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 105 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 Arkansas, Detective James Lett died due to injuries sustained while responding to a service-to-assist request with a narcotics operation. An Air Force veteran, he’s survived by five children.
- In Arizona, Border Patrol Agent Freddy Ortiz (pictured) was killed in a crash while attempting to detain illegal immigrants crossing the border. Freddy was a Navy veteran.
- In Colorado, Sergeant Michael Moran was murdered during a traffic stop. Other officers responded, and following a chase, one of the two suspects was killed by return fire and a second suspect was taken into custody. A Marine Corps veteran, Michael is survived by two daughters.
As we reflect on those we’ve lost, please remember the families of our fallen as well. The average age is 42, the average tour-of-duty – 13 years. In addition to losing 105 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 52 widows and 136 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.