Protecting The Palm Beaches – March 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 17 heroes in the line of duty thus far this year.
We’ve lost this hero since the previous update:
- In Louisiana, Sergeant Grant Candies (pictured) was murdered by suspects who fled a traffic stop. While attempting to conduct a traffic stop, suspects sped away leading to a chase. After a brief pursuit, Grant began to deploy spike strips in the road when he was targeted by the suspects who intentionally struck him. Approximately ten minutes later responding officers were able to end the chase arresting three juveniles who’ve been charged with murder. A Marine Corps veteran, Grant 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 of the fallen is 39, the average tour-of-duty is 10 years. In addition to losing 17 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 9 widows and 21 children who lost a parent. Remember to back the badge and spread the word. They need us just as much as we need them.