Honoring 8 Fallen Heroes

Honoring

Sheriff Benny N. Napoleon

Wayne County Sheriff's Office, Michigan

EOW: Dec. 17, 2020 | Age: 65 | Tour: 45 Years

Sheriff Benny Napoleon died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty. Sheriff Napoleon had served in law enforcement for 45 years. In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Honoring

Chief Emeritus/Firefighter Lee Witman

Colonial Park Fire Company, Pennsylvania

EOW: Dec. 11, 2020 | Age: 88 | Tour: None

Chief Emeritus/Firefighter Lee Witman, while performing in-station duties, contracted COVID-19. He passed away on Friday, December 11, 2020, from the virus.

Honoring

Firefighter Edward Hine

Colonial Park Fire Company, Pennsylvania

EOW: Dec. 16, 2020 | Age: 79 | Tour: None

Firefighter Edward Hine, while performing in-station duties, contracted COVID-19. He passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, from the virus.

Honoring

Officer Andrew Raymond Bouchard

U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations

EOW: Dec. 19, 2020 | Age: 51 | Tour: 13 Years

Officer Andy Bouchard died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty at the Houston Seaport. Officer Bouchard was a U.S. Army veteran of the Persian Gulf War and had served with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations for 13 years. He is survived by his wife and son. In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Honoring

Sergeant David Schmidt

Seagoville Police Department, Texas

EOW: Dec. 23, 2020 | Age: 48 | Tour: 15 Years

Sergeant David Schmidt died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure while on duty at the Seagoville Police Department. Sergeant Schmidt had served with the Seagoville Police Department for 15 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and three brothers. In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Honoring

Major Andrew “Andy” P. Davis

Oklahoma City Fire Department, Oklahoma

EOW: Dec. 24, 2020 | Age: 45 | Tour: None

On December 9, 2020, Major Andrew “Andy” P. Davis contracted COVID-19 while providing emergency medical care to a patient who had tested positive for the virus. Major Davis passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2020.

Honoring

K9 Loki

Boone County Sheriff's Office, Illinois

EOW: Dec. 27, 2020 | Age: None | Tour: None

K9 Loki was killed when his handler's patrol car was struck by a drunk driver on I-90, near Irene Road, at approximately 1:30 am. His handler was conducting a traffic stop and was speaking to the driver of the stopped vehicle when the patrol car was struck from behind by a limousine being operated by a drunk driver. K9 Loki was transported to an emergency veterinary hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the stopped car and the drunk driver were both injured in the collision. K9 Loki's handler was struck by debris but not seriously injured. The driver of the limousine was charged with DUI and failure to yield to emergency vehicles.

Honoring

K9 Cara

Staunton Sheriff's Office, Virginia

EOW: Dec. 21, 2020 | Age: 3 | Tour: 2 Years

K9 Cara died after falling from a bridge while assisting the Skyline Drug Task Force by conducting an article search along Old White Bridge Road in Augusta County. Members of the Staunton Police Department and Augusta County Sheriff's Office were conducting an investigation at the Walmart. They observed a wanted subject unrelated to the investigation sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle in the parking lot. As officers contacted the occupants of the vehicle, the woman driving it accelerated, striking two officers and leading deputies and Virginia State Police troopers on a 17-mile pursuit. The driver of the vehicle and the wanted subject were both taken into custody. K9 Cara was requested to search for a gun that officers believed had been thrown from the vehicle. As K9 Cars searched for the, she fell from a bridge to the ground approximately 50 feet below. She suffered a broken back because of the fall. It was determined the best course of action was to euthanize her humanely. A handgun and narcotics were later recovered. K9 Cara had served with the Staunton City Sheriff's Office for two years and was a certified explosives-detection dog.

Disclaimer:

This information is supplied by the Officer Down Memorial Page (www.odmp.org) and the U.S. Fire Administration (www.apps.usfa.fema.gov).