Protecting The Palm Beaches – February 28th, 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. Unfortunately, after progress was made in reducing line of duty deaths in 2023 – we weren’t able to sustain that progress last year. LODs rose by 17% nationally in 2024, with five additional LODs within the state of Florida. A total of 342 officers were shot in the line of duty resulting in 50 deaths – an 8% increase year over year.
- We lost 144 heroes in the line of duty in 2024 including 8 in Florida
- We’ve lost 13 heroes in the line of duty thus far this year.
We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update:
- In Pennsylvania, Patrolman Andrew Duarte was murdered while responding to an active shooter at a hospital. Upon arriving on the scene, the suspect who’d taken hostages, began firing at officers striking and killing Andrew. The suspect was killed with return fire. Two other officers and three members of hospital staff were shot by the suspect – all others are expected to recover from their injuries.
- In Virginia, Officers Cameron Girvin (pictured) and Chris Reese were murdered while conducting a traffic stop. The suspect was uncooperative with law enforcement during the traffic stop which prompted officers to ask the suspect to exit the vehicle. The suspect pulled out a gun shooting the officers. The suspect then executed the officers who were on the ground with injuries and fled. Officer Girvin is survived by his expectant wife. Following a manhunt, the suspect was found nearby with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- In Mississippi, Sergeant Martin Shields, Jr. was murdered while responding to a domestic disturbance. Upon arriving on the scene, the suspect opened fire on responding officers killing Sergeant Shields. The suspect was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Martin is survived by a wife and daughter.
As we reflect on those we’ve lost, please remember the families of our fallen as well. The average age of the fallen is 39, the average tour-of-duty is 11 years. In addition to losing 13 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 6 widows and 12 children who lost a parent. Remember to back the badge and spread the word. They need us just as much as we need them.