Protecting The Palm Beaches, A Tribute to Those Who Serve and Sacrifice – October 4th, 2024
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. LODs are currently pacing 7% lower than a year ago.
- We lost 123 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2023 including 3 in Florida
- We’ve lost 107 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2024 including 2 in Florida
- Through September 283 law enforcement officers had been shot in the line of duty
We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update.
- In New York, Constable Shane Eyre died due to injuries sustained during a training exercise.
- In Texas, Trooper Kevin Ramirez-Vasquez (pictured) was struck and killed by a vehicle while processing a crash scene. Kevin was an Army veteran.
- In Texas, Deputy Ruban Garcia was killed in a crash while processing a crash scene. The driver of the vehicle who killed Ruban was using a phone at the time of the accident.
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 – 10 years. In addition to losing 107 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 60 widows and 134 children who’ve lost a parent.