Officers killed in the line of duty in 2018

Video

Suspect in custody after two officers shot during standoff

Suspect is believed to have shot two police officers, killing one, during an hours-long standoff.

Since the start of 2018, at least 21 law enforcement officers across the U.S. have died while on duty – with 15 of the deaths caused by gunfire.

Roughly 135 cops died in 2016, making it the deadliest year for police officers in at least five years, Fox News has determined. While there were fewer deaths in 2017, the numbers weren’t much better: A total of 129 officers died last year. And 46 of those deaths were caused by gunfire.

Read on for a look at the officers who have died in the line of duty so far this year.

Officer Greggory Casillas

Officer Greggory Casillas was fatally shot while trying to apprehend a suspect on March 9, authorities said.

 (Pomona Police Department)

Pomona, Calif., police Officer Greggory Casillas, 30, was fatally shot March 9 after he and another officer chased a suspect who “barricaded himself in a bedroom” and “began firing through the door” as officers tried to contact him, Capt. Christopher Bergner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told reporters. A second officer was injured, authorities said.

The confrontation led to a 15-hour standoff with authorities and ended with the suspect’s arrest March 10, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said.

“For the last 15 hours, we attempted to make an arrest of this individual and just did so successfully minutes ago,” McDonnell said during a news conference.

The situation began when Pomona officers received a report of a “person driving recklessly,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. The suspect ultimately led police on a chase before crashing and fleeing on foot. The suspect then “ran into an apartment complex and the officers gave chase,” Capt. Christopher Bergner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Dispatchers received a call of an “officer down,” at around 9:10 p.m. local time. Pomona police Chief Mike Olivieri said in a tweet that one officer had died and the other was in stable condition.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must report that one officer did not survive,” the tweet said.

Officer Ryan Morton

Clinton Police Officer Ryan Morton was fatally shot after responding to a 911 call.

 (Missouri State Highway Patrol)

Clinton, Mo., police Officer Ryan Morton was fatally shot and two other officers were injured as they responded to a 911 call at a home in Missouri.

The alleged shooter, later identified as James Waters, opened fire from inside the house when officers tried to apprehend the individual. The suspect was found dead inside the home.

Since news of Morton’s death broke, authorities announced that Morton and the other officers were sent to the wrong house – about 15 miles away from where they were supposed to be.

“The 911 call that came in was somehow attached to that [Clinton] address,” Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe said, according to the Kansas City Star.

Lowe said it was a “coincidence” the officers were directed to that address.

“It is tragic that happened. But the fact is they were in the act of committing crimes within that house,” Lowe said. “When (the officers) entered that house, they were doing what they needed to ensure no one was hurt and there wasn’t any other problems.”

Lowe said the loss would greatly impact the “small department.” 

“It’s a small department. It’s small enough that you know each individual officer and the community knows each individual officer, and it’s hard to put into words when you’re talking about an agency of this size, a community of this size where something tragic like this happened just seven months ago,” he said.

Morton, a 30-year-old Army veteran, was with the Clinton Police Department from February 2015 through January 2017, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. He decided to return to the force after fellow officer Gary Michael was fatally shot at a traffic stop in August 2017.

Officer Rodney Smith

New to the Hickman Police Department in Kentucky, Officer Rodney Smith was killed after being swept away by flood waters while on duty.

Smith, 45, reportedly contacted a dispatcher for help after his car was swept away by the floods. A witness saw Smith climb onto the top of his car before it was swept away, KFVS-TV reported.

His body was discovered on March 3.

People in the community remembered Smith as a funny man who made the town a better place, according to WPSD-TV. Smith leaves behind a wife and children.

Deputy Alexis “Thunder” Eagle Locklear

Scotland County Deputy Alexis Eagle Locklear died on March 1 in a single car crash.

 (Scotland County Sheriff’s Office)

Scotland County Deputy Alexis Eagle Locklear was killed on March 1 when his vehicle crashed. Locklear was assisting another officer who was chasing a suspect.

The 24-year-old, who was nicknamed “Thunder,” was only with the police department since May 16, 2017, according to Sheriff Ralph Kersey.

“Deputy Locklear was loved, honored and respected,” Kersey said in a Facebook post. “He brought great joy and pleasure in our hearts and spirits in our time of having him as a brother in this family we like to call home, here at the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office.”

His patrol car number 143 will be retired, according to WBTW-TV.

Deputy Sheriff Jacob Pickett

Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Pickett was killed in the line of duty on Friday, police said.

 (Indiana State Police)

Indiana sheriff’s deputy Jacob Pickett was fatally shot March 3 after attempting to apprehend a suspect in a foot chase, police said.

The Boone County deputy was critically wounded while assisting in the chase and later died, Indiana State Police confirmed in a statement.

“Deputy Jacob Pickett made the ultimate sacrifice for his community this morning,” Sgt. John Perrine, a public information officer for the Indiana State Police, tweeted. “Rest easy sir.”

Pickett, an Indiana native, had been in law enforcement for nearly eight years. He had been working as a K-9 handler, patrolling the streets with his loyal partner “Brick,” for the Boone County Sheriff’s Office for the past two years. 

He’s the first person killed in the line of duty from the department since 1935, police said.

“Deputy Jacob Pickett and his family continue to selflessly serve even after his fatal wound by donating his organs,” state police said.

Officer Justin Billa

Officer Justin Billa was named “Officer of the Month” in 2016 and had only been on the force for two years.

 (Mobile Police Department)

Alabama Police Officer Justin Billa was fatally shot on Feb. 20 as he and other law enforcement officials responded to a woman’s murder.

After finding the slain woman, police identified her ex-husband, Robert Hollie, as a “person of interest.” Billa and other officers with the Mobile Police Department established a perimeter around Hollie’s house and asked him to come out, but he opened fire instead, Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste said.

Billa was shot and later died at a hospital, according to Battiste. Hollie was also killed in the shooting, though it’s unclear if he shot himself or was struck by officers.

Billa, who was named “Officer of the Month” in June 2016, had only been on the force for two years. When he was given the award, his commanding officer praised his attention to detail and professionalism.

“We need to go back to helping people instead of just taking them to jail and creating bigger problems,” Billa told WALA-TV in July 2016. “That’s my idea of good policing, and I feel like that’s what the chief is working towards.”

Billa also said he spent time with his wife before he left for work every day.

“She tells me she loves me every day before I leave for work. And I make sure I do the same,” he added.

Aside from his wife, Billa also left behind a young son. 

Deputy Sheriff Kevin Stanton

Deputy Sheriff Kevin Stanton died on Feb. 17 after a semi-truck crashed into his patrol car.

 (Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)

Deputy Sheriff Kevin Stanton of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Florida died when a semi-truck crashed into his patrol car.

When Stanton was driving to work around 5:15 a.m. on Feb. 17, a semi-truck lost the treading on its tire. The treading then wrapped around the truck’s axle, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, according to Florida Today.

The truck then collided with Stanton’s patrol car.

Stanton, 32, was on duty at the time of the crash. He served with the sheriff’s office for 10 and a half years before his death.

Officer Darren Weathers

Officer Darren Weathers died on Feb. 13 at the age of 25.

 (Detroit Police Department )

Officer Darren Weathers of the Detroit Police Department was killed on Feb. 13 when his car crashed during a training exercise.

Weathers was rushed to a local Michigan hospital, but later succumbed to his injuries.

The 25-year-old officer, whose nickname in the police department was “Lucky,” was a “rising star,” Detroit Police Department Chief James Craig told Fox 2.

“It’s no surprise that Lucky quickly became one of the Detroit Police Department’s rising stars,” Craig said.

Weathers, a military veteran, leaves behind a wife and daughter.

Commander Paul Bauer

Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer, who had been on the police force for 31 years, was fatally shot by a suspect during a pursuit.

 (Chicago Police Department)

Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer was fatally shot in the stairwell of a downtown building on Feb. 13, law enforcement officials said.

Bauer spotted a man matching the radio description of an armed suspect and “engaged in an armed physical confrontation,” according to Superintendent Eddie Johnson. Officers had been chasing the suspect on foot.

Bauer, 53, had been on the police force for 31 years. He was attending a training at the Chicago Fire Department with other officials prior to the shooting.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel called Bauer’s death “a tragic reminder of the dangerous duty the men and women of our police department accept to ensure the safety of us all.”

Police captured the suspect shortly after the shooting, and a gun was recovered at the scene, Johnson said. 

Officers Anthony Morelli and Eric Joering

Officers Anthony Morelli (left) and Eric Joering (right) were killed in Saturday’s incident, police said.

 (Westerville Police Department)

Anthony Morelli, 54, and Eric Joering, 39, were shot Feb. 10. 

Both men were officers with the Westerville Division of Police in Ohio, and had been “responding to a domestic 911 hang-up call,” Westerville Police Chief Joe Morbitzer said. 

“Once on the scene, they made contact with the suspect and exchanged gunfire almost immediately,” he said.

Joering died at the scene while Morelli died at a hospital, according to Morbitzer. 

Quentin Smith, 30, was named as the suspect in the case. 

Officer Chase Maddox

Locust Grove Officer Chase Maddox, 26, was shot and killed.

 (Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council)

Officer Chase Maddox, 26, of the Locust Grove Police Department in Georgia was shot and killed Feb. 9 in an incident which also left two deputies wounded.

The deputies were at a Locust Grove address to serve an arrest warrant for 39-year-old Tierre Guthrie, who was wanted for failing to appear in court for traffic violations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has said. 

“Guthrie became combative and escalated the situation,” the agency said. “LGPD Officer Chase Maddox arrived on scene to assist the deputies. A fight ensued resulting in Guthrie and the officers firing their weapons.” 

Guthrie died. An autopsy indicated Guthrie was shot four times, including twice in the chest, the GBI said. 

The agency said Maddox was shot three times, “with the fatal wound being to the head.”

Maddox, who served with the police department for five years, left behind a young child and his wife, who is pregnant. 

Officer David Sherrard

Officer David Sherrard of the Richardson Police Department in Texas was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 7.

 (Richardson Police Department)

Officer David Sherrard, a 13-year veteran of the Richardson Police Department in Texas, was fatally shot on Feb. 7 while responding to a disturbance call.

Sherrard, 37, was also a member of the police department’s SWAT team, the Richardson Police Department said in a Facebook post announcing the officer’s death.

“He exemplified the professionalism, heroism, and strong character inherent in all Richardson police officers,” the police department said.  

The suspect was taken into custody after an hours-long standoff.

Police said a second person, identified as 30-year-old Rene Gamez, who lived at the apartment where the suspect barricaded himself before surrendering, also died in the shooting.

Deputy Sheriff Micah Flick

Deputy Sheriff Micah Flick was fatally shot and killed on Feb. 5.

 (El Paso County Sheriff’s Office/Twitter)

While investigating a car theft, Deputy Sheriff Micah Flick of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado was shot and killed on Feb. 5. 

A suspect allegedly opened fire on Flick, 34, and three other law enforcement officers in Colorado Springs as they attempted to take the suspect into custody. Along with the officers, a bystander was also shot, police said.

The suspect died at the scene from return fire. 

Flick, who served with the sheriff’s department for 11 years, was married with 7-year-old twins. 

Police Officer Glenn Doss, Jr.

Officer Glenn Doss died on Jan. 28 after being shot in the head and chest while responding to a domestic violence call.

 (GoFundMe)

Police Officer Glenn Doss Jr, 25, was shot in the head and chest while responding to a domestic violence call on Jan. 24.

When Doss and other officers arrived, a man, identified as 43-year-old Decharlos Brooks, allegedly opened fire on police officers while they were still in their patrol car. Doss was shot in the incident.

Brooks was taken into custody and charged with eight counts of assault with intent to murder, seven counts of resisting and obstructing, one count of carrying a dangerous weapon and 17 counts of felony firearms.

Doss, who was taken to a nearby Detroit hospital after he was shot, succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 28.

He worked for the Detroit Police Department for two years and is survived by Emily Crouse, his girlfriend of nine years, their 9-month-old son, Eli, and his parents.

Deputy Heath Gumm

Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Heath Gumm, 32, was fatally shot in Colorado.

 (Family Handout)

Deputy Heath Gumm of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call on Jan. 24.

Gumm, who served with the sheriff’s office for five years, was shot in the chest by the suspect he had been chasing on foot. The suspect now faces murder charges.

The 32-year-old is survived by his wife and other family members.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher David Hill

Christopher David Hill served with the United States Marshals Service for 11 years.

 (AP)

Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher David Hill, a husband, father of two children and a U.S Army veteran, served with the United States Marshals Service for 11 years before he was shot and killed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Hill, along with Middle Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force members, was attempting to arrest a woman at a home on Jan. 18 for reportedly making terror threats.

At the same time, a man inside the home opened fire on the task force. Hill was shot, as were two other task force officers, one of whom still was able to shoot and kill the gunman.

Hill was taken to a local hospital but later died from his wounds. He was 45.

Detective Michael R. Doty

Detective Michael Doty was fatally shot on Jan. 16.

 (York County Sheriff’s Office )

Detective Michael Doty of the York County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina was fatally shot on Jan. 16 while searching for a man who allegedly attacked his wife and then ran into a wooded area nearby.

Christian Thomas McCall, 47, allegedly shot Doty in an “ambush” attack. The detective was later taken to a hospital in North Carolina but died the next day.

Three deputies and one K-9 officer also were injured at the time.

Doty, 37, was a 12-year veteran of the sheriff’s office.

Deputy Sheriff Daniel A. McCartney

Deputy Daniel McCartney was shot and killed Jan. 7, 2018.

 (Pierce County Sheriff’s Department)

Deputy Sheriff Daniel A. McCartney, a Navy veteran, husband and a father to three sons, was fatally wounded while responding to a burglary on Jan. 7.

McCartney, 34, who worked for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office in Washington State, was the first officer on the scene.

McCartney was shot while chasing after the suspect on foot. The sheriff later died in the early hours of Jan. 8 at a nearby hospital.

One suspect was found dead at the scene and a second suspect was arrested the next day. A third suspect, who was in a getaway vehicle, also was charged.

McCartney served with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office for three years.

Officer Chris Beaudion

Officer Chris Beaudion died after his patrol car struck a tree.

 (Monroe Police Department/Facebook)

Officer Chris Beaudion, 26, served in the Monroe Police Department in Louisiana. He suffered fatal injuries when his patrol car struck a tree on Jan. 7 around 3 a.m.

Shortly after his death, the News Star reported that Beaudion, who was on duty at the time of the accident, veered left and crossed two lanes of traffic before hitting the tree. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The officer, who is survived by his wife, two children and parents, was with the police department for 17 months before the crash, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

Lieutenant Christopher Robateau

Lieutenant Christopher Robateau, left, served with the New Jersey Police Department. He died on Jan. 5.

 (AP)

Lieutenant Christopher Robateau of the New Jersey Police Department was killed on Jan. 5.

The 49-year-old, who was with the police department for 23 years, was struck by a vehicle while responding to an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Robateau was married with three children.

Fox News’ Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Nicole Darrah, Katherine Lam and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Madeline Farber is a Reporter for Fox News. You can follow her on Twitter @MaddieFarberUDK.

Share and Enjoy

Xi Jinping Clear to Rule Indefinitely as China Scraps Presidential Term Limits

BEIJING—China’s legislature formally scrapped term limits on Xi Jinping’s presidency, clearing his path toward indefinite one-man rule.

Of the 2,964 delegates casting ballots the National People’s Congress voting Sunday, 2,958 voted to repeal a 10-year limit on presidential tenures, along with a series of other constitutional changes aimed at entrenching Mr. Xi and his Communist Party’s dominance over Chinese life. There were two dissents, three abstentions and one invalid vote, a congress official said.

…

Share and Enjoy