Protecting The Palm Beaches – July 2nd, 2026 – Brought to You By Good Greek Moving And Storage
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.
Following a 17% rise in Line-of-duty-deaths nationally in 2024, significant progress was made in 2025 as LODs declined by 46% year-over-year to the lowest level this century. Otherwise, it was a mixed bag. A total of 347 officers were shot in the line of duty – a 2% increase year over year.
- We lost 90 heroes in the line of duty in 2025 including 8 in Florida
- We’ve lost 51 heroes in the line of duty in 2026 including 2 in Florida
We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update:
- In Texas, Officer Sandra Blair died due to injuries sustained after having been struck by an intoxicated driver while investigating a crash. The driver, was arrested and convicted of intoxication assault and leaving the scene of an accident. Sandra is survived by her daughter.
- In North Carolina, Deputy Damien Bost was struck and killed by the driver of a tractor-trailer while securing a lane for a repaving project. The driver was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, reckless driving, and failure to reduce speed. Damien is survived by his wife and two children.
- In Arkansas, Officer Trevor Howard was killed in a crash resulting in his car flipping while on patrol.
- In Texas, Deputy Erika Serrato (pictured) was struck and killed by the driver of a commercial vehicle while directing traffic around a multi-car crash. The driver was arrested and charged with multiple moving violations.
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 9 years. In addition to losing 51 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 31 widows and 52 children who’ve lost a parent. Remember to back the badge and spread the word. They need us just as much as we need them.