Search fatalities

On 03/05/2024, Technical Sergeant Christopher Philip Rock of the New York State Police died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained while assigned to search and recovery operations at the World Trade Center site following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Rock entered the New York State Police in 2001 and served for more than two decades. Agency memorial records state his illness was linked to his post 9/11 duty assignment. He is survived by his family as noted in official memorial postings.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26924-technical-sergeant-christopher-philip-rock

Deputy Sheriff Bryan "Brad" Sweetman of the Harris County Sheriff's Office passed away on March 4, 2024, due to a duty-related illness. His death is considered a line-of-duty death, and he is remembered by fellow officers and the community for his service.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/27067-deputy-sheriff-bryan-brad-sweetman

On 03/03/2024, retired Police Officer Steven R Galan of the New York City Police Department died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained during rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Official memorial listings classify his death as a line of duty illness connected to his post 9/11 service. Galan served with the NYPD for more than two decades before retiring. He is survived by his family as reflected in official memorial records.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26937-police-officer-steven-r-galan

On 03/02/2024, retired New York State Police Trooper Bret W. Martin died at home in Macomb, New York after liver and pancreatic cancer attributed to his assignment to the search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Martin entered the New York State Police on 03/30/1987 and retired on 02/09/2009 after 22 years of service. Obituary records list his age as 64 and note his family survivors.

https://troopers.ny.gov/bret-w-martin
https://www.odmp.org/officer/27674-trooper-bret-w-martin
https://www.wwnytv.com/2024/03/03/bret-w-martin-64-macomb/
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/bret-martin-obituary?id=54526374

Officer Christopher Callahan of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office died suddenly and unexpectedly from undisclosed causes on 03/02/2024.

https://www.chattanoogan.com/2024/3/4/483742/Callahan-Christopher-Lee-Cleveland.aspx

Retired Sgt. Kenneth Hopkins died in a crash on the I-540.

https://www.wect.com/2024/03/04/former-wpd-sergeant-kenneth-hopkins-dies-crash-interstate-540/

Officer Christopher Gadd was hit and killed on the I-5 in Marysville while attempting to catch DUI drivers.

https://www.nonstoplocal.com/tri-cities-yakima/news/washington-state-patrol-officer-killed-by-motorist/article_67d867bb-b6a5-58bb-95bf-463880f653a7.html

On 03/01/2024, retired Lieutenant William J Gawron Sr of the Sayreville Police Department died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained during rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Official memorial listings classify his death as a line of duty illness connected to his post 9/11 service. Gawron served with the Sayreville Police Department for more than three decades before retiring. He is survived by his family as reflected in official memorial records.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26940-lieutenant-william-j-gawron-sr

Officer Andrew O’Connor died suddenly and unexpectedly on 02/29/2024. Police did not respond to questions as to cause of death.

https://www.masslive.com/news/2024/02/boston-police-mourn-death-of-officer-who-served-east-boston.html

A court worker accompanying Independence PD was shot and killed during an eviction. Independence PD officer Cody Allen was also killed.

https://www.missourinet.com/2024/02/29/police-officer-and-court-worker-killed-2-hurt-during-eviction-notice/

On 02/28/2024, former Lauderdale County Deputy Sheriff John Randall McCrary died in Anderson, Alabama due to complications from gunshot wounds he sustained in the line of duty on 02/03/2016 while serving commitment papers for a mental evaluation in Florence, Alabama. McCrary survived the initial shooting and continued his law enforcement career with the Rogersville Police Department, but had ongoing health issues stemming from the 2016 injuries. His name was approved for inclusion on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. during National Police Week 2025.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/27223-deputy-sheriff-john-randall-mccrary
https://www.rogersvillefh.com/obituaries/John-Randall-McCrary?obId=30905855
https://www.waff.com/2025/02/07/former-lauderdale-co-deputy-have-name-placed-national-law-enforcement-memorial-dc/
https://bluerammedia.com/ala-deputy-who-died-years-after-shooting-to-be-added-to-le-memorial/
https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/local/name-of-lauderdale-law-enforcement-officer-to-be-added-to-national-memorial/525-b3d97246-69a8-48ee-84d6-26ea927bd75b

https://krcrtv.com/north-coast-news/eureka-local-news/del-norte-county-mourns-loss-of-sergeant-jessica-corona

On 02/26/2024, retired Police Officer Scott Charles Norcutt of the New York City Police Department died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained during rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Official memorial listings classify his death as a line of duty illness connected to his post 9/11 service. Norcutt served with the NYPD for more than two decades before retiring. He is survived by his family as reflected in official memorial records.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26935-police-officer-scott-charles-norcutt

On Monday 2-26-2024 @ 5:30 a.m. Conway County Detention Officer Tommy Lee Foster Jr was found unresponsive in the tower of the Conway County Detention Center.

https://katv.com/news/local/conway-county-mourns-loss-of-detention-center-officer-tommy-lee-foster-jr-sheriff-mike-smith-

Achille PD Officer Rick Milner was found dead at the Achille Volunteer Fire Station on 02/26/2024. No foul play is suspected but he was reported to have died from a gunshot wound which may have been self-inflicted.

https://www.kxii.com/2024/02/23/osbi-investigating-achille-shooting/

Deputy Rakestraw died suddenly from unknown causes.

https://patch.com/georgia/dallas-hiram/paulding-deputy-dies-unknown-medical-cause-home-sheriff

On 02/25/2024, retired Police Officer Yolanda Carberry of the New York City Police Department died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained during rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Official memorial listings classify her death as a line of duty illness connected to her post 9/11 service. Carberry served with the NYPD for more than two decades before retiring. She is survived by her family as reflected in official memorial records.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26939-police-officer-yolanda-carberry

Officer Jeffrey Arbogast of the Margate PD in Broward County died suddenly and unexpectedly. The PD withheld his cause of death.

https://margatetalk.com/margate-police-mourn-death-of-sergeant-45437

Knoxville Officer Wisbens Antoine collapsed and died during police training.

https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/kpd-officer-dead-after-collapsing-during-training-session/51-821f63e7-afe6-4480-b383-f1ad84994be4

Jason Humphrey was killed in a crash on his way home from work.

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/jason-humphrey-colorado-deputy-dies-crash-adams-county/

On 02/21/2024, retired Police Officer Scott McKenna of the New York City Police Department died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained during rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Official memorial listings classify his death as a line of duty illness connected to his post 9/11 service. McKenna served with the NYPD for more than two decades before retiring. He is survived by his family as reflected in official memorial records.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26932-police-officer-scott-mckenna

Deputy Charles Rivette was transporting an inmate when he crashed and died for unknown reasons.

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/02/22/deputy-killed-in-crash-while-transporting-inmate-in-centerville/

On 02/20/2024, retired Lieutenant Richard Weber of the Newark Police Division died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained during rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Official memorial listings classify his death as a line of duty illness connected to his post 9/11 service. Weber served with the Newark Police Division for more than three decades before retiring. He is survived by his family as reflected in official memorial records.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26942-lieutenant-richard-weber

Trooper Chase Redner of the Georgia State Patrol was hit and killed while investigating an accident on I-75 near Mt. Zion Boulevard. A black Kia struck a construction employee at a freeway and then hit Redner who was investigating a prior accident at the site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1q0xqK7ytE

On 02/18/2024, retired Police Officer Charles A Afanasewicz of the New York City Police Department died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained during rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Official memorial listings classify his death as a line of duty illness connected to his post 9/11 service. Afanasewicz served with the NYPD for more than two decades before retiring. He is survived by his family as reflected in official memorial records.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26934-police-officer-charles-a-afanasewicz

Officer Ruge was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance call, during which a male barricaded himself in a home with several hostages. Despite a three-and-a-half-hour negotiation, the suspect suddenly opened fire on officers, hitting Officer Ruge while he was exiting the house. He succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The suspect continued firing from an upstairs window, killing another officer and a firefighter/paramedic.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26952-police-officer-matthew-henke-ruge
https://mnlema.org/mn-fallen-officer/burnsville-police-department/matthew-ruge/

Officer Treaco Hoover died suddenly. The department did not divulge cause of death.

https://www.foxcarolina.com/2024/02/18/town-mourns-untimely-death-upstate-officer/

Police were called to a domestic violence situation where a man allegedly held a family member against their will. When police arrived, the situation escalated into a shootout. Two police officers and a paramedic were killed. The shooter was also killed.

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/burnsville-incident-with-weapons-law-enforcement-responds/

On 02/16/2024, NYPD Detective Maruja A. Clark died after a prolonged illness attributed to her rescue and recovery work at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, as listed on the NYPD 9/11 Tribute memorial. Records from the NYPD 9/11 Tribute list her assignment as Narcotics Borough Brooklyn South at the time of her passing. Obituary notices place her death in Brooklyn, New York in February 2024.

https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/memorials/9-11-tribute.page
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/maruja-clark-obituary?id=54484609
https://jewishfuneralservicesofbrooklyn.com/tribute/details/514/Maruja-Clark/obituary.html

An officer involved in child sex abuse training went to the back of his vehicle during lunch and committed suicide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3FdmQCLHps

On 02/14/2024, retired Police Officer Robert A Nobile of the New York City Police Department died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained during his assignment to rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Official memorial listings classify his death as a line of duty illness connected to post 9/11 service. Nobile served with the NYPD for more than two decades before retiring. He is survived by his family as reflected in memorial records.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26929-police-officer-robert-a-nobile

Deputy Sheriff Robert John Leonard, 35, died on February 14, 2024, after his patrol vehicle drove into the Tennessee River, resulting in his drowning. Leonard, who had been with the Meigs County Sheriff's Office for only two months, had arrested a woman for public intoxication the night of the incident. The woman was handcuffed and died by drowning in the back of the cruiser. Leonard had recently started his position and was still unfamiliar with the county's landscape, which contributed to the tragic outcome. There were no body or dash cam videos available due to the county's lack of such equipment​.

https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/community-honors-life-of-meigs-co-deputy-who-died-after-driving-into-river-with-arrested-woman-in-backseat/51-b0d7faef-cde4-417a-83e6-219de7285755
https://www.odmp.org/officer/26788-deputy-sheriff-robert-john-leonard

Officer Nevada Krinkee investigated a trespassing call and followed a man who locked himself inside of a home. When the officer entered, he was shot and killed.

https://apnews.com/article/police-officer-killed-wyoming-sheridan-861ffaf43986c77cf7274ee175bb585c

On 02/12/2024, retired Police Officer Michael A Ansbro of the New York City Police Department died from cancer attributed to toxic exposure sustained during rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Official memorial listings classify his death as a line of duty illness connected to his post 9/11 service. Ansbro served with the NYPD for more than two decades before retiring. He is survived by his family as reflected in official memorial records.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26928-police-officer-michael-a-ansbro

On 02/11/2024, Sergeant James Michael Ross of the Chattanooga Police Department died from a self inflicted gunshot wound at his residence in Chattanooga. The department confirmed his death and identified him as a 24 year veteran of the agency. Ross had previously served in the United States Marine Corps before entering law enforcement. Authorities reported no ongoing criminal incident connected to his death. He is survived by his family as noted in official statements and memorial postings.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26936-sergeant-james-michael-ross
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/feb/12/chattanooga-police-sergeant-dies/

LAPD officer Alejandro Fernandez committed suicide by hanging on 02/11/2024.

https://www.ksbw.com/article/watsonville-police-man-who-shot-officer-died-with-gun-in-his-hand/1334091

On February 11, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Officer Jonah Hernandez of the Las Cruces Police Department responded to a trespassing call in the 300 block of South Valley Drive in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Upon arrival, Officer Hernandez encountered Armando Silva, who attacked and stabbed him multiple times. A witness, 29-year-old Issiah Astorga, intervened by shooting Silva, who died at the scene. Officer Hernandez was transported to MountainView Regional Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.

https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/new-mexico-police-officer-killed-in-line-of-duty-by-in-knife-attack-by-homeless-man-jonah-hernandez-armando-silva-300-block-of-south-valley-drive-las-cruces-el-paso-texas
https://lascruces.gov/lcpd-commemorates-fallen-officer-jonah-hernandez/
https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/las-cruces-honors-fallen-officer-in-the-first-anniversary-of-his-death-new-mexico-nm-jonah-hernandez-deadly-stabbing-jeremy-story-south-valley-drive-amador-avenue

Onslow County Sheriff’s Office detention officer Tyler Johnson had only been an officer for one month when he died in a car crash on 02/10/2024.

https://wcti12.com/news/local/community-mourns-newly-hired-detention-officer-tyler-johnsons-tragic-death

Deputy Sheriff Ronald Bates had finished an overtime shift when he was killed in a vehicle crash while en route to the Harris County jail at 10:00 p.m. For unknown reasons, he was involved in a single-vehicle crash when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree near Richmond Avenue in Houston.

https://www.facebook.com/edgonzalezhouston/posts/our-hearts-are-heavy-as-we-mourn-the-loss-of-deputy-ronald-bates-62-of-the-harri/930373945111140/

On 02/09/2024, Deputy Alejandro Martinez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department pursued a vehicle reported stolen into the Angeles National Forest near Castaic. During the pursuit, the driver stopped and opened fire, striking Deputy Martinez. Deputies returned fire and killed the gunman. Martinez was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where he died from his injuries. He had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department since 2016 and was assigned to the Palmdale Station at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife and young son.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26962-deputy-alejandro-martinez
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-02-09/lasd-deputy-killed-shooting-angeles-national-forest