It is a sober reminder that the evil of the criminal element is a real threat to those protecting our communities on a daily basis. While the recent demands for law enforcement to utilize body cameras, focus on the community and to train in de-escalation techniques have validity, law enforcement cannot stop focusing on tactics, training and mindset designed to overcome violence within the profession. It's fine to have a “guardian” mindset but it takes a “warrior” to run toward gunfire. Our profession lost too many warriors in May and we owe it to the profession to prepare those wearing a badge for the battles to come. Our training must continue to evolve and prepare for the threats of violence. Many agencies have implemented valuable training such as pre-attack indicator courses. Others have hesitated for various reasons and that needs to stop. Hesitation in training and action can be deadly and the violence against our profession is not over so there is much to be done.
The following is a list of officers lost in the month of May in order of occurance. Thanks to our partners at the Officer Down Memorial Page for their assistance.
Police Officer Brian Moore, New York City Police Department (N.Y.), 25, succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier while questioning a suspicious person in Queens. He and his partner were working a plainclothes detail when they observed a subject playing with an object in his waistband. They pulled alongside the subject and asked him what he was carrying. The subject responded by pulling out a handgun and opening fire into the vehicle, striking Officer Moore in the face. Officer Moore was transported to a local hospital where he remained unconscious until passing away two days later. The subject was identified by several witnesses and was arrested at his home shortly afterwards. In his service with New York Police Department, Officer Moore had earned two exceptional police service medals and two meritorious police service medals.
Lieutenant Eric Eslary, Ligonier Township Police Department (Penn.), 40, was killed in a vehicle collision on Route 30, near Clark Hollow Road, at approximately 2 a.m. His patrol SUV was struck head-on by a van driving the wrong way on the divided highway. His canine partner suffered serious injuries and underwent surgery at an emergency animal hospital. The two occupants of the van were critically injured. Lieutenant Eslary had served with the Ligonier Township Police Department for 17 years. He is survived by his wife and six children.
Sergeant Greg Moore, Coeur d'Alene Police Department (Idaho), 43, was shot and killed after stopping a suspicious male. Sergeant Moore was patrolling in the area of Wilbur Avenue and Joanna Drive in response to a several car break-ins that had taken place in the area. At 1:30 a.m. he stopped a suspicious male and radioed the man's information in, but made no further radio contact. A citizen heard gunshots, found Sergeant Moore in the street, and called the police. After the shooting the subject stole Sergeant Moore's patrol car and fled the location. An officer spotted the stolen patrol car in the town of Post Falls, and initiated a pursuit. The suspect eventually fled on foot and was eventually found in a parking lot, hiding under a car, and taken into custody. Sergeant Moore was taken to a local hospital where he died several hours later from his wounds. Sergeant Moore had served with the Coeur d'Alene Police Department for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Detective Paul Koropal, Allegheny County District Attorney's Office – Investigative Division (Penn.), 47, suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in serving of 11 search warrants in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He and other members of a federal narcotics task force were serving the warrants when he told his partner he wasn't feeling well. He was taken to the Uniontown Hospital where he suffered a fatal heart attack at approximately 2:30 p.m. Detective Koropal had served with the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office for 18 years and was assigned to the Pennsylvania State Police Auto Theft Task Force. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and son, his mother, and three sisters.
Police Officer Liqori Tate, Hattiesburg Police Department (Miss.), 25, and Police Officer Benjamin Deen were shot and killed while making a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by three subjects near the intersection of 4th Street and Gordon Street in downtown Hattiesburg. One of the subjects stole the patrol car after both officers were shot. All three occupants of the vehicle, two brothers and a female, were apprehended later in the night. One of the brothers and the female were charged with two counts of capital murder. The second brother was charged with accessory after the fact to capital murder. A fourth individual was charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the case. Officer Tate had served with the Hattiesburg Police Department for 11 months.
Police Officer Benjamin Deen, Hattiesburg Police Department (Miss.), 34, and Police Officer Liqori Tate were shot and killed while making a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by three subjects near the intersection of 4th Street and Gordon Street in downtown Hattiesburg. One of the subjects stole the patrol car after both officers were shot. All three occupants of the vehicle, two brothers and a female, were apprehended later in the night. One of the brothers and the female were charged with two counts of capital murder. The second brother was charged with accessory after the fact to capital murder. A fourth individual was charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the case.
Reserve Deputy Sonny Smith, Jackson county Sheriff’s Office (Ark.), 42, was shot and killed as he and other deputies searched for a burglary suspect in the area of County Road 1723 at approximately 2:30 a.m. He located the subject hiding in a wooded area and pursued him on foot. During the pursuit the man opened fire with a .22 caliber handgun, striking Deputy Smith in the neck. Despite the wound, Deputy Smith returned fire and wounded the subject. The man was then taken into custody. Deputy Smith was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Deputy Smith was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and five children.
Police Officer Richard Martin, Houston Police Department (Texas), 47, was intentionally struck and killed by a vehicle as he set up spike strips at the intersection of N Kirkwood Road and St. Mary's Lane during a vehicle pursuit at approximately 2:30 a.m. Officers from the Houston Police Department were pursing the U-Haul van after it had been carjacked in North Houston. The driver of the vehicle fired several shots at officers during the pursuit before bailing out, carjacking a second vehicle, and fleeing again. Officer Martin was in the process of deploying spike strips when the driver intentionally struck him with the stolen vehicle. The vehicle continued to flee until stopping on the 45 North Freeway. The subject attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself as officers initiated a felony traffic stop. The man was taken into custody suffering a non-fatal gunshot wound. Officer Martin had served with the Houston Police Department for four years. He is survived by his two children.
Detective Kerrie Orozco, Omaha Police Department (Neb.), 29, was shot and killed as she and other members of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a warrant on a man wanted for a shooting in September 2014. The subject opened fire on the officers as they approached a home near the intersection of Read Street and Martin Avenue. Members of the task force returned fire, fatally wounding the man. Detective Orozco was transported to Creighton University Medical Center where she succumbed to her wounds. Detective Orozco had served with the Omaha Police Department for seven years. She is survived by her husband, newborn daughter, and two stepchildren.
Inspector Robbie Bowling, North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau, (N.C.), 50,was killed in a vehicle crash on Old Hillsborough Road, near Longleaf Pine Place in Mebane, at approximately 11:30 a.m. His department vehicle collided head-on with a cement mixer after crossing the center line. The vehicle became engulfed in flames and he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Inspector Bowling had served with the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau for 24 years and was assigned to District 4. He is survived by his wife.
Patrolman James Bennett, Housing Authority of New Orleans Police Department (La.), 45, was shot and killed from ambush while working an overtime detail at a construction site of the Guste Homes Public Housing Complex. Patrolman Bennett was patrolling a site where homes were being built when he was shot and killed by an unknown person. Patrolman Bennett's patrol car was found crashed near the intersection of Erato Street and Freret Street shortly after 7 a.m. Responding Officers found Patrolman Bennett inside the patrol car fatally wounded. Patrolman Bennett had served with the Housing Authority of New Orleans Police Department for two years and had previously served with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office for 13 years.
Officer Gregg “Nigel” Benner, Rio Rancho Police Department (N.M), 49, was shot and killed while making a traffic stop near the intersection of Pinetree Road and Southern Road at approximately 8:15 p.m. After making contact with the two occupants the vehicle fled and Officer Benner pursued it a short distance before it stopped again in the area of 900 Pinetree Road SE. One of the subjects opened fire on Officer Benner, wounding him, before fleeing again. Officer Benner was transported to UNM Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. One of the subjects was arrested by members of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office later in the night. The other subject remains at large. Officer Benner was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Rio Rancho Police Department for four years. He is survived by his wife, two children, and three stepchildren.
Sergeant Iris Smith, Mississippi Department of Corrections (Miss.), 53, was killed in a vehicle collision at approximately 3:15 p.m. when the prisoner transport van she was driving collided with the back of a tractor trailer on U.S. 49, at J M Tatum Industrial Drive, in Hattiesburg. She was following an ambulance that was transporting an inmate to a local hospital when the crash occurred. Sergeant Smith had served with the Mississippi Department of Corrections for 15 years and was assigned to the South Mississippi Correctional Institution.
Police Officer Toure Heywood, Georgia State University Police Department (Ga.), succumbed to injuries sustained 12 years earlier when he was struck by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop. As he spoke to the occupants of the vehicle a second vehicle struck the first car head-on and then struck him. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained in ICU for several days. His health continued to deteriorate as a result of the incident. On May 28, 2015, he passed away while undergoing organ transplant surgery to replace his stomach, liver, pancreas, upper bowel and lower bowel. Officer Heywood was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had previously served as a corrections officer before joining the Georgia State University Police Department. Following the crash he became a member of the East Point Police Department where he served as a detective at the time of his passing.
Trooper Anthony Raspa, New Jersey State Police (N.J.), 25, was killed in a vehicle crash on I-195 near mile marker 9 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, at approximately 12:48 a.m. His patrol car he was driving struck a deer in the travel lane, and then left the roadway and collided with a tree. He and his partner were both transported to CentraState Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Trooper Raspa had served with the New Jersey State Police for 19 months.
On behalf of Law Officer, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, agency and community of each law enforcement hero listed here.
