March began with the first LODD death due to gunfire in 2015, and ended with a total of 16 total officers lost. Of those officers, six died as a result of felonious gunfire, five were involved in vehicle crashes and three suffered a heart attack.One death was the result of a 9/11-related illness and one officer succumed to injuries sustained 10 years earlier while on a call. To date, that brings us to a total loss of 32 officers for the year, up 7 % from where we were this time last year. Perhaps most notable is the fact that gunfire deaths this year are down 46%, with no gunfire-realted deaths in the first two months of the year, completing the longest stretch without an LODD due to felonious gunfire since 1896.
We at Law Officer extend our condolences to every coworker, family member and agency that has experienced a line-of-duty loss. Here are summaries of our fallen during the month of March, listed in order of occurrence.
Special Agent William Sheldon United States Department of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Government, 47, died from cancer, which he developed as a direct result of participating in rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Agent Sheldon helped to direct people away from the towers on the day of the attack. He was then exposed to toxic debris while assisting with the search and recovery effort at Ground Zero in the weeks following the attack. He and two other members of the ATF team were eventually diagnosed with cancer that was determined to be a result of their exposure. Sheldon’s health continued to deteriorate until he passed away on March 2.
Det. Terence Avery Green Fulton County Police Department, Georgia, 48, was shot and killed when he was ambushed after responding to reports of shots fired inside a house at 1 a.m. on March 4. Det. Green and other responding officers were unable to locate the suspect inside the home and began searching the neighborhood after receiving additional calls stating the man was attempting to get into nearby homes. As officers checked the area, the man opened fire on them from a concealed position in the dark and fog. Green was struck in the back of the head and another officer’s radio was struck as they attempted to seek cover. Other officers returned fire, wounded the suspect and took him into custody. Green was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later. Green’s death was the first LODD due to gunfire in 2015.
Officer Robert Wilson, III Philadelphia Police Department, Pa., 30, was shot and killed on March 5 during a robbery at a video game store. Officer Wilson went into the store to conduct a security check and to purchase a video game for his 8-year-old son’s birthday. While he was inside the store, two suspects entered and announced a robbery. Officer Wilson exchanged gunfire with the suspects, drawing fire away from the customers and employees. He was struck three times during the shootout. Both suspects were engaged in a second shootout with Officer Wilson’s partner outside of the store, during which one suspect was wounded. Both suspects were arrested and charged with Wilson’s murder.
Lt. C. Scott Travis Bullitt County Detention Center, Ky., 55, suffered a fatal heart attack on March 5 while clearing snow from the walkways in front of a detention center during a heavy snowstorm. Lt. Travis had cleared snow shortly before midnight in preparation of shift change and also cleared snow from around several vehicles of fellow officers. He then drove several officers home and returned to the detention center, where he complained of chest pains, but refused medical attention and collapsed upon returning home early that morning. Lt. Travis had served with the detention center for 11 years.
Officer Brennan Rabain Prince George's County Police Department, Md., 26, was killed in a single vehicle crash while attempting to make a traffic stop at approximately 3:30 a.m. on March 7. It is believed that Officer Rabain’s vehicle hit a patch of black ice, causing his car to leave the roadway and strike a fence. Officer Rabain had served with Prince George’s County PD for one year.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Josie Wells United States Department of Justice – United States Marshals Service, U.S. Government, 27, was shot and killed on March 10 as he and other members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve an arrest warrant on a double-murder suspect in Baton Rouge, La. Shots were exchanged as the team attempted to take the man into custody and Deputy Wells was struck in the neck. He was transported to a local hospital, but succumbed to his wounds a short time later. The suspect was shot multiple times and died the following day.
Deputy Sheriff Johnny Gaston Warren County Sheriff's Office, Miss., 58, died as a result of injuries suffered during a single vehicle crash that occurred on Feb. 23, when his patrol car hit a patch of black ice, left the roadway and struck a tree. He was treated at a local hospital for a fractured leg and was released. Deputy Gaston was recovering at home when he began experiencing shortness of breath and became unresponsive. He passed away at a nearby hospital on March 10. It was later determined that he had suffered a pulmonary embolism as a result of his leg injury.
Officer Burke Rhoads Nicholasville Police Department, Ky., 35, was killed in a vehicle collision on March 11. Officer Rhodes was en route to Richmond, Ky., to take a training course when another vehicle turned in front of his patrol car. The collision spun the patrol car around into oncoming traffic and was struck a second time from the rear. Officer Rhodes was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Patrolman George Nissen Stone Park Police Department, Ill., 51, succumbed to injuries sustained 10 years earlier when he was assaulted while attempting to break up a large fight on Feb. 13, 2005. Patrolman Nissen had responded with other officers to a disturbance at a bar and, as they approached of the subjects, Nissen was attacked and thrown to the ground, striking his head on the pavement. He suffered a concussion, which required several surgeries. Nissen suffered a serious complication during one of the surgeries, resulting in him becoming a paraplegic and unable to speak. He passed away on March 12, 2015, as a result of his injuries.
Trooper Donald R. Fredenburg New York State Police, NY, 23, suffered a fatal heart attack on March 13 while participating in a morning training run at the New York State Police Academy. He and other sworn in troopers had just begun their run around the campus when he suddenly collapsed. Academy staff provided immediate medical attention, including the use of an AED, which restarted his heart. He was transported to Albany Medical Center, where he later passed away.
Officer Darryl Wallace Clayton County Police Department, Ga., 26, was killed in a single vehicle crash while responding to a prowler call at 8:30 p.m. on March 15. He had his emergency equipment activated and was attempting to pass another vehicle when his patrol car left the roadway. Officer Wallace had been with the department for only five months.
Lt. Richard Woods Pell City Police Department, Ala., 48, suffered a fatal heart attack on March 17 while assisting other rescue personnel as they extricated several teenagers from a vehicle following a serious accident. Paramedics immediately provided aid to Lt. Woods. He was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away a short time later.
Patrolman Adrian Arellano El Paso Police Department, Texas, 39, was killed on March 18 when his police motorcycle collided with another vehicle while escorting a funeral procession through an intersection. A second officer was directing traffic at the intersection when the driver of a small sedan disregarded the officer’s signals and entered the intersection. Patrolman Arellano’s motorcycle struck the vehicle, causing him to be thrown to the ground. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Alex Yazzie Navajo Division of Public Safety, Tribal Police, 42, was shot and killed on March 19 near Red Valley, Ariz., while pursuing a subject who had shot at another officer while responding to a domestic violence call in Little Water Trading Post, N.M. The initial call involved a report of a barricade situation in which a subject armed with an AR-15 was holding his family hostage. The man opened fire on responding officers and the fled across the state lines into Arizona, approximately 29 miles away. The subject opened fire on officers a second time after they located him in Red Valley. Officer Yazzie was fatally shot and two other officers were wounded during the shootout. The suspect was also killed during the gunfight.
Officer Michael Johnson San Jose Police Department, Calif., 38, was shot and killed as he and other officers responded to a suicide threat at an apartment on March 24. As officers approached, the subject, who was under the influence of alcohol, stepped onto an apartment balcony and opened fire without warning, fatally wounding Officer Johnson.
Trooper Trevor Casper Wisconsin State Patrol, Wis., 21, was shot and killed on March 24 while attempting to apprehend a bank robbery and murder suspect. The subject was believed to have robbed a bank four hours earlier, then murdered a citizen and stole their vehicle. Trooper Casper located the stolen vehicle and began to follow it. While stopped at a red light, the suspect opened fire on Trooper Casper. Casper returned fire and both he and the suspect were killed.
It must be said again and again that cops do not have to die in the numbers that we have seen over the past three decades. We're making headway in lowering our losses but we must not stop and we must not waiver in our efforts. This is literally a matter of life and death. We have made more progress than many thought was possible, but it has come at the expense of hard-learned lessons based on the sacrifices of thousands of fallen officers.
Vehicle operations continue to be the most deadly activity that officers engage in and half of all fatal crashes involve a single vehicle. The sad truth is that many of our losses are preventable and we must learn from the terrible lessons of the past so that we don't continue to repeat deadly mistakes. No line-of-duty death should ever be considered as acceptable or without consequence. The best way for us to honor our fallen is by training the living. Those who have given their lives would want nothing less.
Law Officer’s Below 100 initiative is working hard to address those LODD areas that are primarily under an officer’s control.
Special thanks to our partners at the Officer Down Memorial Page for their assistance.