Search fatalities

On 12/31/2021, Sergeant Thomas Edward Stanley died from complications after contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Department of State Hospitals–Atascadero in Atascadero, California. He began his law enforcement career in 1999 and remained assigned to the hospital police department at the time of his death.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26081-sergeant-thomas-edward-stanley

On 12/30/2021, NYPD Detective Barbara A. Taylor-Burnette died from illnesses contracted during rescue and recovery operations following the September 11 attacks. She grew up in the Williamsburg Houses in Brooklyn, joined the NYPD on July 11, 1988, worked in the 73rd Precinct during a period of heavy gun violence, later served undercover in the Narcotics Division, earned her detective shield in 1999, and finished her career in the Intelligence Division’s Operations and Analysis Section. She was survived by her husband, retired NYPD Lt. Lebro Burnette, three daughters, and a son.

https://nycdetectives.org/honor-roll/barbara-a-taylor-burnette/

On 12/30/2021, Conway County Detention Officer Gary Lynn Bean died from complications after contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Conway County Detention Center in Morrilton, Arkansas.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25856-detention-officer-gary-lynn-bean

On 12/30/2021, CBP Officer Brian L. Vogel died from complications after contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Sault Ste. Marie Port of Entry in Michigan. He had served about 19 years at the Sault Ste. Marie crossing and previously served in the U.S. Army and National Guard.

https://www.cbp.gov/about/in-memoriam/brian-vogel

On 12/29/2021, Bradley Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic responded with another officer to a report of dogs barking inside a room at the Comfort Inn at 411 S. Kennedy Drive in Bradley. Inside, a man shot both officers. Rittmanic died from her injuries. She had served with the Bradley Police Department for over 20 years and was known locally for her work with community programs and youth outreach. Authorities later arrested two people in connection with the killing and prosecutors filed murder charges.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25853-sergeant-marlene-roberta-rittmanic

On 12/29/2021, Rhode Island Department of Corrections Officer Richard Carchia died from complications after contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Minimum Security Facility at 16 Howard Avenue in Cranston.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26016-correctional-officer-richard-carchia

On 12/29/2021, Meridian Police Officer Wayne “Butch” Nowell Jr. died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He had served with the Meridian Police Department since October 2021 and had worked in law enforcement since 1986.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25874-police-officer-wayne-butch-nowell-jr

On 12/29/2021, South Vienna Police Corporal Matthew David Mitchell died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26868-corporal-matthew-david-mitchell

On 12/29/2021, Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Ian Riley suffered fatal gunshot wounds after stopping to assist a motorist along Interstate 64 near mile marker 115. He was remembered as humble and selfless, devoted to his family, and committed to helping others; he left behind his wife and three children.

https://t2t.org/first_responders/sean-ian-riley/

On December 29, 2021, at approximately 7:00 p.m., deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call from a family member of Deputy Christopher Former. The family member reported that Former had made suicidal threats during a phone call. Deputies arrived at his residence on Bonita Bluff Court in Ruskin, Florida, and made brief contact with him. Former then barricaded himself inside the home and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/2021/12/30/deputy-dies-by-suicide-at-ruskin-home-hillsborough-sheriffs-office-says
https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/hillsborough-deputy-dies-by-suicide-in-ruskin-home
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/hillsborough-county-deputy-dies-by-suicide-in-ruskin

On 12/28/2021, Missouri Department of Corrections Parole Officer John D. Luck died from complications after contracting COVID-19 while serving with the Division of Probation and Parole, District 4C, in Jefferson City.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/reflections/26204-parole-officer-john-d-luck

On 12/28/2021, Franklin County Jail Corrections Officer Sterling David Heinbaugh Jr. died from complications after contracting COVID-19 while supervising detainees at the jail in Chambersburg. He had served with the Franklin County Jail for about 1½ years and previously worked in corrections in Maryland for approximately 20 years. He was survived by his companion, three children, and two grandchildren.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25838-corrections-officer-sterling-david-heinbaugh-jr

On 12/28/2021, Frederick Police Officer Gregory Michael Santangelo died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25871-police-officer-gregory-michael-santangelo

On 12/27/2021, Pontotoc Police Sergeant Jeffrey Turner died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He had served three years with the Pontotoc Police Department after previously serving about 15 years with the Sherman Police Department. He was survived by his wife, son, and mother.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25835-sergeant-jeffrey-turner

On 12/27/2021, Wilkes-Barre Police Sergeant Christopher M. Mortensen died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He had served with the Wilkes-Barre Police Department for about 20 years and previously worked in patrol, as a K-9 handler, and later as a supervisor and instructor in several departmental roles. He was survived by his wife and son.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25830-sergeant-christopher-m-mortensen

On 12/27/2021, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Matthew A. Vogel died from complications after contracting COVID-19 while working in the Operations Division at 257 Cornelison Avenue in Jersey City. He served with the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office for 22 years and had worked as a SWAT commander and in multiple specialized assignments during his career. He is survived by his mother, stepfather, and brother.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25815-lieutenant-matthew-a-vogel

On 12/27/2021, Prince William County Sheriff’s Deputy David William Myers Jr. died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26411-deputy-sheriff-david-william-myers-jr

On 12/27/2021, Itasca County Sheriff’s Deputy Jayme Williams died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He had served eight years with the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office and previously served five years with the Leech Lake Tribal Police. Reporting identified him as 41 years old and said he is survived by his wife and three children.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25873-deputy-sheriff-jayme-williams

On 12/27/2021, Amarillo Police Corporal Miguel Eladio “Mike” Sanchez died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He had served with the Amarillo Police Department for 16 years and was survived by his wife, five children, mother, and brother.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25829-corporal-miguel-eladio-mike-sanchez

On 12/27/2021, Friendswood Police Sergeant James Earl Dement Jr. died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He served more than two decades with the Friendswood Police Department after joining in 1999, working as a patrol officer, D.A.R.E. officer, and patrol supervisor, and was promoted to sergeant in 2017.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25846-sergeant-james-earl-dement-jr

On 12/27/2021, Linn County Sheriff’s Sergeant Stacy Annette Murrow died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. She had served with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office for 22 years and was survived by her wife, daughter, sister, and brother.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25848-sergeant-stacy-annette-murrow

On 12/25/2021, Lawrence Township Patrolman Sean E. VanDenberg died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. Reporting states he contracted the virus after arresting and transporting a COVID-19-positive person to jail while serving a warrant at a residence in the 15400 block of Wooster Street NW in North Lawrence. He had served with the Lawrence Township Police Department for eight years and is survived by his wife, four children, and two grandchildren.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25841-patrolman-sean-e-vandenberg

On 12/23/2021, Lehigh County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven H. Armbruster died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He served nine years with the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office and previously worked two years with the Emmaus Police Department. Reporting identified him as a U.S. Army veteran and described him as survived by his wife and three children.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25933-deputy-sheriff-steven-h-armbruster

On 12/23/2021, Baltimore Police Officer Keona Schannel Holley died from gunshot wounds sustained one week earlier when she was ambushed while sitting in her patrol car in the 4400 block of Pennington Avenue. She had been working overtime in the Curtis Bay neighborhood when attackers approached and shot her, after which her vehicle accelerated through a fence and into a park embankment. Holley, a 39-year-old officer who joined the department in 2019 after working at a state psychiatric hospital, left four children and a grandchild.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/reflections/25812-police-officer-keona-schannel-holley

On 12/23/2021, Chicago Police Officer Jose M. “Joey” Huerta died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He served 21 years with the Chicago Police Department and was assigned to the Gang Investigation Division with detail to the Alternate Response Section. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, and four siblings.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26485-police-officer-jose-m-joey-huerta

On 12/22/2021, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Mia Danielle Figueroa-Goodwin was killed when a tractor-trailer struck her patrol car on Interstate 85 South near W.T. Harris Boulevard while she was assisting at the site of an earlier crash. Officers were working a separate collision around 3:40 a.m. when two tractor-trailers collided and struck multiple CMPD vehicles, killing Goodwin and injuring other officers. She was a six-year CMPD officer assigned to the University City Division, had returned to duty days earlier after maternity leave, and left behind her husband and three young children.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25803-police-officer-mia-danielle-figueroa-goodwin

On 12/22/2021, Officer Reuben Jean Warren Jr. died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty while serving with the California Highway Patrol. He had been hospitalized at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center at 6600 Bruceville Road in Sacramento after his condition worsened. Warren had served with the California Highway Patrol for many years and was assigned to patrol duties at the time of his illness.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25977-officer-reuben-jean-warren-jr

On 12/21/2021, Wayne County Sheriff’s Corporal John Joseph Wojciechowski died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He had served with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office for 25 years and was survived by his niece.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25870-corporal-john-joseph-wojciechowski

On 12/20/2021, Haverford Township Police Sergeant Kevin D. Redding died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He had served with the Haverford Township Police Department for 27 years and was survived by his wife and two children.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25802-sergeant-kevin-d-redding

On 12/19/2021, ICE Deportation Officer David Eric Mize died from complications after contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Denver Field Office at 12484 E. Weaver Place in Centennial, Colorado.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/reflections/26327-deportation-officer-david-eric-mize

On 12/19/2021, Walker River Paiute Tribal Police Officer Ray Edward East died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He served in law enforcement for about 29 years and most recently worked with the Walker River Paiute Tribe in Nevada. Obituary reporting states he was born June 27, 1968, in Sanger, California, moved to Nevada in 1988, and is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26215-officer-ray-east

On 12/18/2021, Louisville Metro Police Officer Zachary Dale Cottongim was struck by a passing vehicle while standing outside his cruiser investigating an abandoned vehicle on Interstate 64 West near the Mellwood Avenue exit. He was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital, underwent surgery for hours, and later died from his injuries. Cottongim was a seven-year veteran of the department, worked primarily in the First Division, and was survived by his wife and two young children.

https://www.lmpd.gov/830/Zachary-D-Cottongim

On 12/17/2021, Detroit Police Sergeant Raymond Darnell Hughes died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He was appointed to the Detroit Police Department on November 26, 2001, served assignments including the First Precinct, Central District, and Twelfth Precinct, and was promoted to sergeant in 2016 during a career recognized with multiple commendations and awards.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26416-sergeant-raymond-darnell-hughes

On 12/17/2021, Chandler Police Officer Jeremy Martin Wilkins died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty while serving an arrest warrant. He had worked in law enforcement for 23 years, beginning as a reserve officer in 1998, graduating from the Detroit Police Academy in 2002, and later serving with several departments before joining Chandler Police in 2012. Reporting described him as a decorated officer and longtime SWAT team member who was devoted to his family and survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25813-police-officer-jeremy-martin-wilkins

On 12/16/2021, Georgia Department of Corrections Transfer Officer Terry Lorenzo Primus Sr. died from complications after contracting COVID-19 while serving at Baldwin State Prison at 140 Laying Farm Road in Hardwick, Georgia.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/reflections/25868-transfer-officer-terry-lorenzo-primus-sr

On 12/16/2021, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Captain Shawn A. Braaten died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served 31 years with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked as commander of the Special Investigations Division. Reporting identified him as survived by his wife, three sons, sister, and brother.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26818-captain-shawn-a-braaten

On 12/16/2021, Oklahoma District Attorney’s Office District 6 Investigator Lewis Wayne Roller died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He had served more than nine years with the district attorney’s office and previously served over 25 years with the Chickasha Police Department. Reporting identified him as survived by his wife, daughter, son, mother, and four grandchildren.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26393-investigator-lewis-wayne-roller

On 12/15/2021, New York Mills Police Officer Ronald William Smith died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He was a veteran of both the Alaska National Guard and Minnesota National Guard and served 14 years in law enforcement, including work with the Perham, New York Mills, and Wadena police departments and the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office. He is survived by his wife, children, parents, and grandchildren.

https://mnlema.org/mn-fallen-officer/new-york-mills-police-department/ronald-william-smith/

On 12/10/2021, Graves County Deputy Jailer Robert T. Daniel was killed when a large tornado struck a building where he was supervising inmates on work release in Mayfield, Kentucky.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/25754-deputy-jailer-robert-t-daniel

On 12/10/2021, Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal Lonnie Raymond Lejeune died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. He served 26 years with the patrol and was assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division at the time of his death. Lejeune was a U.S. Navy veteran and previously worked with the Raleigh Police Department; he is survived by his wife, two sons, brother, and two sisters.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/26023-corporal-lonnie-raymond-lejeune