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. Here are the harsh realities regarding the rise risk in society for law enforcement.
- There were 229 line-of-duty deaths in 2022 including 10 in Florida
- We’ve lost 98 heroes in the line-of-duty this year including 3 in Florida
While LODs thankfully dropped from 2021’s record levels last year, that was mostly due to few COVID-related deaths. Sadly, LODs were 40% higher than 2019 – the most recent pre-COVID year – illustrating the continued risk for law enforcement amid a rise in violence against law enforcement. We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update:
- In Pennsylvania, Officer Richard Mendez (pictured) was murdered while attempting to stop a vehicle theft in progress. Richard and another responding officer were fired upon by the suspects. One of the suspects was killed with return fire. Another was arrested several days later. He’s survived by his wife and daughter.
- In Texas, Lieutenant Milton Resendez was murdered during a chase involving a suspect on the run. The suspects fired upon Milton’s vehicle while he was in pursuit, striking him. The suspects were apprehended.
As we reflect on those we’ve lost, please remember the families of our fallen as well. The average age is 42, the average tour-of-duty – 13 years. In addition to losing 98 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 49 widows and 121 children who’ve lost a parent.
Remember to back the badge and spread the word. Media often aren't there for our law enforcement, but we can be. Let our police, and their families know we support them every chance you get. They need it more than ever, just as we need them more than ever.