Twelve officers died during the month of December, bringing the preliminary death toll for 2013 to 105, according to our partners at the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP.org). I use the term preliminary because both ODMP and the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) go through a period of review after the close of the year. Inevitably, the numbers change slightly and the organizations usually end up with slightly different numbers because there are minor differences in the criteria for inclusion. We have worked with ODMP since Below 100 began and we use their numbers for consistency in year-to-year comparison.
Regardless, here’s the news, both good and bad. The good: Assuming the number for 2013 losses doesn’t change greatly, it will be the lowest number of line-of-duty law enforcement deaths in this country since 1944. That is absolutely remarkable and it means that no officer working today has ever seen a year when our losses were lower. In fact, consider this – for most officers, their parents were not even born when the number was lower. No death will ever be acceptable but the dramatic decline in both 2012 (a 50+ year low) and 2013 are welcome news. Here’s the bad news: We’re still losing officers in situations that are absolutely preventable. Vehicle-related incidents continue to be the most deadly area for officers, accounting for far more deaths (45) than all types of felony assaults combined (33) during 2013.
Last month we lost six officers in vehicle-related incidents, four officers died as a result of gunfire, one died in a boating accident and one succumbed to a heart attack. On behalf of everyone at Law Officer, I extend the deepest condolences to the families and coworkers of those lost this past month. In order of their passing, here are the losses for December, 2013:
Sgt. Robert Baron, 47, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department, New Mexico, died one day after being struck by a vehicle while investigating a vehicle accident during blizzard-like conditions on I-25. The driver of the vehicle that struck Baron had lost control due to the weather. Baron was a charter member of Law Enforcement United, a group that honors the fallen and raises money for ODMP and COPS by participating in a 200+ mile bicycle ride during Police Week each year.
Deputy Sheriff Adam Davis, 36, Bell County Sheriff’s Office, Texas, was killed in a single vehicle crash while responding to reports of a man brandishing a gun. His patrol car left the roadway at a sharp curve and rolled several times. He sustained severe head injuries and remained in a coma for approximately ten days before succumbing to his injuries.
Petty Officer Travis Obendorf, US Coast Guard Office of Law Enforcement, died as the result of injuries suffered during a rescue operation off the coast of Alaska on November 11th. He was transported via Coast Guard helicopter and then civilian medevac to Anchorage for treatment but passed away a month after the incident. His family was by his side.
New York State Police Trooper David Cunniff, 35, died as the result of injuries sustained in a vehicle crash where his patrol car was struck from behind by a tractor trailer at approximately 8:30 pm on the New York Thruway. Cunniff had been on a traffic stop and his vehicle was on the shoulder of the road when the crash occurred. The impact caused him to be partially ejected from his patrol vehicle and he died the following day.
Deputy Sheriff Clinton Frazier, 36, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi, was killed in a single car crash at approximately 9 pm near the city of Myrtle. Deputy Frazier had been attempting to stop another vehicle when his patrol car left the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned.
Sergeant Investigator Adam Sowders, 31, Burleson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas, was shot and killed as he and seven other officers tried to serve a warrant at a rural home near Somerville at approximately 5:30 am. As the officers entered the home the suspect opened fire with a .308 rifle, fatally wounding Sowders. No other officers were injured and the suspect was taken into custody.
Officer Robert Deckard, Jr., 31, San Antonio, Texas, Police Department, was shot and killed while pursuing two robbery suspects who had been involved in 15 robberies over a period of several days. They were driving a distinctively painted vehicle and Deckhard attempted to stop it after spotting the car. During a pursuit, one of the suspects opened fire and a round passed through the windshield of Deckard’s patrol car, striking him in the head and causing him to crash. The incident occurred on December 8th and Deckard remained on life support until his organs could be donated.
Investigator Cuauhtemoc Estrada, 50, Cook County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois, 50, was shot and killed when he intervened in a robbery while off-duty. Estrada had been at the local VFW hall when he stepped outside and observed a robbery taking place in a parking lot. He identified himself and was reaching for his weapon when he was shot once in the chest. Two suspects were arrested the following day.
Investigator Jeffrey Bryant, 51, Centre, Alabama, Police Department, was killed in a vehicle crash that occurred as he was returning to Centre after meeting with another officer. Bryant’s vehicle was struck head-on by another car that had crossed the center line after losing control. The driver of the other vehicle and a two-year old child were also killed.
Sgt. Kevin “Gale” Stauffer, 36, Tupelo, Mississippi, Police Department, was shot and killed as he and two other officers responded to reports of a bank robbery. The officers approached a suspect vehicle that was stopped at a railroad crossing and were fired upon. Stauffer was killed and another officer was critically wounded. The suspect fled in a vehicle but was later shot and killed by police in Phoenix, Arizona after robbing another bank.
Correctional Deputy Jeremy Meyst, 31, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, California, died as the result of a single vehicle crash. He was transporting two prisoners at approximately 2:30 am when the crash occurred. He was ejected when the van overturned. The two prisoners sustained minor injuries.
Officer Darrell Jean Windhaus, 71, US Customs and Border Protection, suffered a fatal heart attack at the Brownsville, Texas Seaport during a ship inspection. Windhaus collapsed on the deck of a large oil tanker after climbing a 100 foot ladder to board the vessel. He had served with Customs and Border Protection and its predecessor, the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, for 42 years.
We Can Change This!
We must honor the fallen by training the living and this means having the courage to use examples of lives lost to point out that these tragedies really do happen. Of the officers who lost their lives during this past year, not one went to work thinking that would be their last day. For some, the loss could have been very easily prevented.
Once again, this month’s losses due to vehicle related incidents outnumbered those due to gunfire. Tragically, this has been the case for 15 of the last 16 years! When it comes to reducing LODDs, consider this: Which of these two categories—gunfire or vehicles—do we have the greatest hope of changing? The answer is obvious.
In general, we control the way we drive and we have little control over those who are shooting at us. The heartbreaking truth is that a great number of the vehicle-related losses experienced during 2013 were single vehicle, speed related and had an officer who was not wearing a seatbelt ejected. Tragically, we have examples of this during December’s LODDs.
Change doesn’t happen on its own. It needs a catalyst, often in the form of a conversation. For the sake of your fellow officers, have the courage to engage in these lifesaving discussions. If you know someone who works without wearing their armor, who goes without a seatbelt or who drives in a manner that is a problem lying in wait, say something! And, if you don’t know how those you work with feel about these areas, ask them! This is the only way we can change a part of our culture that has already claimed way too many lives.
Ask yourself this question right now: “If I had to predict where the next LODD or serious injury will come from in my agency, where would it be?” If you can answer that (and many of you already have a name in mind), then do something about it! Don’t wait. During Below 100 training sessions we have heard from officers who regret every day not having a courageous conversation with an officer who subsequently lost their life. You can make a difference!
It’s time to say enough and do something about it. Please, for the sake of your family, your department and your own life, remember the tenets of Below 100:
- Wear your belt.
- Wear your vest.
- Watch your speed.
- WIN – What’s Important Now?
- Remember: Complacency Kills!
