Protecting The Palm Beaches – January 3rd, 2025
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.
- We lost 123 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2023 including 3 in Florida
- We lost 144 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2024 including 8 in Florida
We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update.
- In Texas, Deputy Katherine Hutson was killed when she was struck by a drunk driver while on patrol. She’s survived by her son.
- In Texas, Officer Cooper Dawson was murdered by a suspect who fled a traffic stop. While conducting a traffic stop a suspect ambushed Cooper opening fire as he approached the vehicle. The suspect was wounded by return fire and arrested by responding officers. He was an Army National Guard veteran and is survived by a wife and three children.
- In Minnesota, Officer Jesse Branch was killed in a crash while responding to an emergency call.
- In Illinois, Detective Allan Reddins was murdered while responding to an emergency call of an armed man at a bank. When arriving on the scene the suspect opened fire on Allan. The suspect was wounded with return fire and arrested by responding officers. He’s survived by his son.
- In Texas, Officer Jacob Candanoza was murdered during a traffic stop. While conducting a traffic stop a suspect physically confronted Jacob and then opened fire on him. The suspect fled the scene but was detained following a chase. Jacob was a Marine veteran and is survived by a wife and child.
- In Tennessee, Sergeant Rick Finley was murdered while responding to reports of a suspicious person. When he arrived on the scene a suspect was attempting to break into a home. The suspect opened fire killing Rick. The suspect was killed by return fire. An Army National Guard veteran, he’s survived by a wife and three children.
- In Charlotte County, Sergeant Elio Diaz (pictured) was murdered during a traffic stop. During the stop a suspect opened fire on Elio and fled the scene. He was tracked down by responding officers and killed with return fire. Elio is survived by a wife and four children.
- In California, DHS Agent Jeffrey Kanas was killed in a helicopter crash while conducting a mission at the Southern border. A Navy veteran, he’s survived by a wife and two children.
- In Texas, Officer Isaiah Bias was attacked and killed by an inmate during a prisoner transfer. The inmate has been charged with murder.
- In Illinois, Trooper Clay Carns was struck and killed by a vehicle while removing debris from a highway. Clay is survived by a wife and two children.
- In North Carolina, Officer Michael Horan was murdered while responding to an emergency call of an armed man at a grocery store. Responding officers arrested the suspect. Michael was a Coast Guard veteran and is survived by a wife and three children.
- In Ohio, Officer Andrew Lansing was attacked and killed by an inmate while working on the prison’s yard. The inmate has been charged with murder. Andrew was an Army veteran and is survived by a wife and two children.
As we reflect on those we’ve lost, please remember the families of our fallen as well. The average age is 41, the average tour-of-duty – 12 years. In addition to losing 144 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty in 2024, there were 74 widows and 167 children who lost a parent.