The man accused of killing Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Lopez is in the Maricopa Medical Center, under arrest, and charged with first degree murder. Neven Garcia, Junior was shot in the shoulder during a gun battle with police Friday night in Arizona City. Police say it all started when Deputy Lopez went to Garcia's home to serve a warrant for aggravated assault. Police say Garcia pulled a gun and shot Lopez in the neck and
chest. Lopez died from his wounds. Police say Garcia ran, got into a gun battle with officers, then took a neighbor hostage for two hours. Garcia stayed in the neighbor's home until 8:30 Saturday morning. After 13 hours in the home, SWAT officers started firing tear gas into the home, forcing Garcia to surrender. Today, Jason Lopez' mother went shopping for something she never expected she would have to buy for her 26 year old son: his casket. "It was a dangerous job and he knew what could happen." Linda Bowdish is Jason Lopez' mother. "He loved his job. He was proud of what he did. I didn't like it, but he said, 'mom, this is what I want to do and you gotta be strong if anything happens to me out there." Deputy Lopez' mother and wife found out Jason had been killed when they got that dreaded call from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office Friday evening. The caller was Jason's father. Linda Bowdish says Jason idolized his dad. "He's been with the Pinal County Sheriff's Department for 23 years and Jason wanted to follow in his footsteps." Jason leaves behind two little boys who may one day decide to follow in their father's footsteps. Linda Bowdish says she'll make sure her grandsons know their father died trying to protect the people of Arizona City, and doing what he loved. "He's a good person, a good son a good husband and a very good daddy. He loved his babies."
Funds for Deputy Jason Lopez :
The Charitable Fund for Jason Lopez at Bank One. Account 323-505-23.
The Jason Lopez Memorial Fund at the Pinal County Federal Credit Union.
Account 29924.
200 W. 20th Street
P.O. Box 969
Florence, AZ 85232
Phone: (520) 868-5639
(520) 868-4881
Toll Free 1-800-221-4179
Fax: (520) 868-0142

A close associate of ours at the Silverthorne P.D. died on duty Sunday morning. Ryan Cunningham, a patrol officer with the Vail Police Department, died while investigating an accident near Vail pass. The highway was covered with ice at the time of the accident when an out of control semi began sliding in the direction of the accident. Ryan first assured his fellow officer and those in the stopped cars were safe. He then ran to the left shoulder of the overpass and attempted to save himself by jumping over a concrete retaining wall. He fell sixty feet. The Vail and Silverthorne police departments have always worked very closely with each other, attending each others trainings and assisting with large events. We have always valued our close working relationship with the Vail police department and we will miss very much our brother officer. Our sincerest condolences go out to Ryans family and to our friends and colleagues at the Vail police department.

Senior Trooper Cottle was killed in an automobile accident when his cruiser slammed into the rear of a tractor trailer on I-35 just north of Waco during morning fog. The semi had just been involved in an accident with another tractor trailer and was blocking a travel lane when the accident occurred. Trooper Cottle, who was assigned to the Motor-vehicle Inspection Section, was on his way to testify in a court case when the accident occurred. Trooper Cottle had been with the agency for almost 30 years.

It saddens me to inform the list that Kansas City, Missouri lost an officer yesterday, May 9. Officer Craig Schultz, 36 years old and an 11 year veteran of the KCPD lost his life yesterday in a single vehicle accident. He was responding to an accident on his motorcycle when the emergency alarm on his radio sounded. He was discovered a few minutes later on I-29 DOA. Details are not clear but there was some speculation that his bike hit some fuel oil of some type and he went down and struck a guard rail. Officer Schultz leaves a wife and two daughters. Arrangements have yet to be announced.

Sergeant Berry was shot and killed while he and two other officers struggled with a burglary suspect. The officers had responded to a residence after neighbors reported suspicious activity. The officers discovered a stolen truck in the backyard and searched the house. During the first search they did not locate anyone so they started to process the stolen truck. The officers started searching the house again and discovered a man hiding in a bedroom. When they attempted to arrest him he began to struggle. They were able to get one handcuff on the suspect when he suddenly grabbed one of the officer's handguns out of its holster. The deputy immediately sprayed the suspect with OC spray but he was able to fire the weapon, striking Sergeant Berry four times and the second deputy twice. The third deputy on the scene returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect. The suspect was being searched for since May 14, 2001, for ramming a cruiser during a police chase. Sergeant Berry was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Sergeant Berry had been with the agency for 20 years.

This morning, 05/22/2001, Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Dennis, a 13 year veteran was killed after responding to a Disturbance. He was shot in the head by the suspect. The suspect has been caught, showing no remorse. Deputy Dennis was shot and killed by a suspect after responding to a domestic disturbance between a brother and sister. The brother had taken the sister's car the previous night and had returned it with damage the next morning. Responding officers encountered the suspect several blocks away and while attempting to arrest him a struggle ensued. During the struggle Deputy Dennis was able to get a handcuff on the suspect but the man was able to grab a concealed handgun and shot Deputy Dennis head. Deputy Dennis was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect fled the scene but was arrested later in the afternoon with the handcuff still on his wrist and Deputy Dennis' weapon in his possession. He leaves two children and a wife.

Officer Vasquez was shot and killed while patrolling a housing complex during an off-duty security assignment at approximately 2230 hours. He and three other officers had just arrested five suspects on narcotics violations and were walking them to the leasing office. Two officers were escorting the first three suspects and the other two officers were walking behind the first group, escorting the other two suspects. One of the suspects in the second group suddenly pulled out a concealed handgun and opened fire on the officers in the front, striking Officer Vasquez in the head, killing him instantly. The second officer,  Enrique Duharte-Tur, was shot in the chest and critically wounded. The other officers returned fire, wounding the suspect. Officer Vasquez had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his wife and two young children.

A decorated 25-year Paterson police officer, reported missing from his shift Wednesday afternoon, was found shot to death at his rental property two hours later, apparently by a tenant who also killed himself, authorities said. It was unclear what preceded the shooting deaths of police Sgt. Enrico "Rick" Venditte, 47, of Kinnelon, and his tenant, Eugene Goldsmith, 56. But neighbors of the apartment house, at 224-226 Clinton St., said the officer -- who had recently bought the building -- wanted to evict Goldsmith, who had lived alone on the second floor for about 20 years. "He [Venditte] said the place was nasty," said Mike Jackson, who lives across the street from the shooting scene and said he often spoke to Venditte. Police suspected something was wrong when they lost touch with Venditte who was in his black "supervisor" patrol car, at 4:15 p.m., authorities said. At 6:30 p.m. -- an hour after Venditte was to end his shift -- officers showed up at the two-story brick apartment house on Clinton Street, Police Chief Lawrence Spagnola said.Venditte was found shot dead on the floor of a front room, his service weapon holstered, Spagnola said. Goldsmith was found dead in the rear, near a gun that Spagnola described only as a "high-caliber rifle." Spagnola and Barnes declined to say what Venditte was doing at the house. "The entire matter is under investigation," Spagnola said. Venditte was a 25-year veteran who was promoted to sergeant in 1996, the year he received the department's Medal of Merit. He and his wife, Veronica, have an 11-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter, authorities said. It was the first death of an officer by gunshot in the city since 1934, Spagnola said.

Deputy Warner passed away from complications after a surgery for an injury received while on duty six years earlier. His knee was wounded in 1995 after being punched and kicked by a suspect during an arrest attempt. Deputy Warner had undergone three surgeries to his knee since the incident. Shortly after the last surgery he slipped into a coma and he passed away two days later. Deputy Warner had received both the Medal of Lifesaving and Medal of Courage awards from his department in the same year for two different heroic actions. He was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had been with the agency for 13 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Officer Mitchell was shot and killed while attempting to enter a mobile home of a barricaded man at approximately 0600 hours. Officer Mitchell and six other SWAT team members were fired upon when they entered the house. Officer Mitchell was struck in the side just above his vest and a second officer was also shot but his vest stopped the round. Officers had originally responded to the home after reports of gunfire following a domestic dispute. After barricading himself in the home the man fired shots from the house throughout the night. The suspect eventually surrendered approximately four hours after shooting Officer Mitchell. Officer Mitchell had been with the agency for five years and is survived by his wife and 2-year-old son.

Deputy McLane was killed in an automobile accident while attempting to locate an armed, drunk man who was threatening to harm another person. The suspect was reported to be driving to a residence and Deputy McLane was attempting to locate the suspect and stop him. Deputy McLane spotted a vehicle fitting the description and began to give chase on a curvy road. His vehicle slid off of the roadway and struck a tree on the driver's side door. Deputy McLane had been with the agency for nine years.

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA ... An Indiana State Trooper is in the hospital after he was shot in the line of duty. Trooper Bruce Johnson was off-duty when answered a disturbance call at an apartment complex. Johnson encountered a tenant who was shooting off fireworks. A Fort Wayne officer arrived to back Johnson and the tenant went inside the apartment. A shootout began and Johnson was shot in the head. Johnson is in critical condition in an area hospital. Another Fort Wayne officer sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder. The gunman was shot and killed by the officers.

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 24, 2001
"Officer-Involved Shooting in West Valley"
Los Angeles - On Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at approximately 2:44 P.M., Communications Division broadcast that Robbery-Homicide Detectives were requesting back-up assistance on a robbery suspect at Sherman Way and Wilbur Avenue. West Valley Patrol Officers Jude Bella, 28 years of age, 6 years with the Department, Craig Hewitt, 28 years of age, 5 years with the Department, Jeff Nuttall, 28 years of age with 5 years with the department, David Fatool, 31 years of age, with 5 years on the Department, along with West Valley Detectives, David Javier, 41 years of age, 15 years with the Department, Randal Cordobes, 40 years of age, with 7 years with the Department, and Officer Mark Carmona, 36 years of age, 6 years with the Department, responded to the request. The detectives and Officer Carmona responded in the same vehicle. Robbery Homicide detectives pointed out the suspect, who was driving away, to the responding officers. Officers Bella and Hewitt activated their vehicle emergency lights to detain the suspect. The suspect accelerated and the officers and detectives pursued the suspect to the intersection of Balboa Boulevard and Balboa Place. The suspect fired multiple gunshots from a handgun at Officers Nuttall and Fatool, wounding Officer Nuttall. Officer Nuttall and Bella returned gunfire at the suspect. The suspect sped away, north on Balboa Place, with the officers and detectives in pursuit. The suspect fired multiple gunshots at the pursuing officers. The suspect drove to Roscoe Boulevard and Home Depot Place, where his vehicle became disabled. The suspect exited the vehicle through the driver's door window, while firing at the officers. The officers and detectives returned gunfire, wounding and incapacitating the suspect. Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics pronounced the suspect dead at the scene. Officer Nuttall was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released. The suspect was identified as Anthony Almandarez, male Hispanic, 33 years of age, and a resident of Reseda. Almandarez was wanted for a series of fast food restaurant robberies.
Critical Incident Investigation Division, Officer-Involved Shooting Section detectives are investigating the incident.

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 17, 2001
"Officer-Involved Shooting in Northeast Area"
Los Angeles - On Tuesday, May 15, 2001, at approximately 6:05 p.m., a Northeast Area Patrol Officer was patrolling in the area of Riverdale and Blake Avenues. She observed a male Hispanic driving a vehicle. She
recognized the individual, from a "Crime Alert Bulletin," as a suspect wanted for attempted murder of a California Highway Patrol Officer. The suspect's name was Armando Padernal, 19 years of age. The officer drove behind the suspect. He accelerated and attempted to evade the officer. The officer pursued the suspect a short distance. The suspect stopped and ran from the vehicle. The officer broadcast the suspect's direction
of travel and responding officers observed him run through the houses at Riverdale and Crystal Avenues. A containment perimeter was established and canine units were summoned and began a search. The suspect was
located hiding in a trash can at the rear of a residence in the 2400 block of Meadowvale Avenue. The suspect was ordered to surrender. He refused and began shooting at officers with two handguns. Officer John Harrison, 37 years of age, 12 years with the Department, was wounded by the suspect's gunfire. Metropolitan Division Officers Hans Almaraz, 32 years of age, 11 years with the Department; Leonard Perez, 36 years of age, 11 years with the Department; Yvette Tuning, 29 years of age, 6 years with the Department and Sergeant Scott Defoe, 35 years of age, 11 years with the Department returned gunfire, fatally wounding the suspect. During the attack, the suspect shot Officer Harrison who sustained a through-and-through shot to his right leg above his right knee and a gunshot wound to his right hand middle finger. Officer Harrison was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his wounds and admitted in satisfactory condition. The suspect, who was positively identified as the attempted murder suspect, Armando Padernal, had an additional warrant for his arrest for a parole violation. Three (3) handguns were recovered from Padernal at the scene of the incident. The Critical Incident Investigation Division, Officer-Involved Shooting Section detectives are investigating
the incident.

Subject: Another Officer Down!
Date: Wednesday, May 23, 2001 4:39 PM
I know you don't know me but I thought you might like to post this. I  don't know if K-9 Officers qualify, but here is the story. On May 20.2001 at  6:32 am, Officers From the Boynton Beach Florida Police Department, Officers  Stewart Steele, Robert Thomas, and Zeus responded to an alarm at a local Pharmacy, with Officer Steele being the first on the scene noticed a window smashed out of one of the doors and a car backed up to the door. In a matter of seconds Officers Thomas and "Zeus" arrived. The pair checked and found an unlocked door at which time "Zeus" was brought from the patrol car, Thomas unleashed "Zeus" and the pair entered. "Rob told me, he's alerting; watch, "Steele remembered. "He alerted one more time when the shots 
rang out. "To make a long story short Officer Thomas was shot in the right pinkie finger and abdomen and "Zeus" was gravely wounded. Steele said, "I could see Rob was hit, he retreated towards me. As he was coming toward me, "Zeus" flew past him in the other direction." A note left on a wreath in the department lobby read, " A dedicated partner, devoted companion and loyal friend of officer Robert Thomas will be sadly missed, forever honored but never forgotten."