Line-of-Duty Death (LODD)
This could be the year we finally drop below 100 line-of-duty deaths — a goal many once believed was out of reach
The ambush killings of Officers Anthony Wallace and Matthew Tokuoka gave recruits a sobering introduction to the reality of sacrifice in policing
Events will be held in-person in our nation’s capital, but there are still plenty of ways you can virtually observe and participate
On May 24, 1996, Officer Kelvin Patrick and his partner had stopped to speak with a pair of juveniles when they opened fire, striking both officers and partially paralyzing Patrick
Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Deputy Antonio Aleman, 33, was killed when his patrol vehicle crashed into the back of the truck; he had served with the department since 2021
FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dennis Wagner responded to the Flight 93 crash; he served in the FBI for 20 years and was an Iraq War veteran
As of June 2025, line of duty deaths decreased by more than half compared with the same period in 2024, with decreases in deaths caused by both firearms and traffic incidents
Officer Miguel Cano, 34, and his partner were transporting a suspect when he lost consciousness, and the cruiser he was driving crashed into a tree
Deputy Devin Mason, who had finished field training one week prior, and another officer were inside a home when they were attacked, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office stated
Sacramento Officer Tara O’Sullivan, 26, was shot and killed while helping a domestic violence victim retrieve her belongings
Officer Kendall Corder, 32, died after he and another officer were shot while responding to a weapons call
Phillips County Deputy Brandon Gaede was shot while handcuffing a man during an illegal fireworks call; Gaede shot and killed the suspect before he died from his injuries
Jurors found Miles Pfeffer guilty of murdering Officer Christopher Fitzgerald, as well as robbery and gun crimes
Sgt. Shiou Deng, a 26-year veteran of the department, was struck by oncoming traffic after attempting to give aid in a crash
Cleveland Police Academy Recruit Cortez Smith suffered a medical emergency during physical agility training; he was transported to a hospital, where he died a day later
Cincinnati officer cleared in OIS of armed man; suspect’s father accused of using car to kill deputy
The fleeing suspect pointed a loaded gun at Cincinnatti PD officers during the incident, the county prosecutor stated; the next day, the suspect’s father fatally struck a deputy with his car
Bernie Police Lt. Eddie Mays was handcuffing a domestic violence suspect who was resisting arrest when he suffered a medical emergency
Congress created the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program in 1976, but expansions in eligibility have made the program more popular and complex to administer
The footage shows Morrow County Deputy Daniel Sherrer cautiously approaching an armed and agitated suspect before being fatally wounded
Apache Junction Officer Gabriel Facio was responding to reports of a man wielding a firearm when the suspect shot and wounded him; he died from his injuries six days later
After the Freeman family shared that their son was battling a medical condition, Lake Baldwin Officer Samuel Riveros followed up on his condition and gave them a police patch
Officer Krystal Rivera, 36, was fatally shot by another officer as her tactical team confronted an armed suspect
Superintendent Larry Snelling described Officer Krystal Rivera as “young, vibrant and a hard worker who was a valued member of her team”
After being taken off life support, Bloomfield Officer Timothy Ontiveros’ family made the decision to ‘continue to help others’ through the donation, New Mexico Donor Services stated
“It disheartens me that the cold-blooded killer of [an officer] can be released without serving the penalty our justice system handed down,” Milford Deputy Chief John Sanchioni said
Baldwin Park Officer Samuel Riveros was shot in the head as he ran to assist fellow responding officers; the suspected shooter has been charged with murder
Angleton Police Sgt. J.D. White was flown to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries
Hudson County Sheriff’s Officer Justin Rivera, 29, appears to have accidentally fallen from the administrative building while on duty, investigators said
Bloomfield Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros was wounded as an uncooperative suspect opened fire during a traffic stop; Ontiveros succumbed to his wounds six days later
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