businesses in Sugar Notch and Hanover Township helped fund the canine's training. One of his biggest accomplishments was starting the first K-9 unit in the borough, where he happily served with his partner Mason. Chris was also a member of the Sugar Notch Masons, United Police and Correction K-9 Association where, along with Mason, he graduated from the Northeast Police Academy, State Chiefs of Police Association of Pennsylvania, and a past NRA member. Pelchar was known to many as “Curly”. He graduated from the police academy in 2003.Surviving are his wife of 16 years, Yvonne, and his son, Christopher M. Pelchar Jr. Family requests contributions be made to PNC Bank, "Christopher Pelchar Sr. Memorial Fund."

Anthony Giaquinta

February 22, 2015 - Clarkesville, Georgia  - Age 40

Anthony Giaquinta, 41, was found shot to death on 2/22/15. Anthony Giaquinta 16-year-old daughter called police from a nearby store at approximately 7:30 p.m. saying her father was attacking her mother and gunshots were being fired. Her 18-year-old sister was away at college. She told 911 operators that she escaped from the home. As the sheriff officials drove to the residence responding to the domestic call in Clarkesville, Georgia, they saw a Ford Crown Victoria approaching them. The Crown Victoria turned into a yard and spun out. Anthony Giaquinta, got out of the vehicle then doubling back to the house. When Sheriff Joey Terrell and Deputy Bill Zigan entered the garage they found Kathy Smith Giaquinta dead. Terrell knew Giaquinta because he terminated him in 2013 after a domestic violence investigation. The case, however, was not prosecuted, so Giaquinta still had “many guns,” Andrews said. Guns are often confiscated after a domestic violence conviction. Terrell posted Zigan outside to watch for Giaquinta while he and the other deputy searched the house. But Giaquinta, a former police dog trainer and handler, hid in some trees and shot his two former colleagues. Zigan was shot with a 9mm Glock pistol, fracturing his collarbone and gouging his face before Zigan managed to crawl into the garage and take cover. Giaquinta then moved up to the garage and shot Terrell in the right arm bicep when he stepped into the garage to help Zigan. Terrell and Zigan were able to return fire. Anthony Giaquinta was later found dead behind his home along with the body of another man, 45-year-old Steve Singleton. The sheriff and deputy were taken to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville at about 8 p.m. Terrell was released from the hospital in a few hours and and Zigan was admitted and in good condition. Anthony Giaquinta was a former Gainesville police officer from September 2002 - October 2009. While with Gainesville Police Department he became a certified K9 handler in March, 2006. With his K9 partner "Miso" from 2006-2009 he and his K9 had 426 physical apprehensions, 7 arrests with K9, 473 tracks with captures, 33 tracks with no captures, 23 team arrests, 840 training hours, 1377 drug and property seizures totaling $624,027.00. Giaquinta was a certified K9 decoy and Master Trainer with 2,000 hours of post certified police k9 training. He was certified as an explosive detection dog handler, certified with North American Police Work Dog Association in aggression control, man tracking, controlled substance detection, article search, area search, and building and vehicle search. In 2010 he became certified with his K9 partner "Mike". From 2010-2012 while with K9 "Mike" they had 237 physical apprehensions, 1  arrest with canine, 106 tracks with captures, 17 tracks with no captures, 35 training hours, 687 drug and property seizures totaling $64,522.00.   In 2012 he worked for Aegis Defense Services from January through November and provided armed security for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul Afghanistan and was granted a Department of State Security Clearance. Giaquinta then worked for Habersham County Sheriff's Office as a canine officer from December 2012 - June 2013, with his K9 partner "Max" and had 127 physical apprehensions, 3 arrests with canine, 87 tracks with captures, 24 tracks with no captures, 6 training hours, and 380 drug and property seizures totaling $74,212.00. Giaquinta then started working for Custom Canine Unlimited in Maysville, GA in July 2013 . Giaquinta's captured of a fugitive in 2011. The Giaquintas have two children but they were not harmed.

 

 

 

Matthew Edward Fineran

January 29, 2015 - Kabul, Afghanistan - Age 42

Matthew Fineran, 42, from Summerville, South Carolina was shot and killed on 1/29/15 by the Taliban while on security detail at the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan. Fineran was a K9 handler and a former police officer on the force with the Summerville Police Department from 2000 -2004. Also killed in the attack was Walter D. Fisher of North Myrtle Beach and Jason D. Landphair of Fayetteville, North Carolina. A fourth employee, Bradley A. James of Atlanta, Georgia, was wounded in the attack and but the wounds, while serious, are not considered life-threatening. The shooter was also killed. The Taliban  claimed responsibility for the death.  The shooter was a Taliban fighter wearing an Afghan police uniform. He infiltrated the ranks of Afghan security forces. Fineran was a contractor under Department of Defense and worked for Praetorian Standard whose company has picked up security details that were once handled by U.S. troops. He had worked overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan for over 10 years. He leaves behind his wife, Vickie Elaine Fineran, four daughters: Brittney, Paula, Amelia and Josie; two sons: Blaine and Jonah.

 

Officer Kenneth M. Bernstein

January 25, 2015- Bedford Park, Illinois - Age 44

 

 

Kenneth M. "Ken" Bernstein, 44, passed on 1/25/15 from colon cancer. He was diagnosed in Aug 2013 with stage 4 colon cancer. Officer Bernstein was a police K9 handler for the Bedford Park Police Department in Illinois. He is survived by his wife Denise and sons Macdonald and Maeve and his K9 partner Ciro. Donations may be made to the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Center of Northwestern University,Northwestern University Office of Development, 750 N. Lake Shore Drive, Ninth Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, or MARK-9 (Medical Assistance for Retired K-9s) 1951 Matson Lane, Lisle, IL 60532. 

 

Officer Gene Damian Fonseca

January 20, 2015 - Age 46

On January 20, 2015, at approximately 1345 hours Detroit Regional Canine Training Instructor Gene Fonseca was found deceased at his home during a health and welfare check. The medical examiner was called to the scene, but initial indication is that Gene passed of natural causes. Officer Fonseca joined the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in June of 2012, assigned as the Regional Canine Training Instructor at DTW. His military career began in May of 1994, when he joined the United States Air Force as a Security Policeman / Law Enforcement Officer / Military Working Dog (MWD) Handler. Gene began his K9 career as a Patrol Explosives Detector Dogs (PEDD) handler at RAF Lakenheath and Barsdale AFB, where he supported numerous PEDD missions in support of the United Stated Secret Service and the Department of State. In 1999, Gene became a MWD trainer at Prince Sultan Air Base, KSA, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Later that year he became MWD trainer at Cairo West AB, Egypt in support of Operation Bright Star. Mr. Fonseca was also a Kennel Master at Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he was responsible for deploying numerous PEDDs to Iraqi Freedom. During that timeframe he was also deployed with two PEDDs from the kennels to Camp Snoopy, Doha Qatar supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. On arrival to Aviano Air Base, Italy in 2003. Gene was initially assigned a PEDD, after six months he became MWD Trainer for 14 MWDs and held that position until 2008. Positions held in his military career include Patrol Explosive Detector Dog Handler, MWD Trainer, Kennel Master and Law Enforcement Flight Chief. After serving 14 years of honorable service he separated from active duty at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Prior to joining the TSA, Mr. Fonseca was a civilian contractor for Northrop Grumman LLC from September 2008 to May of 2012 assigned to the 64th Security Forces Squadron, Eskan Village, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as  MWD Trainer for 6 assigned PEDDs.

 

Officer Brandon Mark Thompson

December 26, 2014- Dothan, Alabama - Age 29

 

 Brandon Thompson, 29, of Rehobeth, was killed in a vehicle accident on 12/26/14 in Dothan, Alabama. State troopers were called to investigate following a one-vehicle crash that occurred on Fortner Street at the intersection of Crestwood Drive. Off-duty officer Thompson was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck when it ran off a road in Dothan about 2:57 a.m. and struck a sign before slamming into a tree. Thompson, who was not using a seatbelt, was transported to Flowers Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:30 a.m. Also injured in the vehicle with Thompson was 21-year-old woman, Bailyn J. Stewart who was taken to Flowers Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. A motorist involved in a crash earlier with Thompson the same night told investigators he smelled alcohol on the officer's breath, the crash report states. Demorris Lee Kilow told Alabama State Troopers that off-duty officer Brandon Mark Jackson Thompson rear-ended his vehicle as he was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Montgomery Highway and Ross Clark Circle on the morning of Dec. 26,  When the men exited their vehicles, Kilow said he could tell Thompson had been drinking alcohol. Thompson sped away from the scene in his vehicle. Kilow followed Thompson and called 911. According to the report, Kilow witnessed Thompson lose control of his vehicle on Fortner Street and crash into a tree. Officer Brandon Thompson was a K9 Officer with the Dothan Police Department and served with them for six years. Brandon was awarded the highest honor given at the Police academy, The Commanders Award on July 25, 2008 for exhibiting exceptional leadership, professionalism and dedication. Brandon was also a SWAT team member who was certified as a trained FBI firearms instructor. Brandon was awarded several medals, badges, and campaign honors while serving in the Army, these included honors such as: Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Bronze Star medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Medal/ Combat. While playing football at Rehobeth High School in Alabama he excelled on the football field where he earned the Wiregrass Athletic Conference Player of the year award. In 2003, Brandon was named in the Super Twelve as well as the Birmingham news First Team Honors while playing middle linebacker for Rehobeth High School. He is survived by his son, Landon Thompson, and  his daughter, Emerson Grace Thompson and his K9 partner Rex.

 

Officer Robert Frederick Zelle

December 1, 2014- Ballwin, Missouri - Age 89

 

 

Robert Frederick Zelle died on 12/1/14 of lung cancer at the age of 89 at Quarters of Des Peres rehab facility. Bob Zelle was among the early recruits on the St. Louis police canine corps.  His K9 partner Sarge was a 70-pound, black German shepherd. Officer Zelle credited Sarge with the capture of eight burglars. Officer Zelle retired in 1981 after a 33-year career with the St. Louis Police Department. He lived in Ballwin. When World War II started, he joined the armed forces. He was awarded the Chief’s Letter of Commendation four times. His family recalled that he had played a bit part in the 1961 movie, “The Hoodlum Priest.” Officer Zelle’s and his dog were in a scene. Officer Zelle retired at the rank of Sergeant. He is survived by his wife, Roseann La Barbera Zelle.

 

 

Lt. William "Bill" Isaac Jeffers II

November 30, 2014- Evanston, Wyoming - Age 44

 

Lt. William Jeffers passed away 12/30/14 at a Salt Lake City hospital after being unresponsive for two full weeks. It’s unclear why Jeffers wouldn’t wake up on Sunday, Nov. 16, around 9:20 a.m., when his wife Sarah called dispatch, but his condition never improved. Sarah Jeffers found her husband in bed that morning, his heart was beating, but he wasn’t breathing well and his breaths were irregular. He was transported to Evanston Regional Hospital and later that day transported by ambulance to University of Utah Hospital. Jeffers had apparently aspirated while sleeping, because doctors found fluid from vomit in his lungs. “He worked with the police department since April 27, 1997. He spent over 20 years with the Wyoming Army National Guard. Those positions include patrolman, K-9 unit, field training officer, member of the special response team, firearms instructor, detective division and lieutenant. Bill was a retired Master Sergeant with the Wyoming National Guard.

 

Officer Amanda Laake Solis

November 11, 2014- Daingerfield, Texas - Age 39

 

 

Officer Amanda Laake Solis, 39, died on 11/11/14 after a long battle with cancer. She was a police officer with the Daingerfield Police Department. She was diagnosed with two forms of Leukemia in August of 2013 and had been undergoing cancer treatment for the last year in Dallas, Texas. She worked with the Titus County Sheriff's Department before becoming a K9 officer in Daingerfield. She leaves behind her husband Jeff, her two sons, Tanner Mayberry and Tyler Solis, age 10, and her K9 partner Diva.

 

 

Sgt. Langston "Paul" Adams

September 22, 2014 - Florala, Alabama - Age 31

 

 

 

Sgt. Paul Adams, 31, was found dead in his home around 10:30 on 9/22/14. Adams left early Monday after another officer relieved him, stating he did not feel well. His girlfriend said that he was up sick from 1 to 3 a.m. with flu-like symptoms. She went back around 10:30 to check on him and found him deceased on the couch in the living room. Adams had been sick with flu-like symptoms and his girlfriend was trying to get him to go to the ER. He didn’t want to go to the doctor, he said he would be fine. Officer Adams was expected to attend a grand jury hearing the next day. Adams was going on five years with the Florala Police Department.  An autopsy is being conducted to try to determine the cause of death. He is survived by his son, Warren Russell Adams and his daughter, Jocelyn Rose Adams and his K9 partner "Bella". Family requests contributions be made to the Spectrum House, 1455 S Ferdon Blvd., Ste. C1, Crestview, FL 32536.

 

 

Cpl. Jason E. Harwood

September 7, 2014 - Topeka, Kansas - Age 40

 

 

Cpl. Jason E. Harwood, 40, was killed in a fatal shooting on 9/7/14 in Topeka, Kansas. Harwood was transported to Stormont-Vail Health in critical condition after sustaining four gunshot wounds around 4:45 p.m. He had pulled over a car near S.E. 6th and Deer Creek Parkway. One of its occupants drew a weapon and fired on the officer.  Adina Mayhew came upon the scene and saw flashing police lights and saw the officer laying in the street, alone. Gina Barron-Jaramillo arrived on scene shortly after the shooting who had taken CPR classes and immediately rendered aid. Barron-Jaramillo saw a radio on Harwood's uniform and used it to call for help saying “officer down” and immediately requesting an ambulance. When emergency personnel arrived they removed Harwood's shirt and were trying to remove his bulletproof vest, which appeared to have bullet holes in it.  Cpl. Jason E. Harwood had been shot three times. One entering the right side of the neck just under the jaw, striking the carotid artery and jugular vein, and exiting the back of the neck. That shot was fired 2 to 3 feet from Harwood.  Another  shot entered the right side of the neck above the shoulder, exiting the top of the back and cutting across the spinal cord. That was fired 1 to 2 inches from the victim’s skin. Another shot entering the victim’s abdomen, passing through the heart and left lung, and lodging in his left shoulder. After the shooting the suspect drove to another location and he called Randy Allen Ridens Jr., who allegedly picked him up on a stolen motorcycle. The pair then rode to Douglas Co. where the motorcycle broke down. As a search for the suspect was underway, 13 News' Melissa Brunner received a call from a man identifying himself as Ross Lane and said he was the person wanted in the officer's shooting. The information he provided matched an ALL Points Bulletin issued at the time. Lane gave his location, which was relayed to police. He also told Melissa he didn't want to end up like David Tiscareno, a reference to a man who shot and killed two Topeka Police officers back in December 16, 2012. Tiscareno was shot and killed following a stand-off with police. Ross Preston Lane, 30, was captured shortly after 8:00 p.m. on 9/7/14 and brought to the Shawnee County jail and booked in around 4:12am on 9/8/14. He was being held without bond in connection with capital murder of a law enforcement officer. In additional to capital murder of a law enforcement officer, Lane also was booked into jail in connection with criminal possession of a firearm by a felon. Also another suspect, Randy Allen Ridens Jr., was located and booked into the Shawnee County Jail at 3:50 a.m. on 9/8/14 and Jail officials said Ridens was “uncooperative” during the book-in process. Ridens has been charged with violating felony probation, possession of stolen property and obstruction apprehension. Officer Harwood spent about ten years in the K9 Unit until he was promoted to Corporal in May of 2012.  Harwood joined the Topeka Police force on June 28, 1999 where he also served as a member of the “Hit-and-Run” unit. Officer Jason Harwood has a twin brother, Jeremy, who is a Kansas State Trooper. Jeremy Harwood was among those who responded to his brother accident in May 2010 after a minivan slammed into the back of Jason Harwood’s patrol car as it was stopped on a shoulder of Interstate 70 near S.W. MacVicar Avenue. The minivan then struck Harwood and KHP Trooper Kody Olson, who were on foot blocking the potential escape route of two men who were fleeing police. Both survived. Jason Harwood however suffered nine broken ribs, a concussion, a compound fracture to his right arm, a broken clavicle to his right shoulder, a fully collapsed lung and a second, partially collapsed lung and returned to work when he recovered.  Officer Jason Harwood later mentioned that he was grateful that his K9 partner Magnum hadn’t been in his usual place in the back seat of the patrol car at the time of the crash — because if he had, he wouldn’t have come home.  Harwood is a 15 year veteran of the force. He received a Letter of Accommodation in 2001, Distinguished Service Bar in September of 2013. Topeka Police Cpl. Jayme Green also sang songs including ‘Amazing Grace,’ and ‘I cross my heart,’ their wedding song requested by Harwood’s wife. Harwoods K-9 partner “Magnum” before his promotion to corporal two years ago lay down in front of the casket. The procession included more than 200 police vehicles with eight K9 teams that lined the entrance drive into the cemetery. A 21 gun salute and Taps were played at the burial site. An estimated 2,400 people paid their respects. Jason is survived by his wife, Lori Anne Harwood and their sons, Tyler and Lawson. and also his K-9 partner, Magnum. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jason Harwood Memorial Fund at any Core First Bank & Trust or the Topeka Police Credit Union located at 320 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66603.

Ross Preston Lane, was booked on 9/8/14 and is being held without bond in connection with capital murder of a law enforcement office and also booked in connection with criminal possession of a firearm by a felon. Lane shot Cpl. Jason E. Harwood with a Springfield 40-caliber semiautomatic pistol which he pulled from the middle console in the car. At his first court appearance on 9/8/14  he told Judge Frank J. Yeoman that he did not have an attorney representing him. When Yeoman asked if he would like the court to appoint one, he responded, "nope." Ross Lane was previously convicted of multiple felonies. First on Aug. 19, 2003, he burglarized a building used as a dwelling in Johnson County. He was sentenced May 5, 2005, and was discharged on Sept. 29, 2005. Additionally, on Oct. 16, 2006, in Butler County, authorities arrested him in connection with criminal threat-intending to terrorize, and he was sentenced for the crime on June 4, 2007. He was discharged Sept. 21, 2009. Also in Kasper, Lane was listed as being moved Oct. 12, 2005, to El Dorado Correctional Facility because of a probation violation. He also was listed as being in correctional facilities at Ellsworth, Lansing and Butler County. The final movement listed was Sept. 21, 2009 to an unknown location. From Dec. 19, 2005 to Aug. 23, 2009, more than two-and-a-half pages of disciplinary reports were listed for him in Ellsworth, El Dorado and Lansing. The types of misconduct include threatening or intimidating a person, battery, assault, use of stimulants, dangerous contraband, misuse of state property and other things. Lane’s trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 11, 2016. On 12/24/15 Lane was found dead in his cell at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.

Randy Allen Ridens Jr. has been charged on 9/8/14 with violating felony probation, possession of stolen property and obstruction apprehension. When Ridens appeared in court right after Lane, his bond set at $1 million because the judge said he had a criminal background and was a flight risk. When he was asked if he wanted a lawyer, Ridens said, "It don't matter."  Ridens also has a criminal history. He has convictions on computer crime; aiding, abetting, advising or counseling theft of more than $1,000; forgery; theft of less than a $1,000; criminal trespass; and violation of the Kansas Offender Registration Act, among other things. Those convictions date from 2005 to 2013 in Johnson, Jackson and Shawnee County. According to The Topeka Capital-Journal’s database on sex offenders, he was put on the list in 2007 in connection with attempted lewdness with a minor under the age of 14. While in correctional facilities around the state, Kasper listed multiple infractions he committed including theft, dangerous contraband, threatening or intimidating any person, along with several other types of misconduct. On 11/9/15 Ridens pleaded guilty Nov. 9 to obstructing justice and possession of stolen property — a Harley-Davidson motorcycle — which are felonies. On 12/29/15 Ridens received two consecutive prison terms totaling 27 months during a hearing in Shawnee County District Court. Shawnee County District Judge David Debenham on Tuesday imposed a 21-month sentence on Ridens for the obstruction conviction and a six-month sentence for possession of the stolen motorcycle.

 

 

Pvt. 1st Class Darrll Robinson

August 31, 2014 - Fort Bragg, North Carolina - Age 23

 

 

Pvt. 1st Class Darrell Robinson, 23, of San Angelo, Texas was found dead at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 8/31/14. Robinson, who joined the Army in May 2013, was assigned in April to the 550th Military Working Dog, 42nd Military Police Detachment, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade. Robenson received his associate degree in criminal justice from Howard College before deciding to join the Army. He graduated basic training and school for military police in December 2013. He was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, before moving to North Carolina. Robinson had been awarded a National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He was assigned a military police K-9 dog named Raptor.

 

Ed Lacrom

August 24, 2014 - Canton, Pennsylvania - Age 75

 

Ed Larcom, 75, of Canton, Pa., passed away at home on August 24, 2014 following a courageous battle with cancer. He enlisted in the U.S. army serving two years in Bamberg, Germany. He began his career as a police officer in 1980 when he attended his first PA Municipal Police Officer Training Academy. Ed and his K9 partner, Baron, were integral members of the Bradford County K9 Unit. He enjoyed spending many hours training and working with Baron and became a renowned fixture of the county's law enforcement community. In 2001, Ed retired from the career he loved. He continued working as head of the security department for athletic events at Canton High School. Ed became the Bradford County Chief Detective until 2007. He then served as a transport officer for the County Sherriff's Dept. and began a security position for TriCorp until his last retirement in 2012. Surviving are his beloved wife of nearly 45 years Leslie Ann; Lisa Bailey and seven children. his family suggests memorials in Ed's name be made to Guthrie Hospice at 421 Tomahawk Rd., Towanda, PA 18848.

 

Border Patrol Agent Javier Vega Jr. 

August 3, 2014 - La Feria, Texas - Age 36  

 

Border Patrol agent Javier Vega, Jr., was shot and killed on  8/3/14 at approximately 8:00 p.m. while fishing with  his two young children, a young friend and the agent’s parents in south Texas, north of Harlingen, when two men attempted to rob them, opening fire on Vega and his family. Vega was shot in the chest and killed and his father was shot in the hip. The two suspects were identified as Mexican nationals Gustavo Tijerina, 30, of La Villa, Texas, and Ismael Hernandez, 40, of Weslaco, Texas. The suspects have confessed to the crime and the two will ”face charges of capital murder, attempted capital murder, four counts of aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.” Off-duty Border Patrol agent Javier Vega, Jr. begged his father to “keep shooting, dad,” while the agent’s mother picked up a rifle and shot at the fleeing suspects as well. The Hispanic suspects were apprehended five hours after the shooting, hiding in a shed behind the home of a man living in the area. The suspects had made several passes along the road by the water when they spotted the group, and approached the victims and told them to get on the ground. The suspects were surprised when they discovered that the off-duty agent and his father were armed. ”The Border Patrol agent apparently kept telling his dad to ‘keep firing, dad, keep shooting, dad’ at the suspects after he was already hit.” At some point, the agent’s mother “apparently picked up the AR-15 rifle and continued shooting at the suspects’ vehicle, hitting the windshield and other parts of the vehicle as the suspects fled.” Vega Jr. worked for the Border Patrol for six years and was a Marine Corp veteran. Hundreds attended his funeral and the U.S. flag, Border Patrol Flag and Marine Corps flag were displayed. Agent Vega was buried with full military honors. He is survived by his wife Paola, and sons, Javier Vega III, Jiovanni, and Jarod and his K9 Goldie. The family of Border Patrol Agent Javier Vega Jr. requests that donations be made to: Javier Vega Jr. Memorial Fund at Rio Bank, P.O. Box 4169, McAllen,Texas 78502 ( Routing Number 114915447/Account Number 4081153 ).

Both suspects Gustavo Tijerina, 30, of La Villa and Ismael Hernandez, 40, of Weslaco, Texas were arraigned on 8/5/14 inside the Willacy County jail library. At 12:45 p.m. the first suspect, Tijerina appeared before Judge Solis. As Tejerina was being walked out he asked if he could have a Bible from the Library. Hernandez was brought in approximately 1:10. After being told what he was being charged with he replied “I don’t understand why I’m being accused of so many things, he told the judge.They were ordered held without bail after being charged with capital murder of a peace officer, attempted murder four counts each of aggravated robbery and one count of tampering with evidence. Both had been arrested and deported numerous times and have been living in South Texas illegally. Tijerina was arrested at least four times for crossing into the U.S. illegally between 2007 and 2009, according to court records. Hernandez was arrested and deported at least twice. Tijerina also goes by the name of Tijerina Sandoval, pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. illegally on July 9, 2007. He was given a 30–day sentence with credit served and charged a $10 fee. Three months later on October 3, 2007 he was again found guilty of entering the country illegally and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and a $10 fee. A year later, on October 25, 2008, he again crossed into the U.S. and on November 18, 2008, he was given 90 days in jail and another $10 fee.  On December 15, 2009, Tijerina was indicted by a grand jury on charges of entering the U.S. illegally again. The indictment says he “had previously been denied admission, excluded, deported and removed and unlawfully was present in the United States having been found near Edinburg, Texas.” Court records say he had not obtained consent from the U.S. attorney general and the secretary of homeland security to reapply for admission into the U.S. A warrant for his arrest said he faced up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. He was held without bond on January 26, 2010 and was given nine months in jail and fined $100. Willacy County District Attorney Bernard Ammerman is seeking the death penalty against two men accused in the death of an off-duty Border Patrol agent.

Judge Migdallia Lopez presented the verdict,sentencing Tijerina-Sandoval to death on 6/12/18 for the capital murder charge and life for attempted capital murde. After three weeks of testimony, it only took the jury an hour to sentence Gustavo Tijerina-Sandoval to death.

 

 

RCMP Cpl. Ken Barker

July 11, 2014 -Winnipeg, Canada - Age 51

 

Cpl. Ken Barker, 51, committed suicide July 11, 2014. He began his career in 1987 in Nanaimo with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In 1990 Ken and his wife Shari relocated to Winnipeg to be close to his mother when she became ill. At that time Ken chose another career path and served with the Winnipeg Fire Dept. from 1991 to 1994. In 1994, Ken returned to the RCMP and eventually fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a police dog handler. He retired in June of 2014 and had been on medical leave since October 2013. He worked with the Emergency Response Team and was awarded the Queens Jubilee Medal, the RCMP Long Service Medal and he received a Commissioners Commendation for Bravery. Ken suffered a long battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was one of the first police officers on the scene of the beheading of a young man aboard a Greyhound bus on a Manitoba highway in 2008. Ken Barker had separated from his wife three years earlier. Two women rescued Barker from a suicide attempt in May but committed suicide in July. He told his estranged wife Shari that the front door will be open and don’t go into the basement. Shari went there and the front door was open and she called for him and he didn’t respond. She knew not to go to the basement. She called then paramedics. Ken will forever be remembered by his wife Shari, daughter Kelly and son Sam and his predeceased police service dog Axa. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Families of the RCMP for PTSD Awareness c/o rcmp-f.ca. or Little Warriors.

Officer Gary S. Knight

July 30, 2014 - Hermiston, Oregon - Age 61

Officer Gary S. Knight died on June 30, 2014 at his home in Hermiston, Oregon at the age of 61. He  attended Fresno Pacific University and the California Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy. Upon graduation he was employed by the Umatilla Tribal Police and later the City of Umatilla Police Department. During his career he was acknowledged for assisting other agencies with his K9 partner "Moose". In 2005 Gary was awarded the American Chief’s of Police "Hall of Fame" commendation medal and the law enforcement purple heart for injuries received in the line of duty while assisting with the arrest of a homicide suspect in 2001. He retired from the Umatilla Police Department with a medical retirement from those injuries. He continued to serve as a volunteer Evidence Technician for Stanfield Police Department. Gary is survived by his wife: Brenda S. Knight,  son: Travis J. Knight, Hermiston,  and daughter: Melody T. Simmons.

 

Robert G. Netherland

June 10, 2014 - Goochland, Virginia - Age 82

 

Robert Netherland passed away on 6/10/14  after a bout with silent pneumonia. He served four years during the Korean Conflict – mostly on the USS Wasp – before an honorable discharge in 1956. He help start the first Police Drug K9 school in Virginia history. Bob was one of the five original dog handlers in the state. Bob’s first dog was Major, Bob became one of the pioneers of Virginia’s drug K9 program. He was one of the original three to start the program, and even went on to write the official manual. After that, he wrote the Georgia State Highway Patrol’s K9 program’s manual. Bob spent 38 years with the Virginia State police, 27 of which were with the K9 unit. He retire until 1995. He is survived by his loving wife, Shirley Lyon Netherland; two daughters, Deborah Coleman  and Donna Roberts and son, Robert Netherland.  memorial contributions may be made to University of Virginia School of Nursing in the name of Denise Kaye Netherland Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 801015, Charlottesville, Va. 22908.

 

RCMP Const. Dave Ross

June 4, 2014 - Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada - Age 32

 

Const. Dave Ross,32, was shot and killed on 6/4/14 by a gunman identified as Justin Christian Bourque, 24, who was wearing military camouflage and wore a brown headband and heavily armed carrying two military-style assault rifles with high capacity magazines, a bow and a knife. A manhunt for the shooter was launched and continued overnight and into 5 June. On 6 June, Bourque was found at 12:10 a.m. and taken into custody, ending the approximate 28-hour manhunt. The incident began at 7:20 p.m. when police received reports of a man in camouflage carrying two long guns and a crossbow. Openly carrying non-restricted firearms in Canada is legal provided they are unloaded during transportation. Bourque ambushed the responding officers with a shootout that left three RCMP officers killed, Const Ross who joined the force in 2007, Const. Fabrice Gevaudan,45, who joined the force in 2008 and Const. Doug Larche,40, who joined the force in 2002 and two other officers shot and hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries were Const. Darlene Goguen and Const. Eric Dubois. The shooter then fled the scene. Pinehurst Park area of Moncton was locked down while the search for the shooter was in progress; public buses were pulled from the streets, and all entrances to the affected area were sealed. Multiple sightings of the suspect, including by police, continued in the second day of the manhunt. Up to 300 police personnel were involved in the search. Pedestrians and motorists were asked to stay away from the area of the search and schools, government offices, stores, and businesses were closed. Residents were later instructed to lock their doors, leave their exterior lights on, and refrain from broadcasting police movements on social media sites. The next day, police surrounded an apartment building and were broadcasting a demand to exit over a public address system. More than a dozen armed officers surrounding the building and deployed a robot with a camera inside at approximately 3:00 p.m. Minutes later, they left the apartment complex after finding no sign of the suspect. The report that called police over to the building later turned out to be a false alarm. A police helicopter with thermal -imaging cameras was searching Moncton. At least two armored cars were borrowed by the mounted police to transport heavily armed tactical team members. On June 6, 2014, at 12:10 a.m. the suspect was arrested by the RCMP after being found in a yard on Mecca Drive. While being taken into custody, he reportedly told police, "I'm done." Const. Dave Ross's K9 attended the funeral service and cried next to his handler’s casket. The funeral service was carried live on TV from the Moncton Coliseum on 6/10/14. The Moncton Coliseum was filled to capacity with 7,000 attending. Because of the large crowds attending 10 more places were made available for people which were also filled to capacity adding another 7,000 which was not including the people who showed up along the streets for the funeral. His wife Rachael picked out the song "Ten Thousand Reasons" to be played at his service. Const Ross leaves behind his wife Rachael and their one-and-a-half-year-old son, Austin — and Rachael is six months pregnant. He also leaves behind his K9 "Danny".  K9 "Danny was assigned to another handler soon after.

On June 6, 2014, Justin Christian Bourque made his first court appearance. Bourque faces three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection to the shooting deaths of three RCMP officers and the wounding of two more.  Justin Bourque had no previous criminal record. On 8/8/14 Justin Bourque pleaded guilty to three counts of first degree murder. On 10/31/14 Justin Bourque was sentenced to five life sentences with chance of no parole for 75 years by Judge David Smith. At the time of his sentencing it was the longest sentence in Canadian history, and the harshest since the death penalty was abolished.

 

Lt. Ray Carson

May 28, 2014 - North Bay, Canada - Age 78

 

 

One of the best known cops of his era, Ray Carson passed away peacefully at the North Bay Regional Health Centre on Wednesday May 28, at the age of 78 years. Carson retired from the Ontario Provincial Police as Staff Sargent after 32 years on the force. He was responsible for the Ontario Provincial Police K9 unit for many years and was the handler of Cloud 1, Cloud 2 and Cloud 3. Cloud II, a five-year-old German shepherd, is the only OPP dog ever killed in the line of duty. He was shot in 1975 when he was involved in the search for an escaped suspected murderer. The dog was first buried at the former OPP district headquarters in North Bay. However, his remains were exhumed, cremated and relocated to the OPP Museum in Orillia. Carson spent four years handling Cloud II. Together they captured 123 criminals that were running from the law. The two also appeared on the old CBC TV game show Front Page Challenge in 1974 .  He was the beloved husband of 55 years to Audrey Carson and leaves a son, Tony. Donations to the Ontario Parkinson`s Foundation in memory of Raymond.

 

 

Cpl. David Charles Foley

May 25, 2014 - Monroe, Michigan - Age 53

 

Cpl. David Foley, 53, died on 5/25/14 after suffering a heart attack and collapsing while attending church services in Livonia. Foley was with his family in church when he bowed his head to pray, quietly took two breaths and collapsed. Three nurses who were at the worship service immediately began CPR but those efforts failed to revive him. Cpl. Foley was a longtime K9 handler of the Monroe Police Department and a 24-year veteran of the force. He enlisted in the United States Army, serving honorably from 1980-1986, taking courses in correspondence and serving as a K-9 officer in the military police. He often brought his tracking dogs, Colonel and Justice, to Monroe County schools and organizations for demonstrations. Cpl. Foley, was especially proud recently since his son, Matt, joined the police department and just completed his three-month probation period and his dad was looking forward to working with his son at the same profession on the same department. He was preceded by the passing of his K9 partner, Colonel.  In addition to his son, Matt, Cpl. Foley leaves behind his wife, Brenda, his son Matt and two daughters, Melissa and Elizabeth and K-9 partner, Justice.

Const. Joseph Brian Prevett

May 7, 2014 - Gravenhurst, Ont - Age 50

 

 

Const Joseph Prevett, 50, died of a heart attack on 5/7/14 at 10:45 a.m. in the area of Loon Lake Road during a tracking training exercise in Gravenhurst. Const. Joseph Prevett was participating in a training course with Ontario Provincial Police along with his new police service dog Timber. Prevett was rushed to South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge in medical distress and unfortunately was pronounced dead a short time later. He first became a police officer in 1998, joining the Peel Regional Police. He made the move to Thunder Bay in 2003, and quickly took over the local K-9 unit. He was paired with K-9 officer Thunder, and the two served together as partners for eight years, before Thunder, who has since died, was retired late last year. Prevett's K9 Timber attended the service along with approximately twenty other police canines. Prevett leaves behind Joe leaves behind his wife Joanne (Znachor), daughter Lindsay (Chad), and his son Nick. Donations can be made to the Thunder Bay District Humane Society and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Foundation - Cardiac Care Unit.

 

Frederick C. Feil Jr.

April 16, 2014 - Upper Township, Pennsylvania - Age 82

 

Frederick C. Feil Jr., 82, Upper Township, died on 4/16/14 of heart failure at his home. He was with the Philadelphia Police Department from 1966 to 1976 and served as a canine officer and worked with a Doberman pinscher named Dutch and a German shepherd named Shep. He served as an Army tank gunner during the Korean conflict, earning a Purple Heart after being wounded in combat. Because of Mr. Feil's love of the sea, his ashes were scattered at sea, off Cape Hatteras. Besides his wife Margaret, Mr. Feil is survived by son Frederick J.C. Donations may be sent to the Seeing Eye Inc., 10 Washington Valley Rd., Morristown, N.J. 07960 or to www.seeingeye.org.

 

Officer Jason M. Crisp

March 12, 2014 - Burke County, North Carolina - Age 38

 

 

Officer Jason Crisp, 38, and his K9 partner Maros were killed on 3/12/14. The incident started to unfold when police went to a home on 5500 block of  Fish Hatchery Road around 8:45 a.m. for a welfare check because co-workers had not seen the lady and friends told police they hadn’t seen the couple for six days. When they entered they found husband and wife, Levi and Rhonda Whisnant shot dead. Police said they were dead for at least a day. Following the welfare check, the sheriff’s office named 38-year-old Troy David Whisnant, the son of the couple, as a person of interest. Whisnant was not at his parents’ home when investigators arrived, but the discovery of the homicides of his father and step mother was just beginning of wild series incidents in the search for the suspect. Police say he broke into a neighbor’s shed, stole weapons and stole a vehicle. Authorities discovered that the door of a neighboring house near the homicide had been kicked in. After searching the home, deputies discovered five firearms – a .22 revolver, .22 rifle, 12-guage pump shotgun, single-shot 12-guage and a .50 caliber muzzle load – were missing. A .32 pistol was taken from the outbuilding. Whisnant wrecked that vehicle and fled the scene, then stealing a second car. When police spotted him driving, Whisnant abandoned the second stolen car and ran into the woods. The suspect came across a U.S. Forestry Service officer Crisp as he ran and shot and killed the officer and his K9 Maros at  2:55 p.m. in an ambush with a 12-gauge shotgun. After killing his third victim Whisnant stole the officer’s  .45-caliber pistol and magazine and fled again. The manhunt concluded when an Avery County deputy and two troopers with North Carolina Highway Patrol found Whisnant. They exchanged gunfire. At least one bullet struck and killed Whisnant at 4:45p.m.  During the violent confrontation Whisnant shot himself in the head. He was also struck by one of the officer's bullets. Around 120 to 150 officers from the BCSO, McDowell, Avery and Caldwell County sheriff’s offices, as well as the FBI, SBI, Beach Mountain Police, Morganton Department of Public Safety, Avery County Sheriff’s Office, Caldwell County, State Highway Patrol, U.S. Forest Service assisted in the manhunt. Officer Jason Crisp worked for the U.S. Forestry Service for ten years and previously served as a McDowell County Sheriff deputy. Officer Crisp's dog Maros was hurt last fall while chasing a bad guy and had broken his leg and had just returned to service a couple weeks ago. K9 Maros was cremated and placed in the casket with Officer Crisp to be buried together. Surviving are his wife of 18 years, Amanda Dicks Crisp and two sons, Garett, 16, and Logan, 5. Memorials, to benefit their children, may be made to Amanda Crisp at the State Employees Credit Union, PO Box 8, Marion, NC 28752.

Whisnant had lengthy criminal history and had more than a dozen prior charges. In February of 1996 the then 20-year-old Whisnant strolled into Burke County Sheriff’s Department on February 11, 1996 and confessed to killing his best friend, William Shane Newton, the night before. Whisnant had been abusing substances, including alcohol, prescription and nonprescription drugs since he was 12 years old. Whisnant pleaded guilty 14 months later to voluntary manslaughter in Superior Court. He was given credit for the 14 months he spent in prison before the sentencing, and was incarcerated for another year. Whisnant continued to lead a life of crime, and was later convicted on the following charges between his April 1998 release and April of 2011: felony larceny over $1,000, possession of stolen goods, credit card theft, misdemeanor possession of schedule VI controlled substance, open container of alcohol after consuming, resisting an officer, assault on a public official and reckless driving. Whisnant was awaiting trial on charges of breaking and entering, hit and run, and several traffic violations.

 

Ralph "Lee" McCubbins Jr.

December 26, 2013 - Helmand Province, Afghanistan - Age 43

 

Ralph “Lee” McCubbins, Jr., 43, of Danville, VA died December 26, 2013 in Afghanistan while working for Pax Mondial contractors. Lee was shot in the back by a sniper while jogging with his dog at the compound. The sniper was caught and has been arrested. McCubbins had been performing subcontract work at the Kajaki Dam project in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province. He was there to provide security while a hydro turbine was being installed to provide electrical power to Afghanistan. Lee had signed a two-year contract and was scheduled to return to the U.S. on Jan. 15, 2013 for a 30-day vacation before heading back to Afghanistan. Lee worked for the Danville City Police Department from 1994 until 2009 where he was a member of the SWAT team and the K-9 Unit for 11 years and worked his way up to corporal. After leaving the police he then went to work in Afghanistan for Pax Mondial where he handled bomb sniffing dogs. Lee is survived by a 15 year old daughter, Victoria Logan McCubbins. He was predeceased by a newborn son, Justin Carter McCubbins, who died hours following his birth in 1997. Memorial donations can be made to Swansonville United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund at 16492 Franklin Turnpike, Dry Fork, VA 24549 or to Bachelors Hall Volunteer Fire Department at 1301 Berry Hill Road Danville VA 24541.

 

 

Jeremy Christopher Johnson

December 26, 2013 -Jacksonville, Florida - Age 34

 

 

Jeremy Christopher Johnson, age 34, died December 26, 2013 in his home at Jacksonville, FL. Jeremy completed 12 years of service as a Master at Arms, Force Protection Canine Handler, MA2, and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was deployed to Iceland and later completed 2 tours in Iraq and 1 in Djibouti, Africa. Jeremy incurred physical conditions from his tours of duty, but the PTSD he dealt with produced the greater pain and suffering. He was discharged under the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy in May of 2007. On September 22, 2011, Johnson became one of the first DADT dischargees in the nation to publicly reenlist in the military, joining the U.S. Navy Reserves at the same rank and position he left. Jeremy volunteered with The 6th Branch in Baltimore City, MD, as a board member and primary team member on "Operation: Oliver", a veteran-sponsored community revitalization project. Jeremy Johnson joined the United States Navy in December of 1996 at the age of 19. After attending boot camp, he attended career training at Fort Meade, MD for training as a military journalist. Upon graduating in 1997, he went on to serve as a regional reporter in Japan for the military’s “Pacific Report” In 1999, he transferred to Italy to work for the Sixth Fleet Public Affairs staff aboard USS LaSalle. In 2001, Johnson was chosen to return to Fort Meade to teach television broadcasting to new troops at the military’s Defense Information School. He taught more than 400 Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force personnel how to report from the frontlines though video, writing and editing. Johnson returned to duty overseas in 2004 with an assignment as program director at the U.S. Navy’s Odyssey 107.3FM in Crete, Greece. After 13 months there, Johnson moved to an assignment in Guam aboard submarine tender USS Frank Cable where he served as the assistant Public Affairs Officer for a crew of 1,200. While there, he actively brought the crew’s concerns to senior leadership and helped coordinate international coverage of the first multilateral submarine talks between Australia, Malaysia and the United States in Kuala Lumpur. In March of 2007, after 10 ½ years of service, Johnson revealed his sexual identity to his commanding officer and received an honorable discharge. He worked for Leon County Sheriffs Department in Tallahassee upon completion of his active duty in the Navy. He continued to serve his country in the Navy Reserves at Kings Bay, GA. During his Navy career, Jeremy Johnson rose to the rank of Petty Officer First Class (E6), and earned three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a Joint Commendation Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a National Defense Medal, a Rifle Marksmanship (Silver E) Medal, an Air Force Unit Excellence Award, a Battle "E" Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon (1 silver star), a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2 bronze stars), and a Good Conduct medal with 2 bronze stars. He lived in Maryland and worked as a speech writer for US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington DC. Jeremy is preceded in death by his Iraq war dog Amber. The family wants to support other soldiers like Jeremy that are suffering from the same post war conditions, this will be done by donating to the Wounded Warriors Project (CSRP) or Combat Stress Recovery Program.

 

David Leroy Zellers

December 11, 2013 - Fort Worth,Texas- Age 63

 

David L. Zellers, 63, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013. He proudly served our country in the United States Army in the Vietnam War and Afghanistan as a dog handler. In Vietnam, he was part of the 981st Sentry Dog Company. David served as a private contract dog handler later in life in Afghanistan. Survivors: His wife, Jane; daughters, Cassandra, Verity and Katherine; sons, Graham and Neil.
 

 

Officer Casey Kohlmeier

October 30, 2013 - Pontiac, Illinois - Age 29

 

 

Officer Casey Kohlmeier, 29, and his dog, Draco, were in a vehicle accident on 10/30/13. The accident was reported to state police at 9:38 p.m. Officer Kohlmeier's marked stationary patrol car was hit by another vehicle on Interstate 55 just north of Illinois 23 in Livingston County. Kohlmeier was in a median turnaround when his car was struck by a northbound vehicle. The pickup truck, driven by Jason C. Collins, 33, still was connected to the passenger side of Officer Kohlmeier’s SUV. State troopers arrived to find Kohlmeier, who was unconscious, being tended by officers from Pontiac police and the Livingston County Pro-Active Unit. Officer Kohlmeier was rushed to OSF St. James John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac where he died at 10:46 p.m.  Jason C. Collins was transferred to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria and hospitalized. Officer Kohlmeier canine Draco, who was his partner for five years, died at the scene.  It was raining at the time of the crash. Collins told police he had been drinking at a Bloomington bar before the crash, and video surveillance footage from the bar showed Collins was there for five hours. His blood alcohol level exceeded the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent. The defendant claimed he fell asleep while driving and awoke just before the crash occurred. Officer Kohlmeier was a 6 year veteran with Pontiac police department. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 2002-2006 at Offut Air Force Base in Omaha, NE. While in the service, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Training Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force BMT Honor Graduate Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with device, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He was Airman of the Year 2005. Kohlmeier was part of the Livingston County Pro-Active Unit, which is made up of several area police departments, and hoped to join the FBI. He had just received his pilot’s license this past year. He was a Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County and Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Association. Thousands attended his service  along  with  dozens  of canine officers with their K9's. Songs played at his service were Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” and John Lennon’s “Imagine”.   Kohlmeier was not married and had no children. Donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Livingston County or K9 Fund through the Pontiac Police Department.

Jason C. Collins, 33, of West Columbia, South Carolina, was arrested by Illinois State Police, who were investigating the crash, after he was discharged from the hospital on 11/31/13. On 11/1/13, Collins,  had bond set at $1 million by Livingston County Circuit Judge Jennifer Bauknecht. Collins was seen in a video arraignment from the Livingston County Jail, where he is being held. He is charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, each Class 2 felonies, punishable by three-to-14 years in prison on the aggravated DUI charge, the most serious of the charges with a limited opportunity for probation; one count of reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony, punishable by probation or a sentence of two-to-five years in prison; and two counts of driving under the influence, each Class A misdemeanors. He would be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence if he is convicted of any of the felony counts. Collins has a prior aggravated DUI in New Jersey in 2008, when he was driving under the influence and struck a pedestrian, causing severe bodily injury. He also has other charges on his record, including illegal transportation of alcohol and driving while his license was suspended. The State asked for bond to be set at $200,000 – ten percent of which would have to be paid for bail. Bauknecht took that under consideration, but chose to raise the bond to $1 million, which $100,000 would have to be posted for him to leave custody of the jail. She considered him a flight risk and added that, with the severity of the charges, the bond needed to be set higher. Livingston County Circuit Judge Jennifer Bauknecht heard his initial court appearance, but Collins has filed a preliminary motion for a reassignment of the judge. On Nov. 25 Jason Collins pleaded not guilty. A motion to reduce bond was denied by Livingston County Associate Court Judge Robert Travers on December 17, 2013. The trial has been delayed to 9 a.m. 3/17/14, with pretrial at 3:30 p.m. 2/3/14. At his last court appearance the pretrial date for August 11, 2014 was set for August 26, 2014 because both sides have not had time to prepare for a trial. On August 26, 2014 he pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated driving under the influence and one count of reckless homicide and was sentenced December 8, 2014 to twelve years

 

Sergeant Christopher L. Blackburn

October 12, 2013 - Bridgeton, New Jersey - Age 38

 

Sgt. Christopher L. Blackburn, 38, was traveling westbound on Centerton Road near Deerfield Road around 12:43 a.m. when for an unknown reason, lost control of the 2006 Ford Explorer he was driving, left the roadway and struck a utility pole. Blackburn was off duty and alone in the vehicle at the time of the crash. He was a 12-year decorated veteran of the Bridgeton Police Department. Blackburn was involved in a raid on a South Avenue house, that police had been investigating for suspected drug activity for a month. Three people were arrested without incident and police seized marijuana after executing a search warrant just a few hours before he was killed in his accident. Blackburn was decorated many times during his career. His honors included one Life Saving Medal, on K9 Medal, the Educational Achievement Medal, one Exceptional Duty Medal, three Unit Citation Medals, three Honorable Service Medals, the Firearm and Narcotic Enforcement Medals, and three Meritorious Service Medals. He also was also president of Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 94A Superior Officers Association. He mourned the death of his K-9 partner Argos, who died this past March while in the line of duty.  He is survived by his fiance, longtime partner, Chasta  Collins Kott and his son Chris Jr.,13 years old. Chris was predeceased by an infant son, Chase, in 2007. He is also survived by his step-children, Vanessa Kott , Brooke, Britney and Tyler Kott.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Christopher Blackburn Education Fund, c/o Colonial Bank, Att.: Tonya Spindler, 85 W. Broad St., Bridgeton, NJ 08302.

 

 

Cst. Louis Beglaw

September 16, 2013 - West Vancouver, Canada - Age 50

 

 

Cst. Louis Beglaw, 50,  died after he was found in cardiac arrest  at the department's  headquarters on 9/16/13 while on duty. Cst. Beglaw joined the West Vancouver Police Department in  2003  after  a  military  career  that  culminated  with  service as the deputy commanding officer of the Royal Westminster  Regiment  of  the  Canadian  Army  Reserve. Before  that  he worked  with  Canada  Border  Service.  Cst. Beglaw was a  very dedicated  officer  who  went  through  very  extensive  training  to  became  a  police  service  dog handler in 2007. He is survived by his wife Sarah, their young son and daughter and his service dog Capone. 

 

Officer Paul V. Bodnar

August 30, 2013 - Monroeville, Pennsylvania - Age 45

 

Officer Paul V. Bodnar, 45, died on 8/30/13 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He served with the Monroeville Police Department for nineteen years. Officer Bodnar had spent seven years on the police force with his K9 partner "Czak". Bodnar worked as a trainer with the Pennsylvania Police Work Dog Association. Paul and K9 Czak were members of the North American Police Work Dog Association. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Marie (Lisovich) Bodnar; two sons, Regis, 26, Matthew, 22, two daughters;  Samantha, 18,  and Sarah Bodnar, 17. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777.
 

 

Officer Don Darby

August 13, 2013 - Glendale Heights, Illinois - Age 38

Canine  Officer  Don  Darby, 38,  died  on   8/13/13  from  stage  four  glioblastoma,  the  most  common  and  aggressive  type  of  brain  cancer  which  was diagnosed a year earlier. His police K9 "Lucky" spent many days by his  bedside at the  hospital giving him comfort with his family. Officer Darby was with the  Glendale Heights police force for fourteen years. Officer Darby is survived by his wife Amy, two sons, Caden 8 and Andrew 5 and his K9 partner "Lucky". Donations can be made through "Friends for Don Darby" C/O FBI 4343 Commerce Court, Lisle 60532.  

 

 

Officer Jason Ellis

May 25, 2013 - Nelson County, Kentucky - Age 33

 

Officer Jason Ellis, 33, was shot and killed on 5/25/13 on the 34 exit ramp of the Bluegrass Parkway in Nelson County, Kentucky. Ellis was in uniform and headed home from work in a “pool car” that was marked but not his assigned vehicle and not equipped to capture video or audio. Two vehicles had stopped behind him and sat there a few minutes and saw no action, the curiosity got them, they got out to see what was going on and that's when they found Officer Ellis on the side of the road. The first sign of trouble came when a woman’s voice began frantically calling for help on the officer’s police radio at 2:53 a.m. that an officer and had been fatally struck by a vehicle. “Officer down! Officer down! Emergency!,” the woman’s voice crackled across the radio as she told dispatchers she found the officer outside the car on the side of the exit ramp car at the BG parkway Bloomfield exit. The woman’s voice was followed by that of a man, who told dispatchers he was on his way home from work and drove up to find the police cruiser in the middle of the road with its emergency lights on and the officer was outside the cruiser and was not breathing the man told dispatchers. When Trooper Mike Garyantes arrived on the scene at approximately 3:16 a.m.,  and minutes after the Trooper's arrival, he discovered that it was not a motor vehicle crash and that the officer involved had been shot multiple times with a 12-gauge shotgun and killed  outside his cruiser with its lights on and 12 gauge shotgun shell casings in the road. His service weapon was still in its holster, suggesting Ellis was ambushed. Officer Ellis did not call dispatch center that he was out on a violator, a subject or assisting anyone on the ramp. At the time of the incident, Officer Ellis did not have his dog Figo with him. Police have said it was a  premeditated ambush and involved a high level of planning and calculation. Investigators believe that the debris was planted on the road to be used as bait for the ambush. The killer most likely left the debris on the road and then hid somewhere nearby to wait for someone to pick it up. It is still unknown whether the killer intended to shoot and kill the Kentucky officer, Jason Ellis, or simply the first person who was attracted by the debris on the road. Exit 34 ramp was a daily route for Ellis. Police believe that the location was "obviously not picked randomly." The killer is still at large and a reward of $6,000 was announced on 5/27/13 for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect, raised to $10,000 on 5/28/13, increased to $10,000. on 5/29/13 to $43,000 on 5/30/13 to $103,000, on 6/3/13 to $125,000 and on 6/5/13 to $150,000 and in August of 2013 raised to $185,000 making it the largest reward for information leading to an arrest of the killer of a canine officer. Ellis was a star baseball player at Cumberland College where he holds the records for hits, batting average, doubles, home runs, runs batted in and games played and went on to play for the Cincinnati Reds farm system after college. Ellis was a seven-year veteran of the Bardstown Police Department, and the only K-9 officer. Officer Ellis is the first officer tragedy for the Bardstown Police Department. During his time as a police officer he had numerous awards and commendations including Bardstown Police Officer of the Year in 2008 and also the Governor's Award for Impaired Driving Enforcement for 2007 and 2008. He is survived by his wife, Amy Phillips Ellis; two sons, Hunter Ellis, 7, and Parker Ellis, 6. K9 Figo will be retiring from police work and will live with Ellis’ wife and children. Officer Ellis's canine, Figo, attended the funeral service along with approximately two thousand people and approximately twenty canine teams. Officer Ellis's K9 Figo passed away on 5/23/17 and his ashes will be burried next to his handler. Donations can be made to Supporting Heroes. http://www.supportingheroes.org or donate to either the officer's family or the reward fund set up through the family and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 43: Make checks payable to Officer Jason Ellis Memorial Fund or the Officer Jason Ellis Reward Fund. Specify which fund. Checks can be sent in each fund's name to Chief Rick McCubbin, Bardstown Police Department, 212 Nelson County Plaza, Bardstown, Ky., 40004. Donations also can be made at any Muir Bank branch in Bardstown.

 

Cpl. David M. Sonka

May 4, 2013 - Farah Province, Afghanistan - Age 23

 

 

U.S. Marine, Cpl. David Sonka, 23, and his military K9 Flex, who was trying to save him were killed on 5/4/13 during a combat operation in Afghanistan's Farah province. Cpl. David Sonka and his dog, Flex, were killed during an insider attack. They were working with a unit that was training an Afghan National Army soldier when the Afghani man turned his weapon on the Marines. They were killed while waiting for a high-ranking U.S. officer to emerge from a meeting at an Afghan National Army base. A team of six Marines were escorting the high-ranking officer and two intelligence officers to a meeting at the Afghan Army base.  Cpl. Sonka was from Parker, Colorado. Also Staff Sgt. Eric Christian, 39, of Warwick, N.Y., also was killed in the incident. The two Marines were assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Sonka born in Aurora. He joined the Marines in August of 2008 and graduated recruit training in November 2008. During his service Sonka received numerous personal decorations, including a Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon. Sonak attended military police school, and, once finished, began courses to become a Military Working Dog handler. Assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force K9 Section of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California from July 2009 to March 2012, Sonka was then deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom. Sonka was then assigned to Marine Special Operations Combat Support Battalion, Marine Special Operations Support Group at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he completed Special Operations Training Course, and Multi-Purpose Canine Course Phase I and Phase II. From there, Sonka attached to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion as a Multi-Purpose Canine Handler. Cpl. Sonka was serving his second deployment and had just arrived in Afghanistan a few weeks prior to being killed. The Multi-Purpose Canine Kennel at Stone Bay, North Carolina, was named after him in on 9/7/15. He is survived by his wife Torey. Cpl Sonka was buried on 5/16/13 at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver Colorado. Memorial donations suggested to Wounded Warrior Project or Feed the Dawgs Project, P.O. Box 533, Mentone, CA 92359-0533.

 

Correctional Officer Sergeant Gilbert Cortez

March 25, 2013 - Warner Springs, California - Age 46

Correctional Officer Sgt. Gilbert Cortez, 46, and his service dog, Mattie, were killed in a single car accident on 3/25/13 at 7:20 a.m. while on duty. K9 Mattie succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the crash. There were no other occupants of the vehicle when the crash occurred. Officer Cortez was leading a small caravan of five vehicles with a marked Ford Crown Victoria on State Route 79, east of Lake Henshaw, a half-mile south of San Felipe Road in the Warner Springs area. They were en route to inspect La Cima Fire Camp, an inmate-staffed back-country firefighting outpost in the Julian area where they were scheduled to search inmates for drugs and other contraband. His fellow officers who were following behind his vehicle said Cortez’s vehicle drifted to the right and he overcorrected and skidded out, overturned and rolled over side-to-side, coming to rest on its wheels after crossing the highway into a rock embankment. The officers who were following ran to the car and extricated him and performed CPR.  Medics took Cortez to a nearby fire station, where he died before he could be put into an emergency services helicopter for a flight to a trauma center. Cortez, a 23-year veteran of the state corrections agency, worked at California Rehabilitation Center in Riverside County and was part of its Southern Regional K-9 Unit. He started his career in 1990 at the California Institution for Men in Chino. A year later, he transferred to Calipatria State Prison and was assigned to the Investigative Services Unit. In 2001, he was transferred to the Norco prison to complete K-9 training. Mattie was a Belgian Malinois, donated by a private citizen in the San Diego area  and was certified to search for contraband and narcotics and partnered with Cortez since August 2011. His funeral was attended by hundreds on April 9, 2013. He is survived by his wife Nohema and two children, Andy and Marisa. 

 

 

Constable Osmaine Dean Gabourel

February 28, 2013 -Belmopan, Belize - Age 29

Osmaine Dean Gabourel died in a vehicle accident on 2/28/13 shortly after midnight just outside Punta Gorda on the main highway passing through Hopeville and Cattle Landing. The Police Canine Unit vehicle of Belmopan was heading in the direction out Punta Gorda. He was the only occupant and driver of the vehicle when it ran off the road and crashed into the concrete front section of the Southern Realty and Art gallery building. The police vehicle was extensively damaged while the badly injured police constable was found outside the vehicle on the building’s front floor concrete section which was also damaged by the impact of the vehicle leaving one of the entire front wheel torn off the vehicle and was left lodged against the building’s damaged metal design front door. Civilians who were at the scene of the accident shortly after rendered assistance and rushed seriously injured police constable to the Punta Gorda hospital where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Police Constable Gabourel was part of a team of four who were in Punta Gorda from the Canine Unit in Belmopan who along with two canine dogs were scheduled for a Career Day presentation that day at JC Technical High School.

 

Officer John Eric Clarke

February 25, 2013 - Lincoln, Nebraska - Age 43

 

Officer John Clarke, 43, died on 2/25/13 while off duty. Officer Clarke  finished working out on a machine at Snap Fitness, 5900 S. 85th St., around 11 a.m., sat down and fell over. A physical therapist rushed to give him CPR. Rescue workers took him to Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center where doctors pronounced him dead. Having joined the department in 1991, During his career, he served on the SWAT team, as a firearms instructor and head canine trainer. Clarke’s police dog, Beersie-Remo, will stay with another handler until the dog retires later this year, something that was scheduled before Clarke’s death. Clarke was a 21-year veteran and was was, serving as the handler for over 15 years and statewide certification trainer. Officer Clarke was a former lineman for the Husker football team. Clarke leaves behind his wife, Lisa, and their three children, daughters Chasye, Hope and son Colton. Memorials to Capitol City Christian Church, Special Olympics, and Clarke Children Education Fund, c/o Wells Fargo Bank.

 

 

Officer Kevin A. Tonn

January 15, 2013 - Galt, California - Age 35

 

 

 

Officer Kevin Tonn, 35, was shot and killed on 1/15/13 while responding to a possible burglary in progress on the 200 block of F Street in Galt around 11:18 a.m. Officers arrived on the scene at 11:25 a.m. and found that the door of a duplex had been kicked in.  While officers were interviewing neighbors, one of the witnesses pointed down the road to some train tracks, roughly a block away, which they thought may have been the burglary suspect shortly after 11:30 a.m. Tonn parked his patrol car along the tracks, left his canine partner, Yaro, a German shepherd, inside and tried to contact the man. Tonn attempted to approach the man, but the man became aggressive and an altercation between Tonn and the suspect ensued and he called for emergency back up at 11:34 a.m.  At some point during the struggle, the suspect pulled out a hand gun and shot Tonn once in the head and fired several shots at the second officer who responded to the burglary call. Two minutes later a second officer reported shots fired and an "officer down." The second officer, who was not hurt, was not able to return fire because of the position in which he had taken cover. Tonn also did not fire any shots. The first officer, Tonn, was transported to Kaiser Permanente South Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The shooter also died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was later identified as Humphrey Kenneth Gascon Jr., 30, of Galt. As it turned out in the investigation, Gascon, the person who shot Officer Tonn had nothing to do with the burglary and was later found out that the person that did the burglary was actually a family member of the one that reported the burglary. Before joining the Galt Police Department in September 2009, Tonn previously worked in New York as a firefighter and paramedic and then a fire inspector. Prior to that, he served in the military as a police officer in the U.S. Army. His canine partner Yaro was not injured in the incident. Officer Tonn had been with the department 3 1/2 years. He was not married and didn’t have children. It is the first line-of-duty death for the Galt Police Department. Thousands attended Officer Tonn's funeral including his K9 partner Yaro along with approximately a dozen other police K9 officers with their canines. Officer Tonn received full military honors and also a  five helicopter fly over at the service. A memorial was unveiled in his honor on 1/15/15, "Kevin Tonn Fallen Heroes Memorial".  A K9  trust fund has been set up in Tonn’s name at Premier West Bank, 9340 East Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95624. The account number is 82804382.

Humphrey Kenneth Gascon Jr. had  only minor traffic infractions, but no felony arrests. Gascon could have been arrested for carrying a loaded firearm in public.Gascon had been arrested for driving under the influence in Nevada but had no history of violent crime.

 

 

Robert Wiley Seymore

December 3, 2012 - Holly Springs, North Carolina - Age 38

 

 

Robert Seymore 38, fatally shot his wife Amber Seymore, 38, in the head on 12/3/12 at approximately 9:00 a.m. and then turned the weapon on himself commiting suicide. Robert Seymore was a former Bay Area Rapid Transit police canine officer in California for 10 years. Amber had confronted her husband about his cheating.  Amber Seymore’s mother found the bodies of her daughter and son-in-law in their bedroom lying on the floor and ran outside calling 911 and flagging down a motorist driving by who was Matt Taylor heading to work. Amber Seymore's mother  pleaded Matt Taylor to go inside the home because her son-in-law, Robert Seymore, was not supposed to be there. She told him I think he shot her. So then he said who shot her? Where is he? Is he still in there? Does he still have a gun?"  Not knowing what he would see, he went inside the couple's home where he first found their two year old toddler as he was going up the stairs, she was coming out of the kitchen. As he made his way upstairs, he found the tragic murder suicide scene. At the time they were in the process of getting a divorce. The day after Thanksgiving, Mrs Amber Seymore called police to file a domestic violence complaint. She notified police that she had found out that her husband was cheating on her and that she planned to confront him about it, but feared for her safety. She said her husband and two of her children would soon be returning home. And she would be kicking him out of the house when he gets there. She asked for a police officer to park in the street outside the house for his return, as he did not know she had found out about the affair. She also told police there were a lot of guns in the house. Police sent an officer to the area, but did not hear from Mrs Seymore again that day. The Seymore's had moved from California to North Carolina and had been living in North Carina for eighteen months. Robert had served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. Robert and Amber Seymore had three young children, Robert Seymore, Alexandra Seymore, and Abigail Seymore. Two older children, ages 6 and 8, were in elementary school at the time of the shooting. Memorial contributions may be made to Seymore Children's Fund, c/o Hope Community Church, 821 Buck Jones Rd. Raleigh, NC 27606.
 

 

 

Officer Vidhur Jadoo

November 7, 2012 - Howick, South Africa - Age 30

 

 

Officer Vidhur Jadoo, 30, died on 11/7/12 after being shot in the head and leg and died on the way to the hospital after responding to a robbery in progress at approximately 2:00 a.m. at Midmar Dam, South Africa. Officer Livingston Mpangase, 44, another K9 officer who was also with him was shot in the face and is critical condition after the two K9 officers were ambushed. The pair received a complaint of armed robbery at a diesel outlet in Midmar Dam. On arrival they spoke to the victim, a security guard, who informed them that two unknown men produced assault rifles and robbed him of his cell phone, wallet, his torch and diesel. The security guard also said that they fired a shot and then fled in a vehicle. The two K9 Unit policemen had taken a statement from the victim and left the dam in the direction the security guard had told them, when they noticed the suspicious behavior of five occupants in a vehicle. The members then tried to get the car to pull over but they sped off. Jadoo and his partner followed the suspects through the streets of Howick, until the suspects eventually stopped their car in the middle of Midmar Road and lay in wait with the car shut off and lights out, armed with 9mm assault rifles, until the policemen caught up with them. When the police car approached the suspect’s car, they opened fire on the officers, wounding them both. Mpangase, who was the driver, had no time to reverse but managed to return fire. However, after firing one round, his gun jammed. Several spent AK-47, R5 and 9mm cartridges were found on the scene. The suspect’s vehicle was found abandoned in the area and was searched. A Taurus Brazil revolver, a sealed packet with four electronic detonators, and ten commercial explosives and a hammer were found inside the car which are generally used in ATM bombings, Officer Vidhur Jadoo, was stationed at the Mountain Rise K9 unit and joined the police force nine years ago and was with the dog unit for five years. Officer Vidhur Jadoo was given full military honors at his funeral 11/8/12. Officer Jadoo leaves behind his wife of three years, Ashreena Jadoo.

 

 

Officer Bradley M. Fox

September 13, 2012 - Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania - Age 34

 

 

 

Officer Brad Fox, 34, a Plymouth Township police officer, was shot in the head and killed at approximately 6:00 p.m. on 9/13/12 following a traffic stop. At approximately 5:16 p.m., officers from the Plymouth Township Police Department were investigating a three-car accident at 1215 East Ridge Pike in the Conshohocken section of Plymouth Township. At 5:42 p.m., while conducting traffic control at the accident scene, officers observed a silver, 2006 Infiniti SUV, traveling at a high rate of speed, passing stopped traffic in the opposing lane of traffic. Officer Bradley Fox and backup began to follow the Infiniti SUV from Ridge Pike onto southbound Conshohocken Road. While traveling on Conshohocken Road, the Infiniti struck a white Chrysler 300 Sedan and fled the scene. Upon arrival at the location of the hit and run, officers were informed by another motorist that the striking vehicle drove onto Ernest Station Road. Officer Fox followed the path of the striking vehicle and found it abandoned on Ernest Station Road. Within minutes, Officer Fox and his K-9 partner Nick began a foot pursuit and radioed for backup. Officer Fox and his K9 partner pursued the suspect into an industrial area alongside the Schuylkill River Trail. Responding officers located Officer Fox on the grass between the Schuylkill River trail and the train tracks above the trail. It was apparent he had suffered a gunshot wound to the head and they called for emergency medical backup. Officer Fox was taken to Montgomery Hospital where he died and was only about six hours away from celebrating his 35th birthday. Officer Fox’s K-9 partner Nick, Belgian Malinois, suffered a graze bullet wound and received veterinary care. Both were shot with a 9mm Beretta gun Officers responded from multiple jurisdictions and immediately began to establish a perimeter to secure the area and locate Officer Fox’s killer. With assistance of multiple police agencies and canine search teams, the killer was located. He had sustained two gunshot wounds to the chest and was deceased. Preliminary investigation revealed that the killer, Andrew Charles Thomas, age 44, abandoned the stolen car he was driving, fled from the officer and was hiding on the hill above the train tracks obscured by tall weeds. Crime scene evidence indicated he ambushed Officer Fox by firing at least four shots at the officer and his K-9 partner from an elevated vantage point where Officer Fox could not view him.  Fox became a K9 officer in 2012 and recently graduated from the Philadelphia K-9 Unit in March of 2012 and was a seven year veteran of the department. Officer Brad Fox had previously served  as a U.S. Marine SSgt. for ten years and completed two tours, 2003 in Iraq and 2005-2006 in Fallujah. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Selected Marine Corp Reserve (X3) Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and The Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Officer Fox is the first Plymouth officer killed in the line of duty. Thousands attended his funeral along with his K9 partner "Nick".  Officer Fox was buried in his uniform and received full military honors. His K-9 partner Nick was retired on 11/12/12 and given to the Fox family. Fox is survived by his wife, Lynsay, 28, who is  three months pregnant with a second child and a five month old daughter Kadence. Lynsay gave birth to Brad Fox Jr. on March 25, 2013. On September 7, 2014, Lynsay Fox, the widow of Brad Fox filed a lawsuit against the Montgomery County gun dealer who sold the gun that wound up being used to kill her her husband. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence filed the suit Monday on behalf of Lynsay Fox, claiming that In Site Firearms and its owner, a former police officer, are responsible for Fox’s death because the gun used to kill Fox was sold to a straw purchaser -- someone who buys a gun for a person who can’t purchase one themselves. In this case, the straw purchaser, Michael Henry  purchased the gun for Andrew Charles Thomas, who couldn’t buy a gun on his own because of his criminal record. Donations can be sent to: Fox Children's Fund: C/O of the Children's Fund, Continental Bank, 661 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19642.

 

Dr. Erica Williams conducted an autopsy of Officer Fox’s body. She found he suffered a single gunshot wound to the head; the manner of his death was homicide.   Dr. Erica Williams conducted an autopsy on Thomas’ body. She identified one direct contact wound to his chest and a second close contact wound to his chest. Dr. Erica Williams determined the cause of Thomas’ death was gunshot wounds to the chest; the manner of death was suicide. At the time of the incident, Thomas was on probation in Montgomery County after pleading guilty to a forgery charge on 5/22/2012. The forgery charge resulted from a 2005 incident in Upper Merion when he used $140.00 worth of counterfeit Acme gift certificates. After failing to appear for his original arraignment in 2005, the defendant had been a fugitive for seven years. Lower Merion Police successfully apprehended him on May 21, 2012 and he pleaded guilty the next day. Thomas is reported to have used up to 40 different aliases and social security numbers during his life and was the prime suspect in the disappearance of Maria C. Procopio of South Philadelphia. Procopio, 34, went missing in September of 1999 after leaving her shift at QVC in West Chester, Pa. Her body has never been found.

Michael J. Henry, 30, pleaded guilty on 3/12/13 of supplying the gun that was used in Fox’s slaying. Henry pleaded guilty to all 23 charges involving the illegal sale or transfer of firearms and lying on gun purchase applications that the guns he was buying were for himself and not anyone else. Montgomery County Judge Joseph A. Smyth,  accepted the plea. Henry allegedly purchased nine guns between April 2012 and July 2012  for Andrew Charles Thomas, including the Beretta 9 mm pistol that Thomas used to gun down Fox. Thomas would tell Henry what type of gun he wanted, give him cash to pay for the gun and, after the transaction was completed, give Henry $500 in cash for making the purchase.  Thomas was barred by law from purchasing the guns himself because he's a convicted felon. Henry was arrested on charges of the illegal sale or transfer of firearms and lying on gun-purchase applications that the guns he purchased were for himself and not anyone else. Henry, who has been held in the county prison in lieu of $1 million cash bail since his arrest Oct. 10, 2012. Henry told the judge he  has been treated at various mental health facilities for anxiety and depression. Police are calling on the public to aid investigators in trying to track down the remaining eight guns, including two rifles that Henry allegedly purchased for Thomas. The firearms that have not been recovered include: Colt .45 ACP, Colt .45 ACP Defender, Colt Mustang .380 ACP 7¾-inch Barrel, Beretta 92FS 9 mm pistol, Beretta 92FS INOX 9 mm pistol, Fabrique Nationale 57 5.7X28 pistol, Remington 750 30-06 rifle and a Stevens 200 Rifle 300 Winchester. On 8/15/13 Montgomery County Judge Joseph A. Smyth sentenced Michael J. Henry to 20 to 66 years behind bars for serving as the straw purchaser of the Beretta 9 mm pistol that was used in the slaying.

On 8/8/17 Vikki Towns-Perez, 36, mother of four who was charged in April for the “straw purchase” street transfer of nine firearms to her nephew was sentenced on 8/8/17 to five to 10 years in a state correctional facility under the Brad Fox Law. She entered a negotiated guilty plea before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Alice Brennan on six third-degree felony counts of selling a firearm to an ineligible transferee, which were consolidated into one count for sentencing, as well as one additional count of the same charge as a felony of the second degree. The Brad Fox Law, enacted in 2013, is named for a Montgomery County police officer who was shot to death by a convicted felon that should not have had access to guns. The statute requires a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for anyone convicted on a second or subsequent offense for making a “straw purchase” of a gun. Towns-Perez, whose first name is also spelled “Vicki” in court records, was sentenced to three and a half to seven years for the first consolidated count, as well as the mandatory five to 10 years for the second count, running concurrently. County Detective David Tyler determined that Towns-Perez purchased nine handguns between February 2012 and May 2013, all of them registered in her name. Several of the guns were the same make and model, including multiple .9mm Kel-Tec hand guns. Towns-Perez, a former certified nursing assistant at the Fair Acres Geriatric Center, told investigators that she purchased all nine guns for her nephew, who she believed had been convicted of several crimes and was not able to purchase the weapons himself. The nephew would describe the model he wanted and give Towns-Perez the money to pay for the gun. Towns-Perez received $150 to $200 in cash for each purchase she made. Towns-Perez previously told ATF Special Agents Sarah Jane Serafino and Gary Malone in a 2014 interview regarding the nine purchases that all of the firearms were in a box inside a filing cabinet at her mother’s residence on McCarey Street. She told the agents that her family had temporarily moved to Ward Street because they could not pay the electric bill. When asked why she purchased several of the same make, model and caliber handguns, according to the affidavit, “she stated that some of the guns would not work correctly, so she would purchase another one of the same type.” Towns-Perez said it would be too costly to send the guns back to the manufacturer for repair and that they had no warranties. She also said she liked the “looks” of the guns, according to the affidavit. She later admitted to meeting her nephew in the 2600 block of Boyle Street in the Highland Gardens neighborhood of Chester to exchange the guns for money, according to the release. Towns-Perez’s nephew, 23-year-old Ka’Ron Ingram, was shot in the back on the night of Aug. 17, 2015. He was found unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a car that had been involved in a two-vehicle collision in the 3000 block of West 13th Street in Chester. His homicide remains unsolved. Of the nine guns Towns-Perez bought, five had been recovered by authorities as of April. All of the recovered guns were used in felony crimes. Towns-Perez was charged with nine counts each of firearm ownership and providing false information; firearm ownership and duty of another person; and tampering with public records, all felonies. She was also charged with false statements, false reports to law enforcement and related charges. The remaining charges were withdrawn under the negotiated guilty plea worked out by Deputy District Attorney George Dawson, Chief of the Anti-Violence Unit, and defense counsel Dawn Getty Sutphin.

 

 

Officer Charles Nelson Armetta

September 8, 2012 - Baltimore City, Maryland - Age 29

 

 

Officer Charles Nelson Armetta, 29, of Joppa, was an officer for Aberdeen Police Department. He died while off duty when he fell off a raised portion of the interstate in Baltimore City. MDTA police received a call at 3:15 a.m. on 9/8/12 from someone that reported a person had fallen from northbound I-95 near exit 52 for Russell Street. Police arrived on scene at 3:17 a.m. and found Mr. Armetta in a wooded area beneath the highway. He had fallen approximately 47 feet. Mr. Armetta was with eight or nine friends and family members in a limousine-type bus and the bus had pulled over on I-95 near the off ramp. Mr. Armetta was pronounced dead on the scene by Baltimore medics at 3:42 a.m. The party bus was returning from a trip to Washington, D.C. Mr. Armetta was assigned to the departments recently reinstated police dog unit. His K9 partner Maverick, a 2-year-old German shepherd was recently shipped from Europe to Castle K-9 in Pennsylvania and had been training with the New Castle County Delaware Police Department. The two just graduated a 12 week program on July 12, 2012. He had been with the department since 2007. Approximately a dozen K9 handlers with their canines attended his funeral. He is survived by his wife, Heather Lauren Armetta and a daughter, Adrianna Caprice Armetta who was turning one-year-old in two more days.  Donations can be made to the Charles Armetta Memorial, C/O Harco Federal Credit Union, 1028 Middleton Rd, Aberdeen, MD 21001.

 

 

MA2 Michael John Brodsky

July 21, 2012 - Kandahar Province, Afghanistan - Age 33

 

 

 

Master of Arms 2nd Class Michael J. Brodsky, 33, from Florida, died 7/21/12 from wounds he received 7/7/12 in a blast from a “dismounted improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He had lost both legs and was struggling to stay alive. Brodsky was flown to Landsthul, Germany where his mother and father were able to see him before he died. Brodsky, a U.S. Navy Military Dog Handler, was doing a tour of duty in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Brodsky was on patrol in an undisclosed area when his unit came under fire on July 7. Brodsky reportedly rushed to a nearby truck to shelter his K9 partner, Jackson. As he returned to the fire fight, Brodsky stepped on a mine. Brodsky trained bomb-sniffing dogs for the Navy and had recently re-enlisted with the military branch for another six years. Brodsky had been assigned to the San Diego-based Navy Region Southwest Security Detachment since December 2010. He enlisted in 2001, the day after the World Trade Center was attacked, and served overseas in Sasebo, Japan and Bahrain. Brodsky was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery on July 16th. Michael is survived by his daughter Natalia.

 

 

 

Cpl. Joshue R. Ashley

July 19, 2012 - Helmand Province, Afghanistan - Age 23

 

Cpl. Joshua R. Ashley, 24, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, was killed in Afghanistan on 7/19/12 by an IED during a night operation in Helmand Province. He was a Military Police officer with the II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, and was a dog handler for special operations. Ashley was with his military dog Sirius, a 4-year-old male German Shepherd when he was killed. Sirius survived the incident. Ashley enlisted in the Marines in 2008 after graduating from Etiwanda High School in 2007. Ashley was deployed to Okinawa, Japan, from 2009 to 2011, and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from 2011 to when he was deployed to Afghanistan in May of 2012. His awards include the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Cpl. Joshua Ashley's military working dog Sirius was adopted by Ashley's mother, Tammie Ashley, on 2/27/2016.

 

 

PC Steve Nigel Abbott

June 15, 2012 - Kimberley, England - Age 62

 

Steve Abbott, 62, died on Friday 15 June, at his Kimberley home, after a heart attack. He had served the Nottinghamshire Force for 40 years. He was commended a number of times and his experience as a dog handler and trainer was invaluable. He service was with full police honors and cremated. He is survived by his wife Mary.

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Sgt. Robert Warren Crapse Sr.

June 15, 2012 - Bryan County, Georgia - Age 32

 

Sheriff's Deputy, Robert Crapse, 32, was killed at 2:15 a.m. on 6/15/12 in the northbound lanes of I-95 when a driver going the wrong way on Interstate 95 struck his cruiser head on. Sheriff's Deputy, Robert Crapse, who resided in Ellabell, had been working traffic control and was headed back to the north end of the county when the accident occurred and was not wearing his seat belt. The crash happened near mile marker 97 which is between the I-16 and Highway 204 exits. Crapse had his K9 “Seppe”, a Belgian Malinois, with him at the time of the accident and his K9 survived with just a scraps and bruises. The driver of the other car , 23-year-old Patricia Ann Collins, of Richmond Hill was driving a white Toyota Corolla  car . Crapse died at the scene. Collins, who was wearing a seat belt was airlifted to Memorial University Medical Center with life threatening injuries. Chatham Metro Police dispatch had actually received seven calls of a vehicle traveling the wrong way down the interstate just before the call came in about the deadly crash. Police put out a BOLLO in Chatham County, but that Crapse would not have heard it. Law Enforcement in Bryan County has access to Chatham dispatch, but would have to manual switch the radio to hear it. A second Bryan County Deputy pulled Deputy Crapse from his vehicle after the accident. He had been following him home after their shift. Crapse started his law enforcement career working at a detention center in 1999, when he was about 19 years old and then became a deputy in 2006. Crapse was promoted from Cpl. to Sgt. about two hours after his death. An estimated 800 people attended the funeral service. Canine Seppe will be retired and given to Crapse's family. Crapse leaves behind a wife of eleven years Ashli Crapse and three children, one son Robert Warren “Robby” Crapse, Jr. and two daughters Sarah Lynn and Natalie Faye Crapse. Ages of his children are 6,8, and 10. A fund to benefit the family of Bryan County Deputy Sheriff Robert Crapse has been set up at the Heritage Bank, 16 Railroad Street East, in Pembroke. The bank may be contacted at 912-653-2265. You can donate to the "Crapse Family Memorial Fund", account #41894833 at any Heritage Bank. 

Patricia Ann Collins’ blood-alcohol level was approaching twice the legal limit when the car she was driving the wrong way on Interstate 95 collided with Bryan County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Sgt. Bobby Crapse’s vehicle and killed him. A Traffic Crash Report  released on 7/17/12 showed that A blood sample taken from her at Memorial and tested by the GBI showed Collin’s blood-alcohol content was .139 after she arrived at the hospital. Driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or more is considered driving under the influence in Georgia. On May 10, 2014,  Patricia Ann Collins, entered an open-ended guilty plea to charges stemming from the June 15, 2012, two-car crash that killed Bryan County sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Robert Warren “Bobby” Crapse.  Collins on 4/29/14 entered a plea of guilty to vehicular homicide and DUI charges stemming from the two-car crash that killed Bryan County sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Robert Warren “Bobby” Crapse. Chatham County Superior Court Judge Timothy R. Walmsley sentenced Patricia Ann Collins on 4/29/14 to 15 years in prison with 7 to serve for the 2012 traffic death of Bryan County sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Robert Warren “Bobby” Crapse. Collins is to have no contact with the victim’s family and undergo continued evaluation for substance abuse. Collins’ blood alcohol level was a .138 and earlier had a registered .185 at the hospital. It is illegal to drive in Georgia with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or greater.

 

MA2 Sean Brazas

May 30, 2012 - Panjwa'l, Afghanistan - Age 26

 

Sean Brazas, 26, U.S. Navy Master at Arms 2nd Class, died on May 30, 2012. Brazas arrived in Afghanistan on May 1, his birthday,  and was killed by a single bullet while helping a fellow serviceman into a helicopter during "combat operations in Panjwa'l, Afghanistan. Brazas's working dog and partner, Sicario, was reportedly treated for heat exhaustion that day but was not injured in the ambush attack. Originally he is from Greensboro, NC. In April, just before the pair deployed, Brazas and Sicario went through the Inter-Service Advance Skills K9 course, the three-week, Marine-run training program based out of Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma, AZ. Upon completion of the course the pair received high honors, claiming the Top Dog Award. Brazas was assigned to Naval Base Kitsap Security Detachment in Bremerton, Wash. Sean Brazas was buried June 19, 2012 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia with approximately 150 in attendance.  Approximately fifteen Navy Military Working Dogs were at attendance at his funeral. Brazas is survived by his wife, Allie Marie Brazas, and their 13-month-old daughter, Addisen Jade Hasenwinkel, both of Bremerton, WA. The family requests that donations in his name be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

 

Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey

May 24, 2012 - Helmand Province, Afghanistan - Age 22

 

CPL Keaton G. Coffey, 22, died on May 24, 2012 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, his dog, Denny, survived. He was from Boring, Oregon. Keaton enlisted in the USMC in August of 2008. CPL Keaton G. Coffey was on his second tour of duty. He was assigned to 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, 1st Marine Headquarters Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, where he was a working dog handler out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. On Nov. 19, 2011, Keaton proposed to his best friend and soul mate, Brittany Dygert. They were planning to be married on July 14, 2012. A bagpipe played Amazing Grace at his funeral on 6/4/12. and his service was with full military honors rendered by the U.S. Marine Corps at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.  The charities selected by the family are: the Fisher House for Families of the Fallen, the United States War Dogs Association, the Wounded Warrior Project or to the Keaton Coffey Scholarship Fund at Damascus Christian School.

 

 

Ofc. Richard Wayne Johnson

May 20, 2012 - Arp, Texas - Age 37

 

Officer Richard Wayne Johnson, 37, was killed in an off duty car crash on Interstate-20 near mile marker 628 at about 1:13 p.m. on 5/20/12. Johnson was the K-9 unit officer for the Arp Police Department for two years and he was the Arp Independent School District Resource Officer. At the time of the crash, Johnson was traveling west on the Interstate with his two daughters, ages 17 and 7, when he apparently lost control of the vehicle due to a blown tire, struck a median and veered into oncoming traffic and overturned. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt. His daughters were uninjured in the crash. He is survived two daughters, Alyson and Nicole Johnson; two stepsons, Colton and Corey Vance. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American State Bank of Arp, c/o of Alyson and Nicole Johnson, P.O. Box 100, Arp, 75750.

 

 

Sgt. Dick Alson Lee Jr.

April 26, 2012 -Ghanzi Province, Afghanistan - Age 31

 

Military canine handler, Sgt. Dick A. Lee Jr, 31, was killed on April 26, in Afghanistan along with his bomb-detecting dog, a German shepherd named Fibi . Sgt. Dick A. Lee Jr., had been in Afghanistan 23 days and was on his deployment's first mission. few weeks ago to handle dogs trained to sniff for explosives. He was killed when a vehicle he was riding in encountered an improvised explosive device. He was killed while serving in Ghanzi Province, Afghanistan. Also Staff Sgt. Brandon F. Eggleston died from injuries with Sgt. Dick A. Lee Jr. who was also in the vehicle when they struck an improvised explosive device. Lee, 31, had signed up for the Army during his senior year at Keystone Heights High, aiming at a career as a military policeman when he graduated in 2000. He was 12 years into his service, he planned to stay until he could retire, then find work as a police officer. Lee was assigned to the 95th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, part of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command in Sembach, Germany. He is survived by his wife, Katherine G. Lee, and two sons, David and Joshua, in Germany and were from of Orange Park, Fla. Approximately five hundred people attended his service. Donations for the family may be made to the Sgt. Lee Memorial Fund established at Capital City Bank by the American Legion Keystone-Melrose Post 202.
 

 

Ofc. Scott Dietz

April 21, 2012 - Chicago, Illinois - Age 60

 

Scott Dietz, 60, died of a heart attack.  He was a retired police canine handler who worked in the 16th and 20th police districts. He later worked at O’Hare Airport with  his trusted bomb-sniffing dog Bart investigating unattended luggage and stalled vehicles. He was a dog handler at O’Hare until his retirement nearly two years ago. They were often called on to sweep Air Force One and VIP motorcades for explosives  for U.S. presidents and vice presidents, and kings and queens.  Other police K9 officers paid tribute to him by bringing their partners to Cooney’s Funeral Home. He and Bart, a yellow Labrador retriever, were inseparable and even retired together. So it was fitting that Bart stayed next to his master’s body at the funeral parlor. Mr. Dietz is also survived by his children, Christopher and Colleen.

 

Deputy Sheriff Brian Edward Hayden

April 19, 2012 - Soper, Oklahoma - Age 47

 

 

Choctaw County Deputy Sheriff Brian Hayden, 47, was killed in a collision with another while both were responding to assist a third officer on 4/19/12. The crash occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on U.S. 70, 3.2 miles west of Soper. Hayden collided with Choctaw tribal police Officer Josiah Moore, 29. Hayden died as a result of injuries suffered in the crash, and was pronounced dead on arrival at Choctaw Memorial Hospital in Hugo. Moore was rushed to Medical Center of Plano (Texas). The two were separately responding to a call to assist a Choctaw County deputy with shots fired. Both were wearing seat belts and had lights and sirens activated. The collision occurred when Hayden turned left onto a county road and Moore's car struck his pickup's driver side door. Before going to work as a Deputy for the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office for four months, in 1986, he joined the USAF and served out county for 20 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant in Security Forces. He did many tours overseas as well as personal security for 3 different US Presidents. During his military career, he also served as a reserve officer for Spencer, Oklahoma, Oklahoma County and Nicoma Park, Oklahoma. After his USAF retirement, he served full-time as the Nicoma Park K9 Officer. In December 2011, he moved closer to home and became the first K9 Deputy for Choctaw County, Oklahoma. Choctaw Deputy Bryan Hadyen spent his last moments in his patrol car with his K9 companion Sampson. K9 Sampson will continue to still serve Choctaw County. Nearly 400 people came together to honor a fallen man in uniform. Deputy Hayden was cremated and his organs donated. Deputy Hayden leaves behind his wife, Tabitha Hayden; his children, Jessica, Andrew, Hilly, James, Wyatt, Austin, Jacqualyne and Kelly and his K9 partner “Sampson”. A memorial fund has been established in Brian’s honor at the First Bank of Hugo where donations may be made. The address is First Bank of Hugo, Brian and Tabitha Hayden, 1501 E. Jackson, Hugo, OK 74743.

 

 

Sgt. Scott Tatrow

April 14, 2012 - Wayland, Michigan - Age 46

 

Sgt. Scott Tatrow, 46, with the Allegan County Sheriff's Department died unexpectedly after being rushed from his Wayland home by ambulance to Metropolitan Hospital with a very high temperature of 107 degrees on 4/14/12. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1:15 a.m. Tatrow was a decorated and skilled officer who served as a K9 Dog handler, Tactical Team (SWAT) member, Michigan Sheriff's Association Mission Team Investigator and was part of the original Allegan County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard. His work was also recognized with many awards including a 2003 letter of Commendation for Law Enforcement Service, a 2004 letter of appreciation for years of service to the Tactical Team, a 2007 letter of Commendation for Law Enforcement Service, and 2009 Allegan County Sheriff's Office Certificate of Professional Excellence. Sgt. Tatrow was a handler for K9 Jock, a Belgian Malinois, who earned the reputation as being one of the top narcotic detector dogs in the nation. Tatrow had recently returned from a trip. After he was taken to the hospital, firefighters went to Tatrow's home dressed in HazMat gear to remove clothing and other items to have them checked amid concerns that an infection may have contributed to his death.  An autopsy performed showed that he died from E. coli stemming from a urinary tract infection. Sgt.Tatrow was a 19-year veteran of the sheriff's office, joining the staff March 22, 1993.  Tatrow is survived by his wife Lynn of 22 years and two children, Dekota Tatrow and Jessica Lambright. Memorial Contributions may be made to "Thin Blue Line" of Michigan.

 

LCpl Abraham Tarwoe

April 12, 2012 - Helmand, Afghanistan - Age 25

 

 

Lance Corpral Abraham Tarwoe was killed on 4/12/12 in Afghanistan. His K9, Yeager, survived. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. At the age of seven he and his family left Liberia to escape the civil war there and made his home in Providence, Rhode Island. Lance Corpral Abraham Tarwoe joined the Marines in June of 2009. He leaves behind his wife, Juah Kelly, and their 18-month-old son, Avant. His body was flown on May 5 to his county where he was born in Liberia, for burial. Lance Corpral Abraham Tarwoe received the Purple Heart.

 

 

Deputy Jim St. Pierre

March 24, 2012 - Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan - Age 51

 

Deputy Jim St Pierre died of a heart attack on the morning of 3/24/12 in Tarin Kowt in southern Afghanistan. He worked for the Pasco Sheriff's Department in Florida and had worked with a few K9 partners. He worked with his first K9 “Bullet” in 1986 and both responded   to an emergency situation at a house to calm Herman Hendrix, a 62-year-old man who had a lengthy criminal record. He was drunk and threatening violence. He pointed a shotgun at deputies and ran behind a shed. St. Pierre unleashed Bullet, an 80-pound German shepherd. St. Pierre, then 26 and in only his third year on the job, heard another blast. He expected Hendrix had shot his dog, and suddenly the gunman came around the corner of the shed. St. Pierre, ordered the man to drop the gun. When Hendrix refused, the deputy St. Pierre shot six times from 15 feet. Hendrix died at the scene. K9 Bullet sustained a minor pellet wound. In September 1993, he and his second canine partner, Puma, tracked a man wanted in New Port Richey in two stabbings. The man lunged at them with a razor-blade knife, slashing both. Puma's days as a police dog were done, though he continued to live with the St. Pierres. He was hired by American K-9 Detection Services to work with dogs trained to root out narcotics. He is survived by his ex wife Tina and children, Angie, Timmy and Kalah. St. Pierre was returning to Florida in 56 days.

 

 

Officer Jerome "Jerry" Larson

January 24, 2012 - Duluth, Minnesota  - Age 68

 

Jerome "Jerry" Larson, 68, died on January 24, 2012, at home after a battle with cancer. He served in the Army, 101st Airborne Division, where he earned both Airborne and Ranger tabs. He had spent much of his life handling and training police dogs, and serving as a mentor to the next generation of handlers. In 1976 he took the initiative to acquire and train 2-year-old German Shepherd, Joe, and talked the department into adding him to the force.  Larson and Joe worked some memorable cases in their five-or-so years together on the Duluth police force.  In 1981, after Joe started to slow down, Larson retired his K-9 partner. He founded the Police K-9 Association for Duluth and became the first K-9 Officer in Duluth history. He was thoroughly respected throughout the county for his knowledge, skill, and experience working with police K-9s. Many of the K-9s he trained became nationally known for their excellent work within Police K-9 Association. After Larson retired from the force in 1990, he still trained and mentored other dogs and handlers. In 1992, Larson was brought out of retirement to conduct the training for his police department. Many said some techniques Larson taught back then were ahead of their time, and picked up by other departments years later. He is survived by a daughter, Wanda, and two sons, Jerry and Scott. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his name to the Duluth Police K-9 Fund, Attn: Gordon Ramsay, at 211 W. 1st. St., Duluth MN, 55802.

 

Sgt. Mark Patrick Day

December 22, 2011 - Renton, Washington  - Age 62

 

Retired Renton Police Sergeant Mark Day, 62, died on December 22, 2011, following a fifteen year battle with cancer. At age 38, he made the decision to pursue a career in law enforcement. Sergeant Day graduated first in class overall in 1987 from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Law Enforcement Academy, and joined the Renton Police Department later that year. Sergeant Day worked for the Renton Police for 23 years, retiring October 31, 2010. During his career Sergeant Day rose through the ranks, eventually becoming an Acting Commander and ultimately a Sergeant in the Investigations Division. Sergeant Day was selected by the Renton Police Department as the Employee of the Quarter twice: first in 1997, and again in 2008. In 1990 Sergeant Day was awarded a position on the Canine Unit, and was assigned a German Shepherd puppy named Buck as part of the City’s “Puppy Program.” K9 Officer Buck partnered with Sergeant Day until 1997, when the Buck retired from the police force to live out his days with the Day family. Sergeant Day went on to lead and train the Renton Police Department Canine Teams, ultimately becoming a Master Canine Trainer in 2001. The dynamic duo of Day and Buck arrested over 200 suspects including a person who kidnapped a four-year-old and two homicide suspects, one in Tukwila another in Seattle. Buck passed away on July 9, 2001 also from cancer. A book was written about Day and Buck both dealing with cancer at the same time, with the animal dying in his arms. Ted Koppel, formerly of ABC-TV's "Nightline," interviewed him after learning that Day was going to have another of his tracking dogs blessed at his Catholic church, which stirred some national controversy. Sergeant Day graduated from Renton High School in 1968. While at Renton, Day was student body president his senior year, chosen for the high school All-American Football Team in 1967, and was captain of the football and track teams in both 1967 and 1968.  He earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Washington and played with Stanford's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jim Plunkett. Sergeant Day is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Marcia Day; his three grown children: Natalie , Kyle , and Aaron.

 

Officer Darren Kunz

December 17, 2011 - Fergus Fall, Minnesota  - Age 40

 

Darren Kunz, 40, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, passed away on 2/17/11 under the care of Lakeland Hospice at Sheridan House after nearly a year long battle with lung and brain cancer. Darren attended Alexandria Technical College, graduating with top honors from the Law Enforcement Program in 1997. After school, Darren worked part time for the Pelican Rapids Police Department and later the Fergus Falls Police Department. A short time later, Darren went to work for the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department full time. Darren was a SWAT Team member and instrumental in bringing in the departments first narcotics-only canine, closing several cases and winning numerous awards. Darren won a Meritorious Service Award from the Chiefs of Police for his part in dealing with a chainsaw-wielding suspect. Darren is survived by his wife, Beth, his daughter Elizabeth, 2, step daughters, Nichelle, 16, and Chelsea,10, step son, Nathan, 14, and his beloved K9, Nijka. Anyone wishing to contribute can send donations to: Beth Kunz, 514 West Laurel, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.

 

Corporal Rohan "Roti" Richardson

December 6, 2011 - Antigua - Age ?

Corporal Rohan Richardson, of the Royal Police Force, died on December 6, 2011 at Mount St John’s Medical Centre  after suddenly falling ill.  Richardson was found when Richardson’s fiancée and  live-in companion, also a member of the force, was trying to get a hold of him but was unable to do so. The woman had  forgotten her cell phone at home and wanted him to deliver it to her. After calling his phone for some time without answer, the female officer asked her daughter to go to the house to check on the police corporal. It was at this time that Richardson was found in the bathroom by his stepdaughter lying on the bathroom floor conscious at the time but unable to communicate. He might have fallen and hit his head. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) was summoned to the scene. He was rushed to Mount St John’s Medical Centre, where he was later pronounced dead. Corporal Richardson headed the Canine Unit since its establishment over three years ago.

 

Officer Kevin Weber

November 3, 2011 - Fort Wayne, Indiana - Age 55

 

 

 

 

Kevin Weber died on November 3, 2011 from  glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer that he was diagnosed with in April and went out on medical leave. He served his country in the US Navy and was employed at the Baer Field Airport Department of Safety, the Allen County Police Department, and was a police officer for the Fort Wayne Police Department for 31 years, 24 of his years on the department were spent as a K-9 officer. Weber graduated from K-9 training in 1987 and became a trainer in 1994. Kevin was a nationally accredited Master Trainer, certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association, and had the privalege of training police work dogs and handlers throughout the country for the past 17 years. Weber’s first dog, Zak, became the first certified narcotic-detection dog for Fort Wayne police. Another of his dogs, Badge, was cross-trained to track people and detect bombs and drugs.  He is survived by his daughter, Megan, 21; sons, Matt, 19 and Kevin Jr, 13; and former wife and mother of the children, Stacey. Donations can be made to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, Cancer Services or the Fallen Hero Fund.

 

 

Officer Derek Kotecki

October 12, 2011 - Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania - Age 40

 

                                                                                                      

                           

Officer Derek Kotecki, 40, was shot and killed in on 10/12/11 at approximately 7:00 p.m. while responding to a Dairy Queen to arrest Charlie Arthur Post, 33, who was wanted for an incident that occurred earlier on October 2^nd on charges including attempted homicide and aggravated assault for allegedly firing several shots at his boss, Terry Janosky, 44, a New Kensington building contractor. Janosky told police he had a dispute with Post and agreed to meet him in a motel parking lot, only to have Post scream and open fire when he arrived. Janosky was not hurt. There were three bullet holes on the driver's side of Janosky's truck from a large caliber handgun, including one right above the driver's side window. Police recovered 12 shell casings at the scene. Police knew that Post was dangerous and a Lower Burrell detective had reached Post by cell phone after the Oct. 2 incident and tried to convince Post to turn himself in. When Police learned he was at the Dairy Queen on 10/12/11 several officers were converging on the scene to make the arrest and Kotecki was among the first to arrive at the Dairy Queen which is located on on Greensburg Road, near the Plum/Lower Burrell border. Post saw the officers approaching and he stepped out of a Jeep he was driving and opened fire. Kotecki was only ten minutes into his shift when he was felled by the gunfire. Officer Kotecti died from gunshot wounds to the head, left arm and abdomen. Witnesses said Post lay in the rear of the Jeep holding a pistol, and as Kotecki got out of his SUV with Odin, Post fired the gun through the closed back window, shattering it. Post tried to escape, but came to a fence that he could not scale. He turned back toward the police officers and shot himself. At the same instant, the officers fired at Post. Post died from gunshot wounds to the head, chest and abdomen. Kotecki was an 18-year veteran with the Lower Burrell Police Department and was the department's K-9 officer. Officer Kotecki's first K9 Benny retired and died and was replaced by Odin, Kotecki's K9 partner at the time of his death.  Kotecki's K-9 had to be muzzled after the shooting and led away because the animal would not leave the slain officer's body. Officer Kotecki studied criminal justice at Mercyhurst College in Erie. In 1992, just before joining Lower Burrell's force, he worked as an officer in Ocean City, Md. A horse-drawn carriage carried Officer Kotecki's body to the church for the service. Officer Kotecki's funeral was attended by approximately four thousand people and about fifty K9 officer's attended with their K9'S. A gray hearse with Kotecki's body was led into the cemetery  with a riderless horse. The empty saddle and glossy riding boots facing rearward in the stirrups is a traditional military honor. Seven officers used ceremonial shotguns to fire three times each for the 21-gun salute. Moments later, a state police helicopter flew low over the cemetery to pay respects. A combined bagpipe and drum corps performed "Amazing Grace." A little bit later, a flight of white doves was released. Officer Kotecki's K9 Odin was retired and given to Kotecki's family. Kotecki is survived by his wife, Julie J. Nash Kotecki and two sons, Nicholas Bert Kotecki,13, and Alexander Bert Kotecki,11 and his K9 partner "Odin". A fund has been set up for the Kotecki family in honor of our fallen Police Officer Derek Kotecki at the following: S&T Bank, 4251 Old William Penn Highway, Murrysville, PA  15668 or Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund, C/O Fraternal Order of Police, Allegheny Valley Lodge #39. Make checks payable to: Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund.

On 6/16/14 Amanda Christyn Walters, 25,  was sentenced to two years' probation for helping fugitive Charlie Post elude capture in the days before he killed Lower Burrell Patrolman Derek Kotecki.  Westmoreland County President Judge Richard E. McCormick Jr. handed down the sentence. McCormick instructed Walters to enroll in a high school diploma equivalency program and not to have contact with the Kotecki family. Amanda Walters Aunt Nicole M. Walters 39, of Lower Burrell, was sentenced to two years of probation with six months of house arrest a week before Amanda's sentence. Walters was ordered to submit to random drug-and-alcohol testing during probation and pay court costs. She must pay for mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations and counseling, if the evaluation shows the need.

On 11/19/16 approximately 100 people attended a dedication of a city park in Kotecki's honor for the unveiling of the new entryway arch. The arch bears Kotecki's name and replica badge. Kentucky artist Stephen Paulovich, a New Kensington native, created a replica of Lower Burrell K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki's police badge; the 6-foot sculpture hangs above the new entrance to Officer Kotecki Memorial Park and a sculpted bust of Odin, Kotecki's canine partner, was mounted on a brick pillar below the badge. More than 50 people and businesses contributed to all aspects of the entrance, including the design and landscaping, forming and erecting the steel arch, building the masonry pillars, and crafting and hanging the sculptural elements. The columns supporting the arch are called cruciform beams because of their strength and cross-shaped symbolism and also appropriate was the name of the paint — “honorable blue” — chosen to coat the metal. The road below the arch will be paved, landscaping finished and plaques recognizing Kotecki and donors added to the pillars.

Police agencies across the Alle-Kiski Valley -- including New Kensington, Lower Burrell, Allegheny Township, Harrison, Springdale Township, Indiana Township, Tarentum and Plum -- have charged Charles Post with a slew of minor offenses over the past 17 years, including numerous incidents of traffic violations, disorderly conduct and harassment. Of the 50 different incidents, here are some examples:

• Oct. 2011: New Kensington police charged Post with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, theft, reckless endangerment and other charges.

• Dec. 2010: Lower Burrell police charged Post with possession of drug paraphernalia and six summary driving citations. All charges except for paraphernalia and driving with suspended license were withdrawn. He failed to appear for a guilty plea before Judge John Blahovec on Oct. 7, 2011.

• March 2002: Lower Burrell charged Post with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. An arrest warrant issued in 2005 because he tested positive for opiates and cocaine, a violation of his parole or bail.

• Oct. 2001: Lower Burrell police -- Kotecki -- cited Post for criminal mischief. He was found not guilty.

• Aug. 1999: Leechburg charged Post with driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license and another traffic citation. He pleaded guilty to drunken driving, while the other charges were withdrawn.

• Aug. 1999: Lower Burrell police cited Post for a traffic violation.

• April 1997: Lower Burrell charged Post with drunken driving and a summary count of buying alcohol as a minor.

 

 

Staff Sgt. Christopher Diaz

September 28, 2011 - Helmand Province, Afghanistan - Age 27

 

 

Staff Sgt. Christopher Diaz, 27, was killed on September 28 after being wounded while rushing to the aid of a comrade who had been shot when he was killed by an IED during combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. As a working dog handler he achieved almost unparalleled professional success, including being selected to attend an advanced training program for several months in Israel. After completing the course, Diaz was one of only a handful of dog handlers in the Corps to have the qualifications he possessed. His skill and professionalism lead to him being chosen to support reconnaissance and special forces in some of the most dangerous places in Afghanistan. During his eight years of loyal service he did one tour in Iraq, one tour in Israel, and one tour in Afghanistan. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. He deployed in May to Afghanistan and was due to return in late December. His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Navy And Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Certificate Of Commendation ( Individual Award ) Letter Of Appreciation and Purple Heart. He is survived by his family a young daughter, Mia E. Davis and young son, Jeremy C. Diaz. and K9 partner "Dino". His Funeral was held in El Paso, Texas on 10/10/11 and more than one thousand people attended his funeral. He was buried at  Fort Bliss National Cemetery with full military honors. The fallen Marine's father, asked the military if his family could adopt Dino but, military officials initially denied the request, saying Dino, who specialized in finding explosives, was too young. However the request was granted to the  family's request on 5/29/14. The Diaz family officially adopted Dino in a ceremony held at Camp Pendleton on 6/7/14.

 

 

Sgt. Mycal Lee Prince

September 15, 2011 - Laghman Province, Afghanistan - Age 28

 

 

Sergeant Mycal L. Prince of Minco, Oklahoma was killed in Laghman Province in Afghanistan on September 15, 2011 from injuries sustained during an insurgent attack. His unit was fired upon by insurgents using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. Prince was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Brigade Combat Team in the Oklahoma National Guard, which is based out of Edmond and headquartered in Stillwater. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan in March of 2011. He joined the Guard five days after his 17th birthday and served over ten years. He deployed to assist the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and went to Iraq in 2008.  Mycal worked for Rush Springs Police Department for three years  then worked for Minco Police Department as a K9 officer with his K9 partner  "Bayca" for the past two years before being deployed to Afghanistan. While with the Minco Police Department, Officer Prince and K9 Bayca helped with drug interdiction. The military presented seven awards to Sgt. Prince's family, including a purple heart. Prince leaves behind his wife Surana Smith Mycal and two young daughters, Raelynn and Mycaela. Sergeant Mycal was buried on 9/26/11 at Bradley Cemetery in Bradley Oklahoma. First National Bank and Trust has set up a fund to help the family. Donations can be made in the Prince family name.   

 

 

Officer Thokozani Patrick Ngcobo

August 9, 2011 - Ladysmith, South Africa - Age 47

 

 

Officer Thokozani Ngcobo, of Ladysmith South Africa was shot and killed on 8/9/11 in his vehicle at 7:00 p.m. by gunmen when he arrived home in his drive-way .  Ngcobo had been a dedicated member of the Ladysmith K9 unit for 15 years and served as a police officer for 24 years. After Officer Ngcobo was shot the suspects ran off. Ngcobo was taken to hospital by his neighbor and pronounced dead on arrival. He died as a result of multiple bullet wounds. Ngcobo had just arrived home in his police uniform from work but had taken his protective vest off.  He was expected to give evidence at the trial of six men, including an ex-colleague charged with a money-in-transit robbery in October 2009 in which three people were killed. N