RECENTLY FALLEN: Dallas (TX) Police Officer Kevin Marceau

Fifteen years after he was struck by a car while chasing a hit-and-run suspect, Dallas (TX) Police Officer Kevin Marceau died from injury-related medical complications on Friday January 14, 2011.

The evening of November 13, 1996, Officer Marceau witnessed a traffic collision near Garland Road in northeast Dallas. When a suspect involved in the accident began to flee, Officer Marceau followed in pursuit. During the chase, he began crossing the road, when suddenly a vehicle hit and severely wounded him.

Rushed to the hospital, Officer Marceau endured copious surgeries and remained in a coma for several weeks. After an extensive hospital stay, he left the Dallas (TX) Police force on medical disability in 1998.

Officer Marceau was unable to communicate and remained in a wheelchair for fifteen years, until passing away from the long-term brain trauma at age 47. Out of 10 total law enforcement fatalities thus far in January 2011, Officer Marceau is the second Texas fatality.

The seven-year Dallas (TX) Police Department veteran also served in the Texas Army National Guard, the United States Air Force, and participated in Operation Desert Storm. He is survived by his son, parents, and four siblings. 

For more on this story, go to:

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/011711-dallas-police-officer-kevin-marceau-dies

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/01/16/2772725/ex-dallas-officer-seriously-hurt.html

RECENTLY FALLEN: Lakewood (NJ) Patrolman Christopher Matlosz

Lakewood (NJ) Patrolman Christopher Matlosz, 27, made the ultimate sacrifice the afternoon of Friday January 14, when he was fatally shot while patrolling a residential area—the scene of numerous recent drive-by shootings.

At approximately 4:00 pm, Patrolman Matlosz drove up to a man on the street and began talking to him. Abruptly, the suspect removed a handgun from his person then released three shots directly at Patrolman Matlosz, inside his vehicle. Authorities said the five-year Lakewood (NJ) Police veteran was slain before he could grip his service weapon and return fire. “This community has been crushed,” Lakewood (NJ) Police Chief Robert Lawson said.

On Sunday morning (January 16), after an aggressive manhunt, authorities identified the 19-year-old suspect—Jahmell W. Crockam—at an apartment sixty miles from the crime scene.  The suspect was detained and charged with murder and unlawful weapon possession; he is being held for $5 million bail. 

Out of eight officer fatalities in the first month of the New Year, five have been due to gunfire. Patrolman Matlosz, who was engaged to be married, is the first law enforcement officer mortally shot on duty in Ocean County, as well as the fourth officer to be killed by gunfire in January 2011.

Wedding plans suddenly became funeral arrangements, and traumatized loved ones pulled together to appropriately honor Patrolman Matlosz. Hundreds of family members, friends, fellow officers, and members of the community gathered to mourn the overwhelming loss.

Patrolman Matlosz is survived by his fiancée, mother, and brother. “He was the best guy you’ll ever meet,” said Jeff DeMatteo, a friend and Captain with the First Aid Squad. 

For more on this story, go to:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/crime_courts_news/011911_Hundreds_of_police_mourn_slain_NJ_police_officer.html

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110119/STATE/110119006/Wake-to-be-held-for-slain-NJ-police-officer
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/nyregion/15cop.html

RECENTLY FALLEN: Baltimore City (MD) Police Officer William H. Torbit, Jr.

Officer Torbit, Jr.

Baltimore City (MD) Police Officer William H. Torbit, Jr. was fatally shot by police gunfire on Sunday January 9, 2011. Dressed in plainclothes, Officer Torbit responded to a disturbance call at a night club on North Paca Street.

At approximately 1:15 am, Officer Torbit broke up a physical altercation with several females outside the club, when a group of men began attacking him. During the ensuing struggle, Officer Torbit drew his service weapon. Responding uniformed officers—unaware Officer Torbit was a police officer—shot and killed him.

 Officer Torbit, 33, was wearing his badge but had no other indicators that he was a law enforcement officer. Apparently, his badge was either not visible or ripped off during the violent conflict. Another man was shot and killed, and four other people, including a police officer, were injured during the struggle.  The officers who fired are on administrative leave.

Presently, four officers have been killed in 2011—one from Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, and Texas—in January 2011. Officer Torbit is the first law enforcement officer killed by accidental gunfire, and the third officer killed by a gunshot in the first month of the New Year.

One of nine children, officials and friends praised the “dedicated public servant” and “family man,” who spent eight years as a Baltimore City (MD) Police Officer.

For more on this story, go to:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/10/AR2011011006478.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1346152/Baltimore-police-confirm-plainclothes-officer-killed-fellow-cops-outside-nightclub.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZG1i-EuDo

RECENTLY FALLEN: Fort Bend County (TX) Deputy Sheriff John Norsworthy

Deputy Sheriff Norsworthy

Fort Bend County (TX) Deputy Sheriff John Norsworthy died on Tuesday January 4, 2011, succumbing to injuries suffered during an automobile accident that occurred eight days prior.

Deputy Norsworthy was in the midst of responding to a fellow officer’s request for assistance at a traffic stop, when his patrol car flipped and struck a tree. Rescue crews were unable to extract him from the vehicle for almost an hour, during which time he writhed in pain.

Flown to a nearby hospital, Deputy Norsworthy remained in critical condition, until he ultimately yielded to his injuries. The 39-year-old Deputy had been with the Fort Bend County (TX) Sheriff’s Office for two years and previously served with the Rosenberg (TX) Police Department.

Deputy Norsworthy is the second law enforcement officer to die in January 2011, and the first traffic-related officer fatality. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter. “We have lost one of our finest. The world’s a little darker place but the heavens have a new shining star,” said Fort Bend County (TX) Chief Deputy K.C. Brady.

For more on this story, go to:
http://www.kwtx.com/news/headlines/Texas_Sheriffs_Deputy_Dies_Eight_Days_After_On-Duty_Accident__112902554.html?ref=554
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7365793.html

RECENTLY FALLEN: Oregon Officer Shot and Killed in First Days of New Year—Disturbing 2010 Trend Continues in 2011

Just one week in to the New Year, two law enforcement officers have been shot and killed. Rainier (OR) Police Chief Ralph Painter was killed by a fatal gunshot wound to the head on Wednesday,  January 5.

Chief Painter responded to a call reporting a car theft at a strip mall at approximately 10:45 am. Police said Chief Painter struggled with the 21-year-old suspect—Daniel A. Butts—who allegedly fired a gunshot that struck Chief Painter in the head and killed him.

Injured by a police bullet, Butts was sent to a Portland hospital before being transferred to Columbia County jail this afternoon on aggravated murder charges. The suspect’s alleged actions were described as completely out of character by those who know him. His shocked family members describe him as a “normal kid in a small town.”



The killing of Chief Painter, 55, stunned the Oregon town of 1,800 located along the Columbia River. Chief Painter is the first officer to die on duty  in Rainier since the establishment of its police force. An emotional Mayor Jerry Cole called Chief Painter an “outstanding police officer and friend for 25 years.”

Mayor Cole described Chief Painter as a “wonderful father, husband and grandfather;” one of the Chief’s sons works in law enforcement. Painter had risen as Chief of the five-person Rainier Police Department five years ago. “We can always replace the Chief of Police here in town, but we’ll never replace Ralph,” said friend Larry Gates.

For more on this story, go to:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40930697/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/05/oregon-officer-killed-in-struggle-with-suspect/

Photo taken from: http://www.kpic.com/news/113004529.html

RECENTLY FALLEN: After a Deadly 2010, the New Year Begins with Another Devastating Loss

Each New Year offers a fresh start for law enforcement officers and a new goal for all Americans - to reverse the spike in line-of-duty deaths, which surged nearly 40 percent in 2010 over 2009 with 162 officers killed. Our high hopes for significantly reducing the number of law enforcement officer fatalities in 2011 were almost immediately deflated with the lethal shooting of Clark County (OH) Sheriff’s Deputy Suzanne Hopper on New Year’s Day. “This is the worst day of my 24 years as the Sheriff of Clark County,” Sheriff Gene Kelly said.



Deputy Hopper reported to a mobile home park in Enon, northeast of Dayton, responding to a call about gunshots fired in the vicinity. While photographing footprints at the scene, gunman Michael Ferryman, 57, opened his silver trailer door to ambush Deputy Hopper, 40, with a shotgun. Deputy Hopper was killed instantly at approximately 11:30 am Saturday. “She never had the opportunity to return fire or take cover. She was an outstanding deputy,” said Sheriff Kelly.

Despite being told to surrender by authorities, Ferryman continued to fire at officers responding to the “officer down” call, forcing them to draw their weapons and return fire. Law enforcement personnel from four neighboring departments reported to the standoff, along with a Special Operations team and two SWAT teams. Ferryman was shot and killed during the exchange. Another officer, German Township (OH) Police Officer Jeremy Blum, 32, was wounded and taken to a hospital in Dayton for treatment.

In 2001, Ferryman played a role in an eerily similar incident; he repeatedly fired a weapon at law enforcement officers responding to a disturbance involving gunshots reported at a camp ground. Although Ferryman fired several times at authorities during a 26-hour standoff, no one was injured. After being found unfit for trial, he was committed into a psychiatric institution, and then found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2003; ultimately he was released from psychiatric care two years later.

Deputy Hopper, a wife and mother of two, was not only the first officer killed in 2011, but also the first Clark County officer killed on duty since 1978, as well as the first female officer to be killed on New Year’s Day . “It’s evident that she did more for people because she loved people, and I think that was why she picked the career that she picked,” her father, Charles Bauer said.

For more on this story, go to:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gF3p80Yc0LtwgkvfwxbjMflWY9iQ?docId=1bba56610b744814a247043d9d9a757e
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7011GJ20110102

A Special Note about the 2011 Memorial Fund Calendar

The Memorial Fund recently released its new 2011 Remember Calendar. Tragically, an officer featured in the month of June took her life in August 2010, after the calendar was in production. Below is a note the Memorial Fund received today from her co-worker, Deacon Robert A. Baker:

My Brothers, Yesterday, I received the new 2011 calendar. When I turned to the month of June my heart stopped. A Police Unity Tour Rider looked back at me. That rider is Jersey City Police Officer Jane Louf. We tragically lost Jane to suicide on August 1, 2010. Jane and I enjoyed a Father/Daughter type relationship. I met her when she became a Hudson County Sheriff’s Officer. No one could miss her, not even in a crowd. She always wore a smile that melted the heart of anyone who looked at her. We never lost contact after her transfer to the Jersey City Police Department.

On that tragic Christmas night in 2005, Jane and her partner chased after Rob and Shawn on the Lincoln Highway Bridge attempting to warn them that the bridge was open. She watched in horror as the ESU truck plunged 45 feet into the water below. Jane’s partner actually had to prevent Jane from jumping off the bridge in an attempt to save them. This and many other tragedies were carried around by Jane for years. Here was a beautiful girl with a beautiful smile who was crying on the inside.

During my first Unity Tour Ride in 2008 I met a mental barrier when we approached the bridge in Delaware. I was convinced that I could not make that bridge. There appeared Jane Louf and Mike Stise, Jane saw in my face that I was ready to quit. She told me “ Put your head down and don’t look up. Keep peddling and I’ll stay with you all the way.” I made it! Nothing was impossible to me over the next three days. Jane and I had a long conversation during the 2010 tour. I was upset that I was not on my bike with my team due to setback and had to settle for a ride in the trailer.

Next thing I knew Jane was in the trailer with me and in distress. God sometimes places people together in strange ways and circumstances. Now I understood why I was off my bike. When I learned of Jane’s suicide I partially blamed myself for not calling her in over a month. I know from my training that I cannot save everyone but I hear her words over and over in my head “I’ll stay with you all the way.” I feel like I did not do the same for her.

I truly believe from what I learned and experienced that suicide by a police officer can sometimes be justified as “In The Line of Duty”. When you do what I do you come to understand that so many officers carry around a lot of job related issues over the years. They are faced with administrations that don’t care about their mental health, peers that look upon them as weak, distrust in municipal programs, fear of losing their jobs. Jane’s name will not be placed on the memorial wall but I take great solace in knowing she was partly responsible in raising the funds for it over the years and seeing her face in the 2011 calendar.

From the bottom of my heart I thank you both and all the staff that work so hard to keep memories alive. May God send you all his Blessings.

Deacon Robert A. Baker, Sr. MBA, CFE

Chaplain, Ambassasdor, Crisis Counselor

Jersey City Police, Hudson County Sheriff