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.
- There were 229 line-of-duty deaths in 2022 including 10 in Florida
- We’ve lost 51 heroes in the line-of-duty this year including 3 in Florida
While LODs thankfully dropped from 2021’s record levels last year, that was mostly due to few COVID-related deaths. Sadly, LODs were 40% higher than 2019 – the most recent pre-COVID year – illustrating the continued risk for law enforcement amid a rise in violence against law enforcement. We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update:
- In Hamilton County, Jasper Police Chief Anthony Rickerson (pictured) died in an auto accident while responding to a call. He’s survived by his wife and three children.
- In Virginia, Officer Mark Wagner II was murdered while responding to a domestic disturbance call. Mark was attacked upon arriving on the scene and died from his injuries. Other responding officers detained the suspect.
- In Pennsylvania, Trooper Jacques Rougeau Jr. was first wounded after being shot in an ambush attack by a man with an outstanding arrest warrant. He then pursed the suspect and died in a shootout with the suspect whom he killed with return fire. A military veteran, he’s survived by his wife.
As we reflect on those we’ve lost, please remember the families of our fallen as well. The average age is 39, the average tour-of-duty – 12 years. In addition to losing 51 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 28 widows and 69 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.