As we head into the month of August, we’ve lost a total of 58 officers. Tragically, five died during the month of July. Although the losses we're experiencing are record lows, this does nothing to ease the pain and suffering of the families and agencies that lost an officer. Even one death is unacceptable and we must continue to honor the fallen by training the living. This means a continual and objective review of where our losses are occurring.
Here’s the overview of LODDs for July. Additional details can be found further down under each officer’s name.
- Two officers died in falls. One of those was a result of injuries suffered in 2011.
- One officer was shot during a SWAT operation.
- One officer died in a crash that occurred while responding to a request for assistance.
- One officer was struck by a vehicle while retrieving debris from the roadway.
All of us at Law Officer extend our heartfelt condolences to the coworkers, families and departments who have suffered a loss during this past month. In order of occurrence, here are the losses for July:
Officer Bobby Hornsby, 32, Killeen, Texas, PD, was killed during a SWAT deployment at an apartment complex shortly after midnight. Earlier in the evening a subject had confronted some people at a swimming pool with a weapon. When officers arrived on scene, the subject brandished an AK-47 and then barricaded himself inside his apartment. The tactical response unit was deployed and, as the officers attempted to establish contact, the suspect fired one shot, then opened the apartment door and put his hands up. When he refused to exit, the tactical team moved in but he backed up and fired, striking Officer Hornsby and another officer. The suspect was killed by returned fire from police.
Officer Bruce Daniel Jacobs, 38, Jackson, Miss., PD, died after being struck by a vehicle while removing debris from I-55. A barbecue grill had fallen into the roadway about 1:30 in the afternoon. Officer Jacobs had retrieved the item from the road and was placing it into the trunk of his vehicle when he was struck from behind by an oncoming car. He was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the vehicle was also injured.
Officer David Vanbuskirk, 36, Las Vegas Metro, Nev., PD, died after falling during a nighttime aerial rescue of a stranded hiker on Mount Charleston. Vanbuskirk, a member of the department’s search and rescue unit, had been lowered to assist the hiker. The hiker and Vanburskirk were being raised via a hoist when, for unknown reasons, Vanbuskirk became detached from the line and fell to the canyon floor. An extensive investigation is underway in an effort to determine what happened.
Trooper Winston Martindale, 40, New York State Police, died as a result of injuries suffered during a fall in May, 2011. Martindale was one of the first officers on scene at a crash involving two small planes and he fell onto a piece of equipment. Although he was injured, he continued his rescue efforts and aided in removing the pilots from the wreckage. Later it was determined that he had suffered serious injuries and was bleeding internally. He underwent several surgeries over the course of the next two-plus years, but ultimately succumbed to complications from the fall.
Corporal Thomas Keith Slay, 53, Columbus, Ga., PD, died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash while responding to assist an officer. Corporal Slay and another officer were in an unmarked truck displaying lights and siren during the response. A second vehicle entered their lane and struck the truck, causing it to leave the roadway and strike a utility pole on the driver’s side. Slay, who was driving, was transported but died at the hospital. The other officer suffered critical injuries. Both had been assigned to a multi-agency narcotics task force.
The manner in which an officer dies doesn't lessen their sacrifice, nor does it ease the pain of their loss. Each left behind grieving family members and an agency that will never be the same. The tragedy of their untimely passing will follow the survivors for the rest of their lives.
Considering the conventional wisdom that guns are the biggest threats that cops face, it's notable that only one of the five LODDs was from gunfire. We must continue our efforts to drive down all line-of-duty deaths and the most effective way to do that is by concentrating on those areas where officers have the most control. That’s why the five tenets of Below 100 are so important:
- Wear your belt.
- Wear your vest.
- Watch your speed.
- W.I.N. – What’s Important Now?
- Remember: Complacency kills!
Equally important, if we’re truly committed to improving officer safety we must have the courage to constructively review every loss and to speak to others about using common sense. When others make decisions or engage in behavior that affects officer safety, we have a fundamental obligation to talk to them or, to use a more descriptive term, to have a courageous conversation. When it comes to officer safety, we truly are our brother’s keeper.
Learn more about Below 100 at www.Below100.com. Note: All of the LODD information comes from our great partners at the Officer Down Memorial Page.