Line-of-Duty Death (LODD)
Leaders have a duty to prepare their officers and protect their families — because when tragedy strikes, there may be no second chance
After the January 6 Capitol riot, DC Officer Jeffrey Smith died by suicide — his widow’s fight changed the law and redefined duty-related trauma
This could be the year we finally drop below 100 line-of-duty deaths — a goal many once believed was out of reach
Rittman Sgt. Scott Ries was killed, four officers and a Wayne County sheriff’s K-9 were wounded, and the suspected gunman was found dead inside the home
Henry Eugene Washington was charged with murder in the shooting that resulted in the death of Officer Jonathan Shoop in July 2020
Trooper Michael Pahira Jr., a nearly 20-year law enforcement, was assisting with a commercial vehicle inspection when he was fatally struck by an out-of-control truck
Pierce County prosecutors stated they could not definitively prove that the first driver acted with negligence or that the second driver knew they struck Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting
Officer Trevor Howard, 25, had served with the Marked Tree Police Department for two months before a vehicle ran a stop sign and struck the cruiser in which he was riding in the passenger seat
Montgomery County Deputy Erika Serrato, 24, had served with the sheriff’s office for six years
Columbus County Deputy Damien Draper Bost, 30, had served with the sheriff’s office eight years and was a school resource officer at South Columbus High School
On April 4, 1985, a Worcester County Superior Court jury found Jose Colon, now 63, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Trooper George Hanna
Officer Ella French was killed and Officer Carlos Yanez Jr. was injured in a shooting during a traffic stop for a license plate violation
Trooper Sergio Romero, 27, had served with the Department of Public Safety since 2025, and had prior law enforcement experience
Carrollton Police Officer Dustin Krish had served the department since September, 2022; his agency remembered him as “courageous and faithful”
Michael Lopez was sentenced to life in prison, a mandatory sentence because he was convicted by a jury of murder, following a contentious hearing
“Jessica’s Law” is named after Jessica Ebbighausen, whose family was initially ineligible for survivor benefits because she was still in training when she was killed in an on-duty crash
Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy Logan Utt was fatally shot and another officer was injured during a welfare check requested by the suspect’s family
“Officer [Kristen] Yeager served our community with courage, compassion and unwavering dedication,” the Central Berks Regional Police Department stated
Darrian Cortez Johnson was sentenced to life without parole in the killing of Terrell Police Officer Jacob Candanoza during a 2024 traffic stop
Arlington County Police Cpl. Barry Foust, who was diagnosed with cancer related to 9/11 recovery efforts, served a total of 35 years with ACPD
Taos County Sheriff’s Sgt. Joseph Apodaca joined the agency in 2018 and served on the swift water rescue team
Video shows Kern County deputies using deadly force against a suspect who opened fire during an eviction attempt, killing Tulare County Detective Randy Hoppert
Agencies reported 90,178 assaults in 2025, equating to 13.8 assaults per 100 officers — the highest assault rate recorded in the past 10 years
Vice President JD Vance told surviving families that the nation “will never forget” the sacrifices of officers killed in the line of duty
Officer Dylan Chase Owen, 26, had served with the Citronelle Police Department for two years and was named Rookie of the Year in 2025
This year’s honorees include 109 officers killed in the line of duty in 2025, along with 254 who died in previous years
Joshua Tibbetts had worked for the Maine Wardens Service since 2008; he was part of the Incident Management Team, search planning and unmanned aerial vehicle programs
Greenwood Police Officer D.J. Keller was a United States Army and National Guard veteran who served with the Greenwood Police Department for three years
Donors can use GoFundMe’s first responder hub to donate to help law enforcement families coping with loss, injury and long recoveries
MOST POPULAR
- 3 officers killed, 2 wounded while serving warrant in Pennsylvania
- Suspect who fatally shot Mo. deputy during traffic stop kills second deputy in shootout
- Del. trooper killed at DMV in ‘act of pure evil’ is remembered as dependable, devoted to family
- Ariz. DPS helicopter crash kills pilot, trooper during shooter response
- 2 officers killed, deputy and K-9 wounded in Utah shooting