AAMVA honors those law enforcement officers of member jurisdictions who made the ultimate sacrifice while in the performance of their duties. Our deepest respect and sympathy goes out to the families and agencies of those fallen officers.
Trooper James Scott Burns
Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Highway Patrol
Texas
Biographical Info
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Weapon Used: Shotgun; 20 gauge
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Trooper James Burns was shot and killed following a high speed pursuit in Marion County, Texas, at approximately 8:00 pm. The suspect stopped his vehicle, exited and opened fire on Trooper Burns with a shotgun before he was even able to unlatch his seatbelt.
A citizen used the trooper's radio to inform dispatchers that the trooper had been shot near the intersection of Farm-to-Market roads 1969 and 729. The suspect fled the scene and committed suicide two days later.
Trooper Burns had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for 5 years. He is survived by his wife and 6-month-old daughter.
Agency Contact Information
Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol
5805 North Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78752
Trooper Kara M. Kelly-Borgognone
Nevada Highway Patrol
Nevada
End of Watch: Thursday, February 28, 2008
Biographical Info:
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Monday, February 25, 2008
Trooper Kara Kelly-Borgognone succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier while responding to a call involving a possible bomb at a local gas station in Spanish Springs.
Her patrol car collided with another vehicle during the response. She was transported to a local hospital where she remained in grave condition in order to donate her organs.
Trooper Kelly-Borgognone had served with the Nevada Highway Patrol for 2 years and had previously served with the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation for 8 years. She is survived by her husband and two daughters.
Agency Contact Information
Nevada Highway Patrol
555 Wright Way
Carson City, NV 89711
Sergeant Richard C. LeBow
Arkansas State Police
Arkansas
End of Watch: Monday, February 4, 2008
Biographical Info:
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 27 years
Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Monday, February 4, 2008
Sergeant Richard LeBow was killed in an automobile accident on I-40 near Mulberry, at approximately 10:25 am.
His patrol car collided head-on with an oncoming tractor trailer.
Sergeant LeBow had served with the agency for 27 years. he is survived by his wife, two sons and mother.
Agency Contact Information
Arkansas State Police
1 State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, AR 72209
Lance Corporal James D. Haynes
South Carolina Highway Patrol
South Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, February 1, 2008
Biographical Info:
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Friday, February 1, 2008
Lance Corporal James Haynes was killed in an automobile accident on Highway 33 while responding to another accident that had occured on I-26 in Orangeburg County at approximately 3:30 am.
His vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree as he responded to the call.
Corporal Haynes had served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and two young children.
Agency Contact Information
South Carolina Highway Patrol
10311 Wilson Boulevard
Blythewood, SC 29016
Trooper Daniel Barrett
Indiana State Police
Indiana
End of Watch: Sunday, January 27, 2008
Biographical Info:
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 6 months
Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Sunday, January 27, 2008
Trooper Daniel Barrett was killed in an automobile accident on U.S. 31 in Fulton County at approximately 10:45 pm. His patrol car left the roadway and struck a tree on the driver's door, causing him to suffer fatal injuries.
Trooper Barrett had only served with the Indiana State Police for six months.
Agency Contact Information
Indiana State Police
General Headquarters
Public Affairs Division
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Constable Douglas Scott
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Federal
Biographical Info:
Age: 20
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: 54592
Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, November 5, 2007
Incident Location: Nunavut
Suspect Info: Apprehended
Constable Scott was shot and killed after responding to a report of a drunk driver on the remote Baffin Island in Nunavut shortly before midnight. Dispatchers lost contact with Constable Scott shortly after he radioed that he was responding to the incident.
A second constable responded to the scene and located Constable Scott's body.
An RCMP Swat team was flown to the location and the suspect surrendered approximately four hours after the shooting.
Constable Scott had served with the agency for 1 year.
Agency Contact Information
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R2
Phone: (519) 640-7267
Trooper Brian W. Linn
West Virginia State Police
West Virginia
End of Watch: Friday, November 2, 2007
Biographical Info:
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Friday, November 2, 2007
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Trooper Brian Linn was killed in an automobile accident while responding to assist in a foot pursuit in Kearneysville. His vehicle went out of control and struck a utility pole.
He was transported to Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Virginia, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Trooper Linn had served with the agency for 2 years and was assigned to the Charles Town Detachment. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Agency Contact Information
West Virginia State Police
725 Jefferson Road
South Charleston, WV 25309
Phone: (304) 746-2100
Trooper Zachariah Templeton
Colorado State Patrol
Colorado
End of Watch: Friday, October 12, 2007
Biographical Info:
Age 27
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: Thursday, October 11, 2007
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Trooper Zachariah Templeton succumbed to injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle.
Trooper Templeton had stopped on the side of I-76 to help a man load two plastic farm chemical tanks back onto a trailer that they had falled off of. As he was loading the containers, a vehicle heading east, left the roadway and struck the trooper.
Trooper Templeton had served with the Colorado State Patrol for 4 years. He is survived by his 3-year old daughter.
Constable Christopher John Worden
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Constable Worden was shot and killed while responding
to a complaint at a home in Hay River, Northwest
Territories.
Dispatchers lost radio contact with him after he arrived a
at the scene, and then sent additional units to check on him. The responding constables found Constable Worden suffering from gunshot wounds.
Constable Worden had served with the RCMP for 5 years. He is survived by his wife and eight-month-old child.
Trooper David A. Graham
Montana Highway Patrol
Montana
End of Watch: Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Biographical Info:
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 2 months
Trooper David Graham was killed in an automobile accident on Highway 2, in Kalispell, while on patrol. An oncoming pickup truck crossed into his lane and struck his patrol car head-on.
Trooper Graham has served with the Montana Highway Patrol for 14 months. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Agency Contact Information
Montana Highway Patrol
2550 Prospect Avenue
P.O. Box 201419
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: (406) 444-3780
Officer Doug Scott Russell - California Highway Patrol
California Highway State Patrol
California
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Biographical Info:
Age: Not Available
Tour of duty: 22 years
Officer Doug Russell was struck and killed while deploying a spike strip to stop a vehicle involved in a pursuit.
The pursuit began after police were dispatched on a welfare check on a person in a parked brown, four-door sedan. As officers approached, the driver sped off, tossing items out of his vehicle. A police pursuit ensued.
Officer Russell was deploying the spike strip when the car swerved and hit him. He was airlifted to the Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
After striking the officer, the vehicle continued until officers were able to spin the car and stop it. The driver was taken into custody.
The 22-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol officer is survived by his wife.
Patrolman Christopher Mirabal
New Mexico State Police
New Mexico
End of Watch: Thursday, June 14, 2007
Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident
Date of Incident: Thursday, June 14, 2007
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Mirabel was killed in a motocycle accided on North Scenic Avenue in Alamorgodo. His department motocycle struck a curb and then a tractor that was parked on the roadway.
Patrolman Mirabal had served with the agency for 9 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
Agency Contact Information
New Mexico State Police
PO Box 1628
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Officer Robert Franklin Dickey
California Highway Patrol
California
End of Watch: Sunday, June 10, 2007
Biographical Info
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile Accident
Date of Incident: Sunday, June 10, 2007
Weapon Used: N/A
Suspect Info: N/A
Officer Robert Dickey was killed in an automobile on I-8 while on patrol in Imperial County.
It is believed that a tire on his patrol car blew out, causing him to lose control of the vehicle. The patrol car left the roadway and flipped several times.
He was flown to Yuma Regional Medical Center, in Arizona, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Officer Dickey had served with the California Highway Patrol for 5 years. He is survivied by his wife and one-year-old son.
Agency Contact Information
California Highway Patrol
PO Box 942898
Sacramento, CA 94298
Phone: (916) 657-7261
May 22, 2007 - Agent Jose Fontanez-Correa - Puerto Rico Police Department
Agent Jose Fontanez-Correa was shot and killed as he and other officers attempted to arrest a suspect in a high narcotics trafficking area.
One of the suspects fled into nearby woods and was pursued by Agent Fontanez-Correa. The suspect opened fire, striking him once.
The suspect was taken into custody a short time later. Agent Fontanez-Correa was transported to a hospital in San Juan where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Agent Fontanez-Correa had surved with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 8 years. He is survived by his wife and three children.
May 13, 2007 - Agent Rafael Santana-Cruz - Puerto Rico Police Department
Agent Rafael Santana-Cruz was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect while off duty.
He was returning home after seeing a friend when he observed a man holding a gun. Agent Santana-Cruz identified himself and attempted to arrest the man but was shot seven times.
The suspect was arrested a short time later and charged with first degree murder.
Agent Santana-Cruz had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 6 years. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Trooper David Brinkerhoff
New York State Police
New York
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Biographical Info
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 8 year, 6 months
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Date of Incident: Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Weapon Used: Officer's rifle
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Trooper David Brinkerhoff was accidentally shot and killed by another officer during an intense gun battle while taking part in a manhunt for an assailant who had shot and wonded a New York State Trooper the previous day.
On April 24, 2007, a New York State Trooper stopped a stolen vehicle at the Sunoco Country Store located on Main Street in Margaretville. As he approached the vehicle, the suspect opened fire, striking the trooper on his vest, and then fleeing into the woods. Members of the New York State Police, Delaware County Sheriff's Department and several other surrounding agencies mobilized to search for the suspect.
The following day, Trooper Brinkerhoff and six members of the Mobile Response Team were searching for the suspect in a home on Cemetery Road in Margaretville after a burglar alarm signal was received by local police. Trooper Brinkerhoff and another Trooper entered a room on the second floor of the home when the suspect opened fire, striking Trooper Brinkerhoff in the chest. That round was deflected by his bullet resistant vest. An intense, close quarters, gun battle ensued between the suspect and four Troopers. During that exchange of gunfire, one Trooper was wounded by the suspect and Trooper Brinkerhoff was accidentally shot and killed by another Trooper. The remaining Troopers pulled their fellow officers to safety and withdrew from the house.
Police surrounded the home and four hour standoff, police again approached the home, firing tear gas. As they gained entry, the house began to burn and within minutes was fully engulfed in flames. Police were unable to gain entry into the home due to the fire. After extinguishing the fire, officers found that the suspect had been fatally wounded in the earlier gun battle and had died.
Trooper Brinkerhoff had served with the New York State police for 8 1/2 years. He is survived by his wife and seven month old daughter. He was assigned to the Mobile Response Team.
Agency Contact Information
New York State Police
Public Information Office
1220 Washington Ave. Bldg 22
Albany, NY 12226
Phone (518) 783-3211
Police Officer Wayne Pitt
Metropolitan Police Department
District of Columbia
End of Watch: Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Biographical Info:
Age: 57
Tour of Duty: 24 years
Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Friday, April 6, 2007
Officer Pitt succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when he was dragged by his patrol car.
Officer Pitt was providing traffic control for a religious procession and had stopped traffic at an intersection. As the procession passed Officer Pitt observed a scooter that was about to enter into the path of the procession and he exited his patrol car to stop it. He re-entered the patrol car when he realized that it was still in gear. The patrol car struck the scooter, another vehicle and a tree.
He was transported to a local hospital where he remained until succumbing to his injuries.
Officer Pitt had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 4 years and had previously served as a police officer in North Carolina for 20 years.
Agency Contact Information
Metropolitan Police Department
300 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-727-4383
Trooper Jose A. Rosado
New York State Police
New York
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Biographical Info
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Trooper Jose Rosado was killed in an automobile accident on Route 104 in Suffolk County, New York.
His patrol SUV struck a patch of black ice, causing it to cross into oncoming traffic. His vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the passenger side, killing him instantly.
Trooper Rosado had served with the New York State Police for 18 years. He is survived by his son and daughter.
Agency Contact Information
New York State Police
Public Information Office
1220 Washington Ave Bldg 22
Albany, NY 12226
Phone: (518) 783-3211
Sergeant Nicholas G. Sottile
Florida Highway Patrol
Florida
End of Watch: Friday, January 12, 2007
Biographical Info:
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: 24 years
Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, January 12, 2007
Weapon Used: Gun, Unknown type
Suspect Info: Apprehended
Sergeant Nicholas Sottile was shot and killed during a traffic stop at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Whitmore Road in Highlands County.
During the stop one of the two occupants produced a handgun and shot Sergeant Sottile in the chest.
Despite being mortally wounded, Sergeant Sottile was able to notify dispatchers that he had been shot. He was transported to Florida Hospital Lake Placid where he was pronounced dead approximately one hour later.
Both assailants fled the scene but were arrested early the following morning following a massive manhunt.
Sergeant Sottile had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 24 years and was assigned to Troop F in Bradenton. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son. His son also serves as a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol.
Agency Contact Information
Florida Highway Patrol
Neil Kirkman Building
2900 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 617-2301
Trooper Calvin W. Jenks
Tennessee Highway Patrol
Tennessee
End of Watch: Saturday, January 6, 2007
Biographical Info
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 2 years, 8 months
Badge: 4465
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday January 6, 2007
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown Type
Suspect Info: Apprehended
Trooper Calvin Jenks was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop near the intersection of Highways 14 and 54 in Tipton County.
During the stop, Trooper Jenks smelled marijuana from the vehicle and was told by the driver that there were drugs in the center console. When he asked the passenger if he had any drugs, the man produced a handgun and opened fire, striking Trooper Jenks once in the head and once in the body.
Both men fled the scene but were arrested 13 hours later in Nashville, approximately 200 miles from where the shooting occurred.
Trooper Jenks' body was found next to his patrol car by two hunters who were in the area. His patrol car's video camera recorded the entire incident.
Trooper Jenks had served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for almost 3 years. He is survived by his wife, parents, four brothers, a sister, grandparents and a large extended family.
Agency Contact Information
Tennessee Highway Patrol
1150 Foster Avenue
Nashville, TN 37249
Phone: (615) 251-5175
Trooper Jonathan K. Leonard
Kentucky State Police
Died: Dec. 19, 2006
Biographical Info
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number 750
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Trooper Leonard was killed in an automobile accident on US 119 in Pike County while responding to a domestic violence call.
Trooper Leonard had served with the Kentucky State Police for 3 years.
Agency Contact Information
Kentucky State Police
919 Versailles Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Senior Trooper Robert A. Hill, Sr.
Virginia State Police
Died: Nov. 24, 2006
Senior Trooper Robert Hill, 42, was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop on Route 58 in Southampton County.
As he was speaking with the driver of the vehicle, another car drifted from the travel lane and struck him and the vehicle.
Senior Trooper Hill had served with the Virginia State Police for 19 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
Trooper William McClendon
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Died: Oct. 1, 2006
Trooper William McClendon was killed when his patrol car collided with a tractor trailer rig on the Will Rogers Turnpike near Claremore. Trooper McClendon died about 1:20 PM from his injuries.
The tractor-trailer driver was injured and was taken by helicopter to a Tulsa hospital, where he also died from his injuries.
Agency Contact Information
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
3600 N. Martin Luther King Ave
PO Box 11415
Oklahoma City, OK 73136
Phone: (405) 425-2424
*Please contact the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Sgt. Dale R. Holcomb
Ohio State Highway Patrol
Died: Sept. 28, 2006
Sgt. Holcomb was killed in a triple-fatality crash. Also Killed in the two-vehicle crash was Tpr. Joshua P. Risner and a motorist..
Sgt. Dale R. Holcomb was a 21-year Patrol veteran. He is survivied by his wife Connie, and children Tyler, 17 and Trent, 15.
Trooper Joshua P. Risner
Ohio State Highway Patrol
Died: Sept. 28, 2006
Tpr. Risner was killed in a triple-fatality crash. Also killed in the two-vehicle crash was Sgt. Dale R. Holcomb and a motorist.
Tpr. Risner was a seven-year Patrol veteran. He is survied by his wife Bridget, and children Joshua, 7, and Paige, 5. His father, John Risner, is a retired trooper who worked at the Jackson Patrol Post, and is currently working as a motor vehicle inspector for the Patrol.
Trooper Joseph A. Longobardo
New York State Police
Died: Sept. 3, 2006
Trooper Joseph Longobardo succumbed to a gunshot wound inflicted when he and another trooper were ambushed while searching for an escapee. The escapee had shot and wounded another New York State trooper during a traffic stop.
The escapee was the focus of a manhunt since the initial shooting and had been receiving assistance from friends and family in an effort to evade arrest. Trooper Longobardo and his fellow trooper were conducting surveillance on the home of a relative of the escapee when the escapee shot them both with a high powered rifle. The wounded trooper was shot in the back, with the bullet penetrating his vest and exiting from his abdomen. Trooper Longobardo suffered a severed artery when he was shot in the leg.
Both troopers were transported to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo. Trooper Longobardo underwent a leg amputation surgery in an attempt to save his life. However, he succumbed to the wound the day following the surgery.
Corporal Michael Douglas Young
Georgia State Patrol
Lieutenant Gary Dudley
Indiana State Police
Officer Brent Clearman
California Highway Patrol
Died: August 6, 2006
Officer Clearman, 33, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while conducting a traffic stop on I-880, near the 66th Avenue on-ramp, in Oakland.
Officer Clearman suffered severe injuries when he was struck by the vehicle. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The driver of the vehicle who struck him fled the scene. A second car, also believed to be involved in the incident, also fled.
Officer Clearman was a US Marine Corps veteran of the War on Terrorism, where he served as a sniper. He had served with the California Highway Patrol for 16 months. He is survived by his wife.
Agency Contact Information
California Highway Patrol
PO Box 942898
Sacramento, CA 94298
Phone: (916) 657-7261
* Please contact the agency for funeral information
Trooper Paul F. Barry
Massachusetts State Police
Died: June 15, 2006
Trooper Paul Barry, 39, was killed when his north-bound patrol car drifted into the breakdown lane of I-495 and struck a parked dump truck in Wrentham. The truck was unoccupied at the time.
Trooper Barry had served with the Massachusetts State Police for 6 years. He is survived by his wife and seven children.
Agency Contact Information
Massachusetts State Police
470 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: (508) 820-2300
Patrolman James Archuleta
New Mexico State Police
Died: June 4, 2006
Patrolman James Archuleta, 27, was killed in an automobile accident when his patrol car struck a cow on US 84 near Espanola, New Mexico, at approximately 11:00 pm.
He was responding to a local hospital to investigate a shooting when the accident occurred. The impact caused his patrol car to overturn and he was ejected from the vehicle.
Patrolman Archuleta was a member of the US Marine Corps Reserves and had served with the New Mexico State Police for 2 years. He is survived by his daughter, son, and fiancee.
Sergeant Rodney Todd Miller
Illinois State Police
Died: May 12, 2006
Sergeant Rodney T. Miller, 40, was killed in a traffic accident near Bondville, Illinois.
Sergeant Miller was driving west on Champaign County Road when his car was struck by a southbound car. The other driver was airlifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana, where she was treated and released.
Sergeant Miller is a sixteen-year veteran of the Illinois State Police. He is survived by his wife, two sons, parents, and sister.
Trooper Eduardo Chavez
Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol
Died: May 2, 2006
Trooper Eduardo Chavez, 30, was killed in an automobile accident on U.S. 83 while responding to backup another trooper who had requested emergency assistance while making a narcotics arrest.
As Trooper Chavez was approaching the scene of the incident, his patrol car went out of control and overturned near the Hidalgo County / Starr County line.
He was flown to Mission Regional Medical Center where he died shortly after arrival.
The officer who had requested backup was Trooper Chavez's brother.
Trooper Chavez had served with the Texas Highway Patrol for 3 years and had served in law enforcement for 7 years. He is survived by his expectant wife.
Sergeant Gerard W. Burke Jr.
District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department
Died: March 23, 2006
Sergeant Gerard Burke suffered a fatal heart attack while following what he believed to be a stolen vehicle on 11th Street, NW.
Although off duty, Sergeant Burke noticed the vehicle and called dispatch to request backup in order to stop it. It was determined that Sergeant Burke had suffered a heart attack, which in turn caused the crash. The vehicle he was following was reported stolen three hours after the incident and recovered early the following morning.
Sergeant Burke had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 16 years. He is survived by his fiancée, parents, and two sisters.
Trooper Andrew Sperr
New York State Police
Died: March 1, 2006
Trooper Andrew Sperr, 33, was shot and killed while investigating a bank robbery in the town of Big Flats.
Trooper Sperr was canvassing the area around the bank that had been robbed. During the search, Trooper Sperr came upon the getaway car used in the robbery. As he approached the vehicle two suspects inside opened fire. Trooper Sperr was able to return fire, striking both suspects before being mortally wounded.
Both suspects fled the location. One was apprehended at a local hospital when he entered to receive medical aid for his gunshot wounds. The second suspect was apprehended after fleeing to a local motel and then calling police for medical aid. Both suspects are charged with aggravated murder and first degree murder.
Trooper Sperr had served with the New York State Police for 10 years.
Officer Gregory John Bailey
California Highway Patrol
Died: Feb. 25, 2006
Officer Gregory Bailey, 36, was struck and killed by a drunk driver while conducting a traffic stop on I-15 in Victorville.
He had approached the stopped vehicle on the passenger side to speak with the driver. As he did so, another vehicle traveled onto the shoulder at a high rate of speed and struck Officer Bailey's motorcycle, the stopped vehicle, and the officer.
The vehicle struck with such force that the stopped vehicle was pushed back into the freeway and overturned. All three parties were flown to a local hospital where Officer Bailey succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Bailey had served with the California Highway Patrol for 10 years, and was assigned to the Rancho Cucamungo office. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons, and parents.
Trooper Kevin C. Manion
Virginia State Police
Died: Feb. 18, 2006
Trooper Kevin Manion, 27, was accidentally shot and killed while assisting another trooper investigate a single vehicle automobile accident on Route 649 in Clarke County.
The automobile accident occurred when a pickup truck went into a ditch and overturned. During the accident investigation a rifle inside the pickup truck discharged as the pickup was being moved. The round struck Trooper Manion in the chest in an area not protected by his vest.
Trooper Manion succumbed to his wound after being flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax County.
The truck's two occupants were arrested at the scene on alcohol related charges stemming from the automobile accident. Investigation revealed that the rifle had been stolen earlier in the day during a residential burglary. The driver of the pickup truck was subsequently charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.
Trooper Manion had served with the Virginia State Police for just under 3 years, and was assigned to the Area 13 Office in Winchester.
Officer Earl Scott
California Highway Patrol
Died: Feb. 17, 2006
Officer Earl Scott, 36, was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on Highway 99 in Stanislaus County at approximately 0440 hours.
Officer Scott stopped a vehicle that he had observed speeding on northbound Highway 99, just south of Hammett Avenue. Officer Scott approached the vehicle and obtained the registration card from the driver. As Officer Scott walked back to his patrol car the suspect opened fire, fatally striking Officer Scott in the head. A passing motorist, who was also heading north, saw the officer falling to the ground and the suspect's car speeding away. The witness exited the freeway and turned around, returning to the scene where he called law enforcement on a cell phone. When backup officers arrived they were able to identify the suspect's car by the registration that was still in Officer Scott's hand.
The suspect later walked into the Stockton Police headquarters and turned himself in. He was arrested and charged with murder. The suspect has an extensive criminal record, including arrests for robbery and assaulting a police officer.
Officer Scott had served with the California Highway Patrol for 5 years. He is survived by his father, stepmother, and sister. His father and two uncles all retired as sergeants from the California Highway Patrol. One of Officer Scott's cousins currently serves as a sergeant with the agency.
Trooper Steven R. Smith
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Died: Feb. 9, 2006
Trooper Steven Smith succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained almost 7 years earlier when he was shot in the neck while struggling with a suspect.
Another trooper and an officer from the Grove Police Department had responded to a cemetery to investigate reports of a murder. Shortly after arriving at the scene they were confronted by an armed man who held them at bay. Trooper Smith and the Delaware County sheriff responded to the scene to backup the officers.
As the officers were negotiating with the man, he set his handgun down on a table. Trooper Smith and the sheriff took the opportunity to try and subdue the man. During the ensuing struggle, the suspect was able to grab his gun and fire it several times, wounding both officers. The man then committed suicide.
Trooper Smith's neck wound rendered him a quadriplegic. He was forced to take a medical retirement the following year and remained in a nursing home until passing away as a result of the wound.
At the time of his medical retirement, Trooper Smith had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 5 years. He is survived by his two children.
Trooper Billy Jack Zachary
Texas Highway Patrol
Died: Jan. 1, 2006
Trooper Billy Zachary, 32, was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle while making a traffic stop on two vehicles on I-20 near Monahans, Texas.
He was returning to his patrol car after speaking to one of the drivers when a third vehicle veered from the travel lane and struck him.
Trooper Zachary had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for just over one year. He is survived by his wife and 3-month-old daughter.