The month of May is dedicated to paying our respects to our fallen law enforcement officers. This year, ceremonies around the country have had to be canceled in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus, including all of the National Police Week events in Washington, D.C. But although we cannot gather together with our brothers and sisters right now, we remain united in spirit as we remember the far too many brave and dedicated officers we have lost.
On May 13, there will be a virtual candlelight vigil held online that can be watched from anywhere in the world, during which the names being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial will be read. Once this crisis has passed and the future becomes more certain, I hope we’ll be able to make up for the events we missed and properly memorialize all those who made the ultimate sacrifice last year. But for now, please review the following list of 146 officers who gave their lives in the line of duty in 2019, honor their names, and keep their families in your thoughts and prayers. These heroes will be forever missed and never forgotten. RIP to all.
2019 Line-of-Duty Deaths*
Master Police Officer
Joseph William Shinners
Provo P.D., UT
EOW: Saturday, January 5, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Dale James Woods
Colerain Township P.D., OH
EOW: Monday, January 7, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Police Officer
Clayton Joel Townsend
Salt River P.D., TR
EOW: Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Police Officer
Chatéri Alyse Payne
Shreveport P.D., LA
EOW: Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Natalie Becky Corona
Davis P.D., CA
EOW: Thursday, January 10, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Trooper
Christopher James Lambert
IL State Police
EOW: Saturday, January 12, 2019
Cause: Vehicular assault
Sergeant
WyTasha Lamar Carter
Birmingham P.D., AL
EOW: Sunday, January 13, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Norman D. Merkel
U.S. Marshals Service
EOW: Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Deputy Sheriff
Ray Elwin Horn III
Comal County S.O., TX
EOW: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Police Officer Kenneth
Xavier Domenech
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Saturday, January 19, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Police Officer
Sean Paul Tuder
Mobile P.D., AL
EOW: Sunday, January 20, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Lieutenant
Robert Earl “Bo” McCallister
Susquehanna Township P.D., PA
EOW: Sunday, January 20, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Detective Joseph M. Roman
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Monday, January 28, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Deputy Sheriff
Joshua Bryan “LJ” Ryer Jr.
Glascock County S.O., GA
EOW: Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Community Supervision Officer Russell Dean Salazar
Kendall County Community Supervision and Corrections Dept., TX
EOW: Thursday, January 31, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Corporal
Shane Michael Totty
Baton Rouge P.D., LA
EOW: Friday, February 1, 2019
Cause: Motorcycle crash
Detective
William Lee Brewer Jr.
Clermont County S.O., OH
EOW: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Border Patrol Agent
Donna Marie Doss
U.S. Border Patrol
EOW: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Trooper Lucas Bartley Dowell
VA State Police
EOW: Monday, February 4, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Matthew John Rittner
Milwaukee P.D., WI
EOW: Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Detective Brian P. Simonsen
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Cause: Gunfire (inadvertent)
Chief of Police
David Paul Hewitt
Rising Sun P.D., IN
EOW: Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Agent Alfred Sanyet-Pérez
Puerto Rico P.D., PR
EOW: Friday, February 15, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Sergeant
Steven Gaspare Greco
Miccosukee Tribal P.D., TR
EOW: Saturday, February 16, 2019
Cause: Vehicular assault
Lieutenant
Daniel Duane Hinton
FL Highway Patrol
EOW: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Undersheriff
Monty Thomas Johnson
Pawnee County S.O., OK
EOW: Thursday, February 21, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Sergeant Brian Keith Crain
Jenks P.D., OK
EOW: Saturday, February 23, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Police Officer
Nicholas Scott Galinger
Chattanooga P.D., TN
EOW: Sunday, February 24, 2019
Cause: Vehicular assault
Sergeant Steven Billie Hinkle
Sullivan County S.O., TN
EOW: Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Nathan Hayden Heidelberg
Midland P.D., TX
EOW: Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff
Jacob Howard Keltner
McHenry County S.O., IL
EOW: Thursday, March 7, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Gregory V. Melita
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Saturday, March 9, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Corporal Daniel H. Groves
CO State Patrol
EOW: Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Detective Philip T. Perry
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Thursday, March 14, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Deputy Sheriff
Ryan Shane Thompson
Kittitas County S.O., WA
EOW: Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Paul Thomas Rutherford
Phoenix P.D., AZ
EOW: Thursday, March 21, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Police Officer
Michael Edmund Teel
Port Authority of NY and NJ P.D.
EOW: Thursday, March 21, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Deputy Sheriff
Peter John Herrera
El Paso County S.O., TX
EOW: Sunday, March 24, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Trooper
Brooke Elizabeth Jones-Story
IL State Police
EOW: Thursday, March 28, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Trooper Gerald Wayne Ellis
IL State Police
EOW: Saturday, March 30, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Detective
Benjamin James Campbell
ME State Police
EOW: Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Cause: Accidental
Deputy Sheriff II
Spencer Allen Englett
Forsyth County S.O., GA
EOW: Thursday, April 4, 2019
Cause: Duty-related illness
Sergeant
Steven Lawrence Licon
CA Highway Patrol
EOW: Saturday, April 6, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Staff Sergeant
Bryan U. McCoy
NJ State Police
EOW: Saturday, April 6, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Detective Charles James Humphry
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Deputy Sheriff
Justin Richard DeRosier
Cowlitz County S.O., WA
EOW: Sunday, April 14, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Kyle David Olinger
Montgomery County P.D., MD
EOW: Thursday, April 18, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Conservation Officer
Eugene Herman Wynn Jr.
MN Dept. of Natural Resources — Enforcement Division
EOW: Friday, April 19, 2019
Cause: Drowned
Lieutenant
Phillip E. Panzarella
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Thursday, April 25, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Special Agent in Charge
Liquat Ali “Leo” Khan
U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division
EOW: Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Police Officer
Patrick Thomas McGovern
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Thursday, May 2, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
K9 Officer
Jordan Harris Sheldon
Mooresville P.D., NC
EOW: Saturday, May 4, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Robert Stanton McKeithen
Biloxi P.D., MS
EOW: Sunday, May 5, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer Anthony Neri
Sanibel P.D., FL
EOW: Monday, May 6, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Trooper Matthew Elias Gatti
TN Highway Patrol
EOW: Monday, May 6, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Constable
Willie Houston “Hoot” West
Lowndes County Constable’s
Office, MS
EOW: Thursday, May 9, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Sergeant
Kelvin Bernard Ansari
Savannah P.D., GA
EOW: Saturday, May 11, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
William Ray Buechner Jr.
Auburn P.D., AL
EOW: Sunday, May 19, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer Jesus Abner Marrero-Martínez
Manatí Municipal P.D., PR
EOW: Saturday, May 25, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Keith A. Ferrara
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Lieutenant Joseph P. Johnson
Seminole P.D., TR
EOW: Thursday, May 30, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Lieutenant
Steven Dewayne Whitstine
East Baton Rouge Parish S.O., LA
EOW: Thursday, May 30, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Police Officer James B. Boyle
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Friday, May 31, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Chief of Police
Wayne Mark Neidenberg
Lakeshire P.D., MO
EOW: Thursday, June 6, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Police Officer
William James Leahy
Port Authority of NY and NJ P.D.
EOW: Thursday, June 6, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Police Officer
Albert Ramirez Castaneda Jr.
Grand Prairie P.D., TX
EOW: Friday, June 7, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Police Officer
Esmeralda Ponce Ramirez
Los Angeles P.D., CA
EOW: Sunday, June 9, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Sergeant
David Jones Fitzpatrick
The Colony P.D., TX
EOW: Monday, June 10, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Deputy Sheriff
Julius Jamal “Jay” Dailey
Monroe County S.O., AL
EOW: Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Police Officer
Steven James Brown
Port St. Lucie P.D., FL
EOW: Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Master Trooper
William James Modén
CO State Patrol
EOW: Friday, June 14, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Patrol Officer
John David Hetland
Racine P.D., WI
EOW: Monday, June 17, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Tara Christina O’Sullivan
Sacramento P.D., CA
EOW: Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Trooper Jerry Louis Smith Jr.
NE State Patrol
EOW: Thursday, June 20, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Corporal
Jose Luis “Speedy” Espericueta Jr.
Mission P.D., TX
EOW: Thursday, June 20, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer
Michael Vincent Langsdorf
North County Police Cooperative, MO
EOW: Sunday, June 23, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff
Troy Phillip Chisum
Fulton County S.O., IL
EOW: Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Detective Andrea Renee Jacqueline Rainer
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Detective
Luis Gustavo Alvarez
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Saturday, June 29, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Deputy Sheriff
Carlos Aaron Ramirez
Kendall County S.O., TX
EOW: Tuesday, July 2, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Deputy Jailer
Michaela Elizabeth Smith
Murray County S.O., GA
EOW: Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Cause: Training accident
Police Officer
John Ralph Anderson IV
Metro Nashville P.D., TN
EOW: Thursday, July 4, 2019
Cause: Vehicular assault
Conservation Officer Shannon Lee “Opie” Barron
Red Lake Nation Conservation Dept., TR
EOW: Sunday, July 7, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Deputy Sheriff
Nicolas Blane Dixon
Hall County S.O., GA
EOW: Monday, July 8, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Sergeant
Michael David Stephen Sr.
Stone County S.O., AR
EOW: Thursday, July 18, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Detective
Christopher Cranston
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Saturday, July 20, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Deputy Sheriff
Benjamin Ryan Nimtz
Broward County S.O., FL
EOW: Sunday, July 21, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Detective Thomas Santoro
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Sunday, July 21, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Police Officer Juan Jose Diaz
Los Angeles P.D., CA
EOW: Saturday, July 27, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Detective
James Joseph Biello
Atlanta P.D., GA
EOW: Sunday, July 28, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Correctional Officer Pedro Joel Rodríguez-Mateo
PR Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation
EOW: Thursday, August 1, 2019
Cause: Assault
Police Officer
Raymond Harris
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Sunday, August 4, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Detective April Eleanor Bird
Asbury Park P.D., NJ
EOW: Monday, August 5, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Correctional Administrator Debra Kay Porter-Johnson
TN Dept. of Correction
EOW: Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Cause: Assault
Sergeant Jeffrey M. Cicora
NY State Police
EOW: Saturday, August 10, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Officer
Andre Maurice Moye Jr.
CA Highway Patrol
EOW: Monday, August 12, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff
Stephanie Jean Schreurs
Lyon County S.O., IA
EOW: Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff
Carlos J. Cammon
Orange County S.D., CA
EOW: Friday, August 23, 2019
Cause: Duty-related illness
Trooper
Nicholas John Hopkins
IL State Police
EOW: Friday, August 23, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff
Jose Luis Blancarte
Kinney County S.O., TX
EOW: Friday, August 23, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Trooper Moises Sanchez
TX Highway Patrol
EOW: Saturday, August 24, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff
Jeremy Allen Voyles
Chickasaw County S.D., MS
EOW: Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Undersheriff
Stephen B. McLoud
Cayuga County S.O., NY
EOW: Thursday, August 29, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Detective Joseph Paolillo
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Monday, September 9, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Investigator Dornell Cousette
Tuscaloosa P.D., AL
EOW: Monday, September 16, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer Derrick Bishop
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Thursday, September 19, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Captain Vincent Nat Liberto Jr.
Mandeville P.D., LA
EOW: Friday, September 20, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff
Christopher Michael Hulsey
Meade County S.O., KY
EOW: Saturday, September 21, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Sergeant Tracy Leslie Vickers
FL Highway Patrol
EOW: Friday, September 27, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff
Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal
Harris County S.O., TX
EOW: Friday, September 27, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Detective
Brian Charles Mulkeen
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Sunday, September 29, 2019
Cause: Gunfire (Inadvertent
Border Patrol Agent
Robert Mark Hotten
U.S. Border Patrol
EOW: Sunday, October 6, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Trooper Peter Richard Stephan
IN State Police
EOW: Friday, October 11, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff
Matthew Ryan Jones
Falls County S.O., TX
EOW: Friday, October 11, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Captain
Albert E. Torres
Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation and Parks, CA
EOW: Saturday, October 12, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Deputy Sheriff
Jacob Otto Allmendinger
Gallatin County S.O., MT
EOW: Saturday, October 19, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Deputy Sheriff
Brian David Ishmael
El Dorado County S.O., CA
EOW: Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Detention Officer
Gene Wade Lee
Maricopa County S.O., AZ
EOW: Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Cause: Assault
Sergeant
Joseph Brian Montijo
Chattanooga P.D., TN
EOW: Friday, November 1, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Police Officer
Elmer Jonathan Diaz
Lemoore P.D., CA
EOW: Saturday, November 2, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Interim Police Chief
Michael Franklin Knapp
Lynden P.D., WA
EOW: Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Detective Jorge Rene DelRio
Dayton P.D., OH
EOW: Thursday, November 7, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff
Makeem Rictrell Brooks
Northampton County S.O., NC
EOW: Thursday, November 14, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff
Stephen Michael Reece
Cheatham County S.O., TN
EOW: Friday, November 15, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Investigator
Cecil Dwayne Ridley
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, GA
EOW: Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Sergeant
Rasheen Phillipe McClain
Detroit P.D., MI
EOW: Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Sheriff
John Arthur “Big John” Williams Sr.
Lowndes County S.O., AL
EOW: Saturday, November 23,
2019
Cause: Gunfire
Detective
Maureen M. O’Flaherty
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Thursday, November 28, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Master-at-Arms
Oscar J. Temores
U.S. Navy Security Forces
EOW: Saturday, November 30, 2019
Cause: Vehicular assault
Sergeant Joshua Eli Voth
CO Dept. of Corrections
EOW: Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Cause: Explosion
Agent Billy Fred Clardy III
Huntsville P.D., AL
EOW: Friday, December 6, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Chief
Vincent A. DeMarino
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Friday, December 6, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Police Officer
Stephen Paul Carr
Fayetteville P.D., AR
EOW: Saturday, December 7, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Sergeant
Christopher Charles
Lewis Brewster
Houston P.D., TX
EOW: Saturday, December 7, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Detective Joseph Alan Seals
Jersey City P.D., NJ
EOW: Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Cause: Gunfire
Sergeant Kaila Marie Sullivan
Nassau Bay P.D., TX
EOW: Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Cause: Vehicular assault
Constable
Eula Ray “Raye” Hawkins
Panola County Constable’s Office, MS
EOW: Thursday, December 12, 2019
Cause: Vehicle pursuit
Chief Deputy
Bobby Wayne Jacobs
Knott County S.O., KY
EOW: Monday, December 16, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Private First Class
Michael Shawn Latu
Marion County S.O., SC
EOW: Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Sergeant Scott Johnston
New York City P.D., NY
EOW: Thursday, December 19, 2019
Cause: 9/11-related illness
Police Officer
Jose Humberto Meza
Burnet P.D., TX
EOW: Friday, December 20, 2019
Cause: Heart attack
Detective Clifton
John Martinez
San Antonio Independent School District P.D., TX
EOW: Saturday, December 21, 2019
Cause: Vehicular assault
Deputy Sheriff
Bryan Charles Pfluger
San Jacinto County S.O., TX
EOW: Saturday, December 21, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff
Cooper Andrew Dyson
Pierce County S.D., WA
EOW: Saturday, December 21, 2019
Cause: Automobile crash
Master Patrol Officer
Spencer Daniel Bristol
Hendersonville P.D., TN
EOW: Monday, December 30, 2019
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Deputy Sheriff
William Christopher Dickerson
Panola County S.O., TX
EOW: Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Cause: Gunfire