Ten Days, Seven Fallen Officers

By FEROZE DHANOA (Patch National Staff)

In the span of 10 days, seven law enforcement officers across America lost their lives in the line of duty. Some were veterans while others had just begun serving their communities. They were remembered fondly and honored by first responders nationwide.

In 2015, there have been 84 officer fatalities, a 15 percent increase compared to the same time period in 2014, according to data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. While there has been a decrease in firearms related fatalities, traffic related fatalities and fatalities by other causes such as job-related illnesses have increased.

“Unfortunately in the United States, on average, we lose an officer every 60 hours,” said Steven Groeninger, Senior Director of Communications and Marketing at the Fund. “In the past week, we’ve lost an officer every 24 hours.”

Groeninger said the uptick in the past few days mirrors the 15 percent increase seen this year. Between Aug. 20-28, three officers died of firearm related causes, three were killed in traffic-related incidents and one was killed due to job related illness.

Police Officer Henry Nelson, 51 of the Sunset Louisiana Police Department was fatally shot on Aug. 26 while responding to a house call where three women had been stabbed. Nelson’s extended family was the police department where he had served for 13 years. He had a young daughter. He was described as a man who came into work with a smile and left with a smile, the AP reports.

Just two days before that, Louisiana State Police Senior Trooper Steven Vincent, 43 died after being shot and later taunted by a man during a traffic stop on Aug. 24. He was a married man with a 9-year-old son. He had served the public for 13 years. Vincent was laid to rest Aug. 29. His 9-year-old son joined the Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police in saluting his father.

Deputy Sheriff Darren Goforth, 47 was ambushed while pumping gas in Texas on Aug. 28. A man, who was later taken into custody, walked up behind him and shot him multiple times in the head. Goforth was 47 and had served the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years. He had a wife and two children. He will be laid to rest on Friday.

It was the second loss for the department.

A Detention Officer at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Texas suffered a heart attack while dealing with an uncooperative inmate at a local jail on Aug. 20. Officer Tronoski Jones, 26, collapsed during the incident and died a short while later. He had served for just under four years. He had a wife and two children. At his funeral on Aug, 27, he was remembered as having an infectious smile.

Bellefontaine, Mo. Police Sergeant Peggy Vassallo, 53 was involved in a car crash on her way to work on Aug. 24. She was struck and killed by a vehicle while helping the driver involved in the crash. She was a 29 year veteran of the force and had served Bellefontaine for 15 years. She was married and had a son and two grandchildren. Funeral services for Vassallo were held Aug. 29 where hundreds of first responders gathered to pay their respects.

Missouri State Trooper James M. Bava, 25 was killed in a single-vehicle crash while initiating a traffic stop on Aug. 28. Bava had served for a little over two years. He is survived by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. “The entire Patrol family mourns the loss of our brave and dedicated colleague, and we send our prayers and support to Trooper Bava’s family, friends, and those who worked most closely with him,” Colonel J. Bret Johnson of the Missouri State Police said in a statement.

On the same day, Michigan State Trooper Chad Wolf, 38 died after his motorcycle was struck while he was on patrol. A married father of four, Wolf had served the department for 7 years. He was a man who loved his family, God and serving the public. He will be laid to rest on Tuesday.

Leave a reflection and pay your respects to these brave officers killed in the line of duty.

Image by Chris Lott via Flickr Creative Commons