Hancock deputy dies, passenger hurt in wreck (Jan. 2, 2000) -- An on-duty sheriff's deputy was killed Saturday in a one-car crash in rural Hancock County. Cpl. Danny R. Garrison, 51, crashed about 6:30 a.m. near the intersection of county roads 50 South and 8200 East, said Hancock County Sheriff Nick Gulling. An off-duty jail officer who was riding with Garrison suffered broken facial bones and ribs in the wreck, he said. Sheriff's dispatchers learned of the accident about 6:35 a.m. after the jail officer, Terry L. Elliott, stumbled to the door of a home near the spot where the patrol car left the road and hit a tree. Someone at the house called 911, and officers found Garrison. Dispatchers told Gulling that they had been trying to contact Garrison by radio for about five minutes before the 911 call came in. They knew he was in some kind of trouble because an emergency button on his police radio had been activated. But they didn't know where he was because the button only indicates a problem, not a location. Gulling said the accident remains under investigation. He said the estimated speed at impact was about 30 mph. Garrison, a patrol officer for the department since Jan. 1, 1984, is survived by his wife and two children. Elliott was taken to Hancock Memorial Hospital, then transferred to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. The 46-year-old Fortville woman was in fair condition Saturday. It's been nearly 14 years since a member of the Hancock County Sheriff's Department was killed in the line of duty

January 2, 2000 Deputy Hall was killed in a single vehicle crash in the early morning hours. Deputy Hall was travelling on State Highway 13 when he lost control of his cruiser, causing it to flip several times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been with the agency for five months.

BROXTON, Ga., Jan. 5 - A man described as a hermit killed a police officer who had come to tow away his mobile home, and then fatally shot a deputy who had rushed to assist the fallen officer, authorities said.
THE MAN SURRENDERED after police helicopters began circling overhead, and was charged today with two counts of felony murder.
Willie Mitchell, 55, apparently knew police would be serving a warrant to evict his mobile home and hid a gun at the edge of the woods just behind his trailer, said Roy Harris of the George Bureau of Investigation.
When Broxton officer James Bryant and some workers arrived Monday afternoon with a truck to haul away the rusty, white mobile home, Mitchell ran to the woods and allegedly shot and killed Bryant.
‘This should have been one of the simplest things in law enforcement work, moving a sorry joker who won't pay his rent.’
—Carlton Evans Coffee County Sheriff “This should have been one of the simplest things in law enforcement work, moving a sorry joker who won’t pay his rent,” Coffee County Sheriff Carlton Evans said Tuesday. Bryant was shot in both arms and the mouth with a deer rifle, he said.
State Trooper Lisa Stock arrived to help and attempted to crawl to Bryant. Deputy Almond “Tub” Merritt was trying to give her covering fire when he was shot in the chest, Evans said.
Merritt, 53, died at a hospital.
Stock and a trainee who arrived at about the same time were unharmed.

January 3, 2000 Despite having been wounded by a shotgun blast to his face, a police officer managed to return fire Friday night, bringing down a fleeing suspect and making possible his arrest. Both men are recovering from their wounds, one of them praised for heroic actions, the other facing a variety of felony charges, including the attempted slaying of a police officer. Officer Bryan P. Cilento, who is in his 20s, is at home after spending the night at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. ``Even after sustaining a gunshot wound to his face, he returned fire and ensured the apprehension of a violent suspect.'' The man, identified as Donald Lee Brown, 40, of Norfolk, also was released from the hospital Saturday. He was treated for minor injuries, including a gunshot wound to his lower leg and a grazing wound across his upper back. Brown, under police guard, was immediately taken before a magistrate, where he was charged with: Attempted capital murder of a police officer, Armed robbery, Possession of a sawed-off shotgun, Possession of a gun by a convicted felon, Carjacking, Use of a gun while committing a carjacking, and three counts of using a gun while committing a felony. Although investigators were not releasing many details about the incident on Saturday, at the scene Friday night they put out between 40 and 50 yellow evidence tags -- many of them marking places where shell casings had been found. The incident began about 4:30 p.m. with the attempted armed robbery of the Fry Basket seafood and chicken restaurant in the 300 block of Battlefield Boulevard near Old Drive. Swift calls to 911 provided police with a description of the suspect, as well as details about where he was last seen and that he was armed with a shotgun. Officers on patrol in the area -- which is a short distance from police headquarters at the municipal center -- sped to the scene within moments and were quickly tracking the suspect. Cilento was among them. It was unclear if Cilento or another officer was the first to spot the gunman, but the suspect was intent on getting away and ignored shouted orders that he stop, drop his weapon and surrender. Instead, he fled behind a branch of Crestar Bank and into the parking lot of a Virginia ABC store. Exactly when and how the shooting began was unclear, but Stitler said the suspect turned on his pursuers at some point and opened fired. Cilento shot back. The gunman then confronted a motorist and demanded that he surrender his vehicle, Stitler said. Cilento continued to take aim at the suspect. There were conflicting reports about whether any other officers opened fire. Stitler was able to say only that the pace of events and such specific details were still under investigation. At some point, Cilento was hit. But, despite what witnesses said was profuse bleeding from his facial wounds, he stayed on his feet and pressed in on the suspect. Finally, the gunman was hit at least twice and was captured.

Sat, 7 Jan 2000 Subject: Trooper down... As some of you already know, Oklahoma Highway Patrol 2LT Tom Downs is in University Hospital in OKC clinging to life after being struck yesterday by a doper who was being pursued by officers of a drug task force. LT Downs was putting out Stop-Sticks when he was struck by the suspect at high speed. It appears that the suspect intentionally went after LT Downs as he changed directions twice while LT Downs was trying to move out of his way. The suspect is in custody. Tom is in a coma with very serious head trauma. At this point prayers, good thoughts and excellent medical care are about all he has going for him. If you are so inclined, please say a prayer and have a good thought for him. He is a friend and a good guy.

Fri, 7 Jan 2000 Off Duty Cobb County Deputy shot for Helping Douglasville County Deputy Off-duty deputy shot in chase A woman suspected of being a burglar is accused of shooting an off-duty Cobb County sheriff's deputy twice Thursday morning as he chased her into the woods across from his Douglas County home. It started when Douglas County deputy Maria Leahman spotted Willie Carl "B.J." Porter and Talitha D. Leever backing out of a driveway in a hurry about 10 a.m., said Douglas County Sheriff Tommy E. Waldrop. The pair matched the description of burglars seen in the area the day before. Leahman pulled the pair over in a driveway adjacent to Cobb deputy Roger Jones' home on Chattahoochee Drive. A scuffle ensued. Porter knocked Leahman down and fled on foot, Waldrop said. During the confusion, Leever, who had been placed in a patrol car, kicked out a window and fled toward some woods. Jones' wife saw there was a problem and told her husband. Jones, 51, chased Leever, 17, across the street, ordered her to stop and said he was a deputy, Waldrop said. She turned around and shot Jones--once in the abdomen, once in the right thigh--with a .22-caliber handgun, Waldrop said. Douglas deputies caught Leever moments later. Porter, 19, got away. About 50 deputies, state patrol officers, other law enforcement agents and a bloodhound named Woody pursued Porter for the next four hours. Woody picked up his scent shortly before 3 p.m. about a mile from where the shooting occurred. Deputies found Porter hiding behind a tree. Porter and Leever face several felony charges, including burglary, auto theft, aggravated assault on an officer, possession of a stolen vehicle and carjacking. The red Jeep Cherokee the pair were driving had been carjacked in Fulton County last week, Waldrop said.

TROOPER CRITICALLY INJURED
Posted on January 13, 2000
Indiana State Police officer Jason E. Beal, PE#6655, was critically
injured around midnight Wednesday after being struck by a passing
vehicle as he was finishing up his investigation of an accident. The
accident occurred on State Road 14, near the Whitley/ Kosciusko County
line, just west of North Manchester. He was taken to Lutheran Hospital
in Ft. Wayne where he remains in critical condition this morning.
Trooper Beal and his wife, Emily live in Silver Lake and have no
children. He graduated from the ISP Academy in December 1998. Please
remember them in your thoughts and prayers.
I am sad to report that Trooper Jason Beal who was struck by a vehicle
Wednesday evening died today. At approximately 1500 hours Jason was
taken off life support and passed away at 1522. Jason was a member of
the 56th Indiana State Police Recruit class which graduated in December
of 1998. Jason was the third member of his class to be killed in the
line of duty and all three deaths have occurred within the last 10
months.

Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 12:13:30 -0500
Subject: PA Trooper Dies - Struck in Median
I am sad to report that PA State Trooper Matthew Bond, 28 died yesterday
of severe head injuries he received when he and his partner Trooper
William Stuckey, 25, stopped to check on a vehicle that had slid into
the median on Interstate 90 near Erie, PA. Trooper Stuckey was treated
at Hamot Medical Center in Erie.
Apparently a tractor trailer driven by Albert Osment, Jr. of Gaffney SC
struck the troopers vehicle and then slid into the median. Osment was
not injured. State Police say their investigation continues.
Just a year ago Trooper Bond was one of four PSP members recognized for
heroism for trying to save a woman and her daughter who were trapped by
fire in their Harborcreek home. Bond repeatedly tried to get into the
home but was driven back by heavy smoke. The woman and her daughter
later died.

Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 15:13:09 -0600
Subject: Missouri State Highway Patrol - Trooper Passed Away
Missouri State Highway Patrolman Steven Burns passed away this morning
after battling cancer for the past several months. Steve was a former
Clay County Missouri Deputy Sheriff. Steve was married and will be
missed by many who knew him. No funeral arrangements are available yet.

Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 13:23:03 -0800
2 officers shot in Modesto (CA)
Suspect dies, cops wounded in shootout
MODESTO (AP) -- Two Modesto police officers were critically
injured and a suspect was killed Friday during a shootout at
a jewelry store.
Three accomplices escaped in a getaway car with a woman at
the wheel.
Detective Kevin Bertalotto, 41, was shot six times at close
range inside the store. Officer Chuck Cahoone, 34, was shot
once in the abdomen. Both officers underwent surgery in
Modesto hospitals, police spokesman Kelly Huston said.
Bertalotto, father of three and a 13-year veteran of the
Modesto police force, was in serious but stable condition
Friday night.
Cahoone, a five-year veteran with a wife and two children,
was in stable condition.
Police do not know the identity of the suspect killed at the
scene, Huston said. He was a man believed to be in his 40s
carrying a 9mm semiautomatic handgun.
Police continued to search for a woman and two men believed to
have escaped from the scene in a 1990 or 1991 black Chevrolet
with red molding, Huston said. The car, with a California license
plate starting with ``2T'', has a luggage rack or spoiler on the
trunk.
The woman is believed to be in her 30s and the two men in their
40s, both wearing thick mustaches.
Police detained a woman and impounded a car matching the
description that was found in Patterson, 20 miles southwest of
Modesto.

Two S.F. officers die in helicopter crash
Wednesday, January 12, 2000
©2000 San Francisco Examiner
CROWS LANDING, Stanislaus County - Two veteran San Francisco police
officers were killed Tuesday night in the crash of a department
helicopter in a plowed field near this small farming community.
The aircraft, on a routine flight from a maintenance call at the
Porterville Airport in Tulare County back to San Francisco, crashed
sometime after 9 p.m. when Federal Aviation Administration officials at
Stockton Airport lost radio and radar contact with the Bell Jet Ranger
OH-58 five-seat chopper.
Police Chief Fred Lau identified the victims as department pilot Kirk
Brookbush, a decorated veteran officer who assumed pilot duties for the
department in October, and mechanic James F. Dougherty, also a veteran
officer.
There was no indication what caused the helicopter to go down. The
National Weather Service said the weather at the time of last contact
was rainy and windy with low ceilings. SFPD Capt. Mike Yalon described
the weather as flyable, but theorized that the pilot might have
attempted to set the aircraft down because of inclement weather.
Stanislaus County authorities said the pilot radioed the Stockton
Airport tower that he was flying beneath 1,000 feet because of
visibility problems just before contact was lost.
Stanislaus County sheriff's Commander Myron Larson said a preliminary
investigation showed that the helicopter crashed at high speed, going in
at a low angle.
The National Transportation Safety Board was expected to investigate the
crash.

Police Chief Windham dies at a Fort Worth area hospital
FORT WORTH -- Police Chief Thomas Windham died at 4 p.m. today, apparently from complications stemming from a malignant tumor doctors discovered five months ago, police and city officials said.
Windham, 61, was admitted to Harris Methodist Fort Worth on Jan. 5 for severe dehydration after a cancer treatment. His condition worsened over the past few days, city officials and family friends said.
"The city of Fort Worth owes Tom Windham a debt of gratitude for a remarkable career," Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr said moments after learning about Windham's death.
"It's really sad to see somebody spend a lifetime serving the public get to a time in their lives where they can enjoy retirement and the things that go along with that and it's snatched away," he said.
Windham's wife, Maria, and his family were at his bedside when he died. The Rev. Wayne Day of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth visited with the family at about 3 p.m.
The chief had slipped in and out of consciousness since being admitted to the hospital, sources said. Doctors discovered the tumor between his right lung and rib cage in August.
Hired in December 1985, Windham recently began his 15th year as Fort Worth's top cop, making him one of the longest-serving major metropolitan police chiefs in the country.

01-16-00
SEATTLE: A Washington state trooper is in stable condition following
an accident on northbound Interstate-5 on Sunday morning. Trooper Chris
Coglizer was doing paper work on an abandoned car when another vehicle
hit his cruiser from behind. Witnesses said the car did not appear to
slow down and was driving on the shoulder at the time of the
accident.

"On June 14, 1999 ; Big Daddy Ken Gertz was seriously injured in a
motorcycle accident".
On January 16, 2000, he lost his valiant fight for life."
This morning the Officers of Meriden Conn. lay to rest Sgt. Kenneth Donald
Gertz, An Officer, a father, husband, Marine and loving son and Wild Pig
to the end.
Hundreds of Officers from several neighboring towns were in attendance--
members of the Wild Pigs Motorcycle Club from coast to coast & Canada
attended.
Forever Free. WPFFWP Forever in the wind

Patrolman Francis D. "Frankie" Hemilright
Southern Shores Police Department, NC
Cause of Death: Heart attack
End of Watch: January 14, 2000
Date of Incident: January 14, 2000
Time of Incident: 0218 hours
Age: 61
Tour of Duty: 20 yr
Suspect Info: Unknown
Weapon Used: No weapon
Patrolman Hemilright died after suffering a heart attack as he responded to a
large fight at an area bar. Patrolman Hemilright and approximately 25
officers from neighboring agencies responded to night club where
approximately 200 people were involved in the fight. After checking scene,
Patrolman Hemilright was found slumped over in his cruiser. Officers from a
neighboring agency attempted to revive him using a defibrillator the officers
carry in their cruisers. He was transported to a local hospital where he was
pronounced dead. Patrolman Francis D. "Frankie" Hemilright had been in law
enforcement in the Outer Banks area for over 20 years.

Today I'd like to ask for your prayers for Officer Scott McLaughlin of
the Rochester New York Police Department.
On Tuesday, 1/18 Scott was struck by a car while standing on the
sidewalk investigating a larceny complaint. It appears the driver was having
a seizure of some sort. Scott was thrown into the air, landed on the trunk
of the car and was subsequently thrown onto a cement planter that was on the
sidewalk.
He suffered a fractured skull, brain injuries, and two fractured legs.
He made it through surgery but his condition is Guarded and the doctors have
stated his prognosis is not good as the head injury is devastating.
Scott has been with the R.P.D. 15 years as of March 7th. We were in the
same academy class. If anyone would like to send prayers and well-wishes
directly to me I will see that his family gets them as they are here from
out-of-town. Thank you, I know that I can count on you.

On Friday, January 14, 2000, Little Rock Police Officer Byron Keith Spangler died in a plane crash in Carlisle, Arkansas. Keith was 31 years old and a detective for the departments Burglary squad. Native of Poteau, Oklahoma, he was a police officer with Little Rock since 1994.
Keith was pursuing a private pilots license when the terrible accident occurred. He is survived by his wife, Lia Spangler, and two sons, Corey and Brennen. Keith did not have extra life insurance, and the departments insurance policy will not cover him because he was in a private plane. In order to assist Keiths family, a trust fund has been set up in his name.
Contributions can be made to:
Keith Spangler Memorial Fund
c/o Regions Bank
400 W. Markham
Little Rock, AR 72201

Deputy Salter died after being involved in a single vehicle accident while transporting two prisoners. Deputy Salter was driving the two prisoners to jail when his cruiser struck an oil patch on U.S. Route 1 and flipped over three times. A second deputy's cruiser also flipped when it struck the same oil patch as he was responding to assist Deputy Salter. Deputy Salter was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead approximately two hours later. He had been in law enforcement for five years and is survived by his wife and three young daughters.

Officer Priess was killed when he was struck by a tractor trailer while making a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 27 near the I-69 interchange. Officer Priess had exited his vehicle and was approaching the vehicle he had stopped when the tractor trailer struck his cruiser and then him. He is survived by his wife and two young children.

Date: 27 Jan 2000
Davidson County Deputy Todd Cook, 30 and a 3 year veteran of the S.O. was shot to death at the home of a suspect he was attempting to serve a 2nd degree trespassing warrant on ( as the Sheriff put it "one step above a traffic ticket"). Apparently, after shooting the deputy at least 5 times in the back with a high powered rifle ( he was wearing a vest), the suspect fled and was chased by police. The suspect rammed a roadblock, ran off the road and took his life with the rifle. If I understand the news correctly, the deputy was in the home and may have allowed the suspect to exit his sight to retrieve clothing, etc.- but I'm not really sure about that part- and no certain information has been released. The suspect was also a suspect in a statutory rape case and items to construct pipe bombs and survivalist magazines were found in his home. Deputy Cook leaves behind his parents, a fiancé and an infant with Down's syndrome. He was know in the community for his overwhelming willingness to assist the elderly.

Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000
An off-duty policeman was mistaken for a suspect and shot to death by two fellow officers early Friday. Cornel Young Jr., in plain clothes, saw a suspect confronting the
two officers outside a restaurant and rushed to help them with his gun drawn, Chief Urbano Prignano said.
The officers failed to recognize Young as a policeman, and they ordered him to drop his weapon, Prignano said. When he didn't drop it, they fired, the chief said. Young died a short time later in a hospital.
Young, 29, was the son of the highest-ranking black member of the Providence police force.
The suspect who first confronted police with the weapon will be charged with murder, police said.
Police had been called to the diner after a fight broke out inside, restaurant manager Muhammed Kashk said. Kashk said Young was a regular at the diner, which is open late and is a popular spot for young people after the nightclubs close.

Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000
Sgt. George Dingwall, a 19-year veteran of the department, died after his car went off the road on Route 9.
State police tell News Channel 8 the chase began when Middletown police responded to a report of a burglary on Kelsey St. Officers spotted the suspects and gave chase, following them onto Route 9. Dingwall's car crashed between exits three and four on Route 9. Police are still trying to determine if the suspects hit the officer's car, or whether the officer lost control of the cruiser.
"Troopers who were responding stopped immediately and provided medical aid to the Middletown police officer," State police Lt. Ralph Carpenter said. "Other troopers continued the pursuit down Route 9. As the vehicle proceeded down
Route 9, the suspect vehicle rammed a Middletown police cruiser, continued further down southbound, ended up ramming one of our state police cruisers." State police continued their pursuit down I-95 into Branford. The suspects were apprehended between exits 54-55 after police threw down three "stop-sticks," devices designed to puncture the tires of vehicles.
Dingwall was taken by Life star to Hartford Hospital, where he died hours after the crash. Family members were at the hospital.

DETROIT - After losing thousands of dollars in a day of gambling at Detroit's brand-new casinos, off-duty police Sgt. Solomon Bell tried one last high-stakes hand of blackjack.
He lost.
The decorated officer abruptly stood up from the table, cried out ``Noooooo!,'' drew his gun and put a bullet in his head as other gamblers scrambled for safety.
The death - believed to be the first suicide inside a U.S. gambling hall - has highlighted concerns about casino gambling in a city pinning much of its hopes for revival on three new casinos.
Bell's death on Wednesday was shocking to people who knew him. They said the 38-year-old officer was a jovial fellow with few visible problems - gambling or otherwise.
He joined the Oak Park force about 12 years ago and rose from uniformed patrol officer to investigator, sergeant and patrol supervisor. His service record was unblemished.
In 1988 and 1990, he got merit awards for arrests in stolen-vehicle cases, said Bob Bauer, the department's deputy director.

My name is XXXX. I am a police officer in East Cleveland
Ohio, recently a member of our dept passed due to a bout with cancer/brain
tumor on 01-23-00 Larvett Carlton. officer carlton served as a patrolman for
approx 13 years until his passing. Officer Carlton was well liked by everyone
in the dept and will be greatly missed.

LT Don Naramore of the Vermont State Police died on 01/25/2000 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was also a LT COL with the VT Army National Guard. Don had recently taken a medical retirement.

Detective Lt. Berthold Schlotzhauer,46, member of the Bavarian State Police, Aschaffenburg Police Department, was fatally shot on Friday, January 28 th, in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife Sigrid, 44, and two adult children.
At 10.30 a.m. local time he was called to a domestic violence case with a well known criminal suspect in Aschaffenburg. By entering the house the suspect shot him 4 times and took his former girlfriend as a hostage.
Detective Schlotzhauer was rescued from the stairways and immediately taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. At 2.p.m. the apartment was raided by SWAT to discover, that the suspect had killed his girlfriend before he shot himself. Det. Schlotzhauer's Department can be reached:
mailto:ppufr@polizei.bayern.de

Subject: less we forget
Date: Saturday, June 17, 2000 2:21 PM
Thanks for the WEB Page. I was shot on Jan. 31 2000 . I would like to be
added to the Less we forget web page ....I'm Officer Edward Vargas #1018 of
the SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPT. I was shot in the line of duty on Jan . 31 , 2000....