Protecting The Palm Beaches, A Tribute to Those Who Serve and Sacrifice
Bottom Line: This weekly feature is designed to recognize those who've paid the ultimate price in service and to serve as a reminder of what our police risk to keep us safe. Here are the harsh realities regarding the rise risk in society for law enforcement.
- 491 line-of-duty deaths in 2021 including 50 in Florida
- There are 190 line-of-duty deaths thus far in 2022 including 7 in Florida
2021 was the deadliest year for law enforcement in Florida’s history. The same was true across the country as the US set a record for LODs for the 2nd consecutive year. This included a staggering 60% increase in line-of-duty deaths. Given the remarkable rise in LODs in recent years, it’s as important to support law enforcement as it's ever been, as the job of protecting us is as dangerous as it’s ever been. We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update:
- In Oklahoma, Sergeant Meagan Burke died when she was struck by a wrong-way driver while on patrol.
- In Kansas, Deputy Sidnee Carter was killed in a crash while responding to an emergency call.
- In Tennessee, Deputy Matthew Kirrman was killed in a crash while on patrol. He’s survived by his wife.
- In Mississippi, Investigator Myiesha Stewart (pictured) was murdered while in pursuit of a suspect. She’s survived by her son.
- In Connecticut, Sergeant Dustin Demonte and Officer Alex Hamzy were murdered in an ambush. A false emergency was called placed with the officers immediately being fired upon while responding. Dustin is survived by a pregnant wife and two children. Alex is survived by his wife.
- In Nevada, Officer Truong Thai was murdered while responding to a domestic disturbance call. Truong is survived by his daughter.
As we reflect on those we’ve lost, please remember the families of our fallen as well. The average age of the fallen is 45, the average tour of duty – 15 years. In addition to losing 190 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 108 widows and 266 children who’ve lost a parent.
Remember to back the badge and spread the word. Media often aren't there for our law enforcement, but we can be. Let our police, and their families know we support them every chance you get. They need it more than ever, just as we need them more than ever.