Honoring 13 Fallen Heroes

Honoring

Master Police Officer Christine Peters

Greenbelt Police Department, Maryland

EOW: Jan. 14, 2021 | Age: 49 | Tour: 22 Years

Master Police Officer Christine Peters succumbed to injuries sustained 12 days earlier when she was struck by a vehicle on Edmonston Road, north of Cherrywood Lane, while assisting officers from the United States Park Police at the scene of a crash at about 10:00 pm. Another vehicle struck Officer Peters while she was outside of her vehicle. She was flown to a local hospital where she remained until succumbing to her injuries. Officer Peters had served with the Greenbelt Police Department for 22 years and had previously served with the University of Maryland Police Department.

Honoring

Chief Danny Watkins

San Benito Fire Department, Texas

EOW: Jan. 12, 2021 | Age: 67 | Tour: None

Chief Danny Watkins contracted COVID-19 while on-duty. He passed away from the virus on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.

Honoring

Captain Lloyd Losinger

Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District, Florida

EOW: Jan. 12, 2021 | Age: 60 | Tour: None

Captain Lloyd Losinger, while performing fire inspections, contracted COVID-19. He passed away from the virus on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Honoring

Firefighter Leonard L. Coney

Shreveport Fire Department, Louisiana

EOW: Jan. 6, 2021 | Age: 41 | Tour: None

Firefighter Leonard L. Coney treated and transported a COVID-19 patient on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 and another COVID-19 patient on Friday, December 25, 2020. He subsequently contracted the virus and passed away on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Honoring

Firefighter/EMT Mark “Dewey” E. Kulp

Reading Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Pennsylvania

EOW: Jan. 5, 2021 | Age: 52 | Tour: None

Firefighter/EMT Mark “Dewey” E. Kulp transported at least two patients to hospitals, who had tested positive for COVID-19. He also evaluated a patient on-scene that possibly had the virus. He subsequently contracted the disease and passed away on January 5, 2021.

Honoring

Lieutenant William Lyle Gardner

Denver City Police Department, Texas

EOW: Jan. 7, 2021 | Age: 59 | Tour: 33 Years

Lieutenant William Gardner died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during a confirmed exposure while assisting EMS personnel on a medical call involving a COVID-19 positive patient in the 100 block of Rogers Circle. Lieutenant Gardner had served with the Denver City Police Department for 33 years. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 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

Conservation Officer Steven Reighard

Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa

EOW: Jan. 8, 2021 | Age: 59 | Tour: 16 Years

Conservation Officer Steve Reighard died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure while on duty. Officer Reighard had served with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for 16 years and was assigned to Dickinson County. 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

Master Corporal Brian LaVigne

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Florida

EOW: Jan. 11, 2021 | Age: 54 | Tour: 30 Years

Master Corporal Brian LaVigne was killed when his patrol car was intentionally rammed by another vehicle on West Lumsden Road, near South King's Avenue, in Brandon. Deputies had responded to an apartment complex nearby after a man started throwing furniture and clothing off his balcony. A short time later, the man disrobed and started throwing food at neighbors. The man attacked responding deputies, striking one of them multiple times in the head. Attempts to stop the attack with electric control weapons failed. The subject broke free, got into a car, and drove through a closed gate. The man intentionally drove across multiple lanes of traffic and struck Corporal LaVigne's patrol car on the driver's door at a high rate of speed. Deputies were unable to free Corporal LaVigne, and he had to be extricated by rescue units. He was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The subject was arrested following the collision. Corporal LaVigne had served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for thirty years and was killed the day before his last scheduled shift before retirement. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Honoring

Agent Luis A. Marrero-Díaz

Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico

EOW: Jan. 11, 2021 | Age: 43 | Tour: 19 Years

Agent Luis Marrero-Díaz and Agent Eliezer Hernández-Cartagena, of the Carolina Municipal Police Department, were murdered while attempting to arrest a man who had just murdered Agent Luis Salamán-Conde, of the Carolina Municipal Police Department. Agent Salamán-Conde had responded to a vehicle crash on Avenida Roberto Clemente. One of the drivers involved in the crash opened fire on him with an AK-47 rifle, killing him. The man then carjacked another vehicle and fled onto the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway. Officers from the Carolina Municipal Police Department and Puerto Rico Police Department pursued the vehicle along the expressway until it stopped near the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. The subject opened fire again, fatally wounding Agent Luis Marrero-Díaz. As he attempted to flee in the car a second time he fatally struck Agent Eliezer Hernández-Cartagena. He was able to flee into a nearby residential area where he remains at large. Agent Marrero-Díaz had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 19 years.

Honoring

Agent Luis X. Salamán-Conde

Carolina Municipal Police Department, Puerto Rico

EOW: Jan. 11, 2021 | Age: None | Tour: 30 Years

Agent Luis Salamán-Conde was shot and killed after responding to the scene of an accident on Avenida Roberto Clemente in Carolina. Agent Salamán-Conde had responded to a vehicle crash on Avenida Roberto Clemente. One of the drivers involved in the crash opened fire on him with an AK-47 rifle, killing him. The man then carjacked another vehicle and fled onto the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway. Officers from the Carolina Municipal Police Department and Puerto Rico Police Department pursued the vehicle along the expressway until it stopped near the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. The subject opened fire again, fatally wounding Agent Luis Marrero-Díaz of the Puerto Rico Police Department. As he attempted to flee in the car a second time he fatally struck Agent Eliezer Hernández-Cartagena. He was able to flee into a nearby residential area where he remains at large. Agent Salamán-Conde had served with the Carolina Municipal Police Department for 30 years.

Honoring

Agent Eliezer Hernández-Cartagena

Carolina Municipal Police Department, Puerto Rico

EOW: Jan. 11, 2021 | Age: None | Tour: None

Agent Eliezer Hernández-Cartagena and Agent Luis Marrero-Díaz, of the Puerto Rico Police Department, were murdered while attempting to arrest a man who had just murdered Agent Luis Salamán-Conde, of the Carolina Municipal Police Department. Agent Salamán-Conde had responded to a vehicle crash on Avenida Roberto Clemente. One of the drivers involved in the crash opened fire on him with an AK-47 rifle, killing him. The man then carjacked another vehicle and fled onto the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway. Officers from the Carolina Municipal Police Department and Puerto Rico Police Department pursued the vehicle along the expressway until it stopped near the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. The subject opened fire again, fatally wounding Agent Luis Marrero-Díaz. As he attempted to flee in the car a second time he fatally struck Agent Eliezer Hernández-Cartagena. He was able to flee into a nearby residential area where he remains at large.

Honoring

Police Officer Melton "Fox" Gore

Horry County Police Department, South Carolina

EOW: Jan. 12, 2021 | Age: 57 | Tour: 23 Years

Police Officer Melton Gore was struck and killed by a vehicle while clearing debris from the roadway near the interchange of Highway 22 and Highway 31. Officer Gore had served with the Horry County Police Department for 23 years and was assigned to the Environmental Services Unit.

Honoring

Sergeant Frederick "Butch" Cameron

Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, Virginia

EOW: Jan. 12, 2021 | Age: 51 | Tour: None

Sergeant Butch Cameron died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty at the Fairfax County Judicial Center. Sergeant Cameron served as a National Trustee for Law Enforcement United and extremely devoted to the organization's mission of supporting the Officer Down Memorial Page, Concerns of Police Survivors, and Spirit of Blue. 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.

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).