With two months of 2014 behind us, our year-to-date line-of-duty death losses now total 13 according to our partners at the Officer Down Memorial Page. Four of those losses occurred during February. A monthly toll this low is extremely rare, having previously occurred only three times during the past 50 years. Cause for celebration? With four officers dead this past month, the answer is definitely not, but it is noteworthy and encouraging.
As I write this, our LODD losses are down more than 20% compared to this time last year. As many of you remember, 2013 was the lowest total seen since 1944, so tracking at an even lower rate is nothing less than phenomenal. Although we have only two months behind us, this is definitely progress and we should build upon it, refusing to accept any loss as normal or acceptable. We’ve fought very hard to make improvements in common-sense officer safety and we must jealously guard these gains like a military force gaining new ground.
Despite this encouraging trend, we’ve got a ways to go and I strongly encourage each of you to objectively examine every LODD or serious injury as the details emerge and look for lessons that can help prevent a recurrence. We should never, never accept a loss or serious injury as the cost of doing business. We must honor the fallen by training the living!
On behalf of Law Officer, I extend condolences to every coworker, family member and agency that has experienced a line-of-duty loss. Here are the summaries of our fallen during the month of February, listed in order of occurrence.
Deputy Jonathan Scott Pine, 34, Orange County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, was shot and killed after he responded to a report of car burglaries taking place in a gated community. Deputy Pine was checking the area for suspects and radioed in that he was making a stop followed by a broadcast that he was in foot pursuit. The subject fired several shots, striking Deputy Pine. The subject continued to run a short distance and then committed suicide.
Correctional Officer Amanda Baker, 24, Scotts Bluff County (Neb.) Detention Center, died two days after being attacked by a 15-year old inmate of the facility. The suspect, who was awaiting trial on robbery charges, attacked and strangled Baker as she entered his cell at approximately 2 a.m. She was transported to a regional medical facility where it was determined she was brain dead. She was kept alive until her organs could be donated and give life to others.
California Highway Patrol Officers Juan Gonzalez, 33, and Brian Law, 34, died in a vehicle crash as they were responding to a report of a vehicle accident on Highway 99 in Kingsburg at approximately 6 a.m. Initial reports had incorrectly indicated the incident was on the northbound side of the roadway. The officers were responding on the southbound side and came upon the crash with a victim lying in the roadway. They swerved to avoid running over the victim and their vehicle struck a guardrail and sign before overturning. Both officers suffered fatal injuries. Both were wearing their seatbelts.
None of these officers went to work believing that shift would be their last. While not all LODDs are preventable, we lose officers every month in incidents that clearly could have been prevented. One of the most powerful officer safety tools we have is the courageous conversation and it can be a tremendous instrument for change. If you know someone who demonstrates a complacent attitude, who goes without a seatbelt, doesn’t wear their armor or who drives in a manner that is a problem lying in wait, say something!. For the sake of your fellow officers, have the courage to engage in these lifesaving discussions. Yes, the conversations are sometimes uncomfortable but they’re nothing like going to a funeral. Don’t suffer the regret and guilt of not having said something that could have prevented a loss.
Remember the tenets of Below 100:
1. Wear your belt.
2. Wear your vest.
3. Watch your speed.
4. WIN – What’s Important Now?
5. Remember: Complacency Kills.
