A total of nine officers lost their lives during January of 2014. We were fully 12 days into the New Year before the first officer died and, tragically, seven more officers died before the month ended. Of the officers who were lost, six were killed in vehicle related incidents, two were shot to death by suspects and one was killed by accident in a friendly-fire incident. Last year, five officers died during January.
Those of us involved in the Below 100 effort (drive down line-of-duty deaths to fewer than 100 annually) are greatly encouraged by the progress made over the last two years. 2012 saw a total of 123 LODDs, the lowest in more than fifty years and the LODDs for 2013 totaled 107, the lowest level of loss since 1944!
Despite this progress, 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. This means sharing the details of mistakes that others have made, even when it’s painful or embarrassing to do so.
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 summaries of our fallen during the month of January, listed in order of occurrence.
Deputy Sheriff David “Bubba” Johnson, 52, Montgomery County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office, died as the result of a single vehicle crash at approximately 11:20 pm on the US 41A Bypass near Clarksville. For unknown reasons, Deputy Johnson’s vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. There was no other vehicle involved and Deputy Johnson was not on a call at the time of the crash
Puerto Rico Police Agent Carlos Rivera-Vega, 32, succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained seven days earlier in an unprovoked attack while conducting an investigation. Rivera-Vega and other members of the Mayagüez Drug Division had gone to a housing complex during the course of an investigation. A man approached them, asked why they were there and then suddenly pulled a gun and opened fire, striking Rivera-Vega twice in the abdomen. The suspect ran away but committed suicide as officers pursued him.
Detective Sergeant Tommy Smith, 42, Bay Area Rapid Transit (CA) Police, was accidentally shot and killed by another officer while conducting a probation check and warrant service at an apartment in Dublin during the early afternoon. The subject they were searching for was wanted for several robberies on BART property. The officers conducting the check had just forced entry to an apartment when a round was accidentally discharged, striking Sergeant Smith. He was transported to Eden Medical Center where he succumbed to the wound. It was subsequently determined that the suspect being sought had already been taken into custody by another agency.
Officer Kristian Willhight, 36, Burns Flat, Oklahoma, Police Department and Undersheriff Brian Beck, 39, Washita County, Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office, were killed when their patrol cars collided during a vehicle pursuit in Washita County. Beck had gone to a man's home to serve several felony warrants when the subject fled in his truck. Beck began to pursue the subject and called for assistance. Officer Willhight was responding to assist when the two patrol cars collided near Dill City. The suspect also crashed in a separate collision and was killed. .
Sergeant David Baldwin, 50, Jefferson County, Colorado Sheriff’s Office, was killed when his police motorcycle was struck head-on by another vehicle on Highway 93, at West 64th Parkway, at approximately 10:30 am. The vehicle that struck Sergeant Baldwin was attempting to illegally pass a third vehicle across a double-yellow line. Sergeant Baldwin had served for 27 years with Jefferson County.
Animal Control Officer Eddie Maurice Hamer, 36, Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee, died as the result of injuries sustained in a single vehicle crash while responding to a call. His vehicle left the road and overturned near an intersection in Saulsbury. Hamer was a deputized animal control officer and had also served as a reserve officer for the Whiteville Police Department for nine years.
Sergeant Cory Wride, 44, Utah County, Utah Sheriff’s Office, was shot and killed in an ambush incident along Highway 73 near Eagle Mountain when he stopped to check on a vehicle. He was fatally wounded by a high-power rifle before he was able to exit his patrol vehicle. The suspect fled and was subsequently spotted by another deputy. A pursuit ensued and during the chase another deputy was shot and critically injured. The suspect then carjacked a vehicle and continued fleeing until he encountered Juab County deputies. A gunfight followed and the suspect was critically injured. He later died of his wounds.
Deputy Sheriff Percy House, 52, Greensville County, Virginia, Sheriff's Office, was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a call during the mid-morning hours. After failing to arrive at the call, a massive search took place that involved multiple agencies from surrounding counties. After approximately fourteen hours of searching, Deputy House’s vehicle was found submerged in a creek off of Massie Branch Road. His body was recovered by a police dive team. It is believed that ice on the roadway may have been a factor in the fatal crash.
As has happened in many other months, the losses from vehicle related incidents outnumbered those due to gunfire. During fifteen of the last sixteen years, more officers have died in incidents related to vehicles than by gunfire. While not all of our vehicle related deaths are the fault of the officer, the heartbreaking truth is that a great number of them are single vehicle, lost control and many result in the ejection of an officer who was not wearing his seatbelt. In general, we control the way we drive and we have little control over those who are shooting at us. We must continue efforts to increase officer-safety and awareness in the area of vehicle operations.
A courageous conversation can be a powerful instrument for change. For the sake of your fellow officers, have the courage to engage in these lifesaving discussions. If you know someone who goes without a seatbelt, who doesn’t wear their armor or who drives in a manner that is a problem lying in wait, say something! This is the only way we can change a part of our culture that has already claimed way too many lives.
Of the officers who lost their lives in January, not one went to work thinking that would be their last day. We must honor the fallen by training the living and this also means having the courage to use examples of lives lost to point out that these tragedies really do happen.
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!
Special thanks to our partners at the Officer Down Memorial Page (www.ODMP.org) for the LODD summary and statistical information. For more on Below 100 and where you can get training, go to www.Below100.com.
