Honoring the Fallen

2024 Fatalities

History of Our Fallen Heroes

Stories Behind the Names

2024 Fatalities


Preliminary 2024 Fallen Officer Fatalities

Source:  National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
https://nleomf.org/preliminary-fatalities

History of Our Fallen Heroes


  • Currently, there are 23,229 names engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. This total includes known line of duty officer fatalities from 1786 – 2022.

  • The first recorded American law enforcement fatality occurred on April 29, 1786. Sheriff Benjamin Branch, 54, of the Chesterfield County (VA) Sheriff’s Office, died after being thrown from his horse while on duty.

  • A total of 1,762 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years (2011-2020), an average of one death every 50 hours or 176 per year.

  • There were 226 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2022—a 61% decrease from the 586 officer fatalities in 2021 (based on preliminary data reported to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund).

  • The 1920s were the deadliest decade in law enforcement history, when a total of 2,529 officers died, or an average of 253 each year.

  • The deadliest year in law enforcement history was 2021, when 586 officers died in the line of duty.

  • The deadliest incident in law enforcement history occurred on September 11, 2001, when 72 officers died as a result of a coordinated attack on America by foreign terrorists.

  • The New York City Police Department has lost more officers in the line of duty than any other department, with 954 deaths.

  • Texas has lost 1,831 officers, more than any other state.

  • The state with the fewest officer fatalities is Vermont, with 25.

  • There are 1,209 federal officers listed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, as well as 770 correctional officers and 70 military law enforcement officers.

  • There are 390 female officers listed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial; 24 female officers died in the line of duty in 2020.

  • The first recorded female American law enforcement fatality occurred on September 27, 1906. Nellie Wicks, a Head Attendant for the New York State Department of Corrections, was stabbed to death by an inmate.

Source: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Stories Behind the Names


  • On February 18, 1988, Boston (MA) Police Detective Sherman Griffiths (aka the "Gentle Giant"), was shot and killed during a drug raid. He left behind a wife, Deirdre and two young daughters, Hilary and Melanie. One of his brothers, Billy, was already a Boston cop when Sherman died. Several years later, four other brothers, Tommy Griffiths, Brian Griffiths, Jimmy Coyne and Kevin Coyne would give up their other professional careers to become Boston police officers. They wanted to help finish the job that Sherman had started. They wanted to make a difference. And a generation later, Sherman's nephew, Tom "TJ" Griffiths, Jr., would do the same, becoming a police officer with the Harwich (MA) Police Department. Sherman would receive no greater honor than the legacy of law enforcement service that he inspired--not just in how he died but in how he lived.

  • Chicago (IL) Police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso, 32, was shot and killed on 3-1-23 while trying to apprehend a gunman who was chasing a woman down the street. The 5-year Chicago police veteran leaves behind a wife. https://policetribune.com/chicago-police-officer-killed-by-gunman-during-foot-pursuit/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chicago-police-officer-killed-by-gunman-during-foot-pursuit

  • Spartanburg County (SC) Deputy Austin Aldridge, 25, was shot and killed responding to a domestic disturbance call on 6-21-22. Exactly eight months later, on 2-21-23, his wife, Jessica, gave birth to their baby daughter, Claire Austin Aldridge. “Life is very different and we are forging a new normal. There are still many hard moments. Sweet Claire has brought new joy and reasons to smile. We are blessed even in the storm. We must find a way to focus on the good and continue life’s journey,” the family said in a Facebook post. Widow Of Slain Deputy Gives Birth To Couple's Daughter 8 Months After His Murder - The Police Tribune

  • Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald was shot and killed on 2/18/23 while responding to an incident near campus. University President Jason Wingard called the shooting “a gut-wrenching reminder of our police officers’ daily bravery and sacrifices to protect our students, faculty, staff and community” as Philadelphia and the nation deal with “an unprecedented epidemic of violence.” Suspect arrested in slaying of university police officer | AP News

  • Fountain (CO) Police Officer Julian Becerra died on 2-11-23 from injuries he suffered 10 days earlier when he fell from a bridge while pursuing a carjacking suspect. https://www.kktv.com/2023/02/12/fountain-police-officer-julian-becerra-passes-away-after-falling-bridge/

  • Riverside County (CA) Deputy Darnell Calhoun, 30, was shot and killed on 1-13-23 while responding to a domestic violence call. He left behind a pregnant wife. His death comes just a couple of weeks after another deputy from Riverside County, Isaiah Cordero, 32, was shot and killed during a traffic stop on 12-29-22. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Biano said, “Nationwide, we’re confronting these situations with armed individuals, that, over what seemingly seem to be minor disagreements, are willing to engage law enforcement in life and death gun battles.” 30-year-old deputy shot dead, leaves behind pregnant wife (msn.com)

  • Brackenridge (PA) Police Chief Justin McIntire was shot and killed by a carjacking suspect on 1-3-23. Police chief killed, officer wounded in Pennsylvania shooting - CBS News

  • U.S. Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez, 38, was killed on 12-7-22 when his all-terrain vehicle crashed while chasing a group of illegal immigrants near Mission, Texas. Agent Gonzalez is the sixth Border Patrol agent to die in the line of duty this year. “The death of an agent who dies while securing our nation’s border is a tremendous loss to our organization and our nation,” said U.S. Border Patrol Chief Agent Raul Ortiz. Border Patrol agent killed chasing illegal migrants in Texas (nypost.com)