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. After years of increases in LODs, including multiple record years, thankfully 2023 produced the fewest line-of-duty deaths in the 2000’s. Let’s pray for the improvement to continue this year.
- We lost 123 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2023 including 3 in Florida
- We’ve lost 34 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2024 including 1 in Florida
We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update.
- In Alabama, Deputy Jermyius Young (pictured) died in an accident while in pursuit of a suspect on the run. He was an Army Reserve veteran.
- In Ohio, Lieutenant Rodney Osborne died during a training exercise. He had just been named the Employee of the Year. Rodney is survived by a wife and three children.
- In West Virginia, Special Agent Derek Baer was killed in a crash while on duty. He’s survived by a wife and three children.
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 34 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 20 widows and 47 children who’ve lost a parent.