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Donald Richard Gotthardt Jr.

Gender : Male

Age : 66

Race : White

Date : 10/16/2025

Location : Fairfax County

City : Fairfax

County : Fairfax

State : Virginia

Agency : Fairfax County Police Department

Cause of Death : Unknown

Event : 9/11-related cancer death following World Trade Center service

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 10/16/2025, Master Police Officer Donald Richard Gotthardt Jr. of the Fairfax County Police Department died from cancer that developed as a result of his service at the Pentagon in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Gotthardt had been part of police response and search-recovery operations at the Pentagon site following the attack and continued his law enforcement career for decades afterward. He served with the Fairfax County Police Department for 25 years and in law enforcement for 34 years total before his retirement. His cancer was recognized as linked to his 9/11 response work, and his death was accepted as a line-of-duty death based on that connection.

Prior Notable Incidents:
No prior on-duty critical or traumatic incidents related to his death were documented in the reporting reviewed.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.odmp.org/officer/27666-master-police-officer-donald-richard-gotthardt-jr
https://www.police1.com/officer-down/va-officer-dies-from-cancer-caused-by-Sept-11-service-at-Pentagon
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/donald-gotthardt-obituary?id=59847532
https://nleomf.org/memorial/fallen-heroes/honor/turn0search3