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. After years of increases in LODs, including multiple record years, thankfully 2023 produced the fewest line-of-duty deaths in the 2000’s. Unfortunately, that progress hasn’t been sustained this year. LODs are 22% higher year-to-date.
- We lost 123 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2023 including 3 in Florida
- We’ve lost 55 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2024 including 1 in Florida
- Through April 136 law enforcement officers had been shot in the line of duty, an increase of 1% over a year ago.
We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update.
- In Massachusetts, Sergeant Ian Taylor was struck and killed while directing traffic around a construction zone. He’s survived by his wife and three children.
- In Louisiana, Officer Russell Croxton was struck and killed while conducting a traffic stop. His father was also an officer who died in the Line of Duty in 1978.
- In North Carolina, Officer Joshua Eyer, Investigator Samuel Poloche, Investigator William Elliott (pictured) and U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks were murdered in an ambush while attempting to serve an arrest warrant for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The suspect was killed with return fire. Josuha is survived by his wife and son. Samuel is survived by his wife and two children. William is survived by a wife and child. Thomas is survived by a wife and four children.
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 – 11 years. In addition to losing 55 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 31 widows and 66 children who’ve lost a parent.