Law Enforcement is a job like no other, and last year, 128 officers made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. That number is 10% down from 2016 when 143 officers died, marking the second lowest toll in over 50 years. The only other year with fewer deaths was in 2013, when 116 officers were killed in the line of duty.
In 2017, traffic-related incidents claimed the lives of 47 officers while 44 officers were shot and killed. Sixteen officer deaths are attributed to job-related ailments, including heart attacks (10). Seven officers died as a result of physical assaults. Five officers also lost their lives helping others during hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Four officers died as a result of ailments contracted during the 9/11 rescue and recovery efforts. Two officers died in a helicopter crash. Two died in boating accidents. And, one officer was stabbed to death. Nine of the fallen officers were female. Texas had the highest number of officer fatalities (14), including two border patrol agents.
2017 Fallen Texas Officers:
Police Officer Kenneth Copeland
San Marcos Police Department, TX
EOW: Monday, December 4, 2017
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Trooper Damon Allen
Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Highway Patrol, TX
EOW: Thursday, November 23, 2017
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government patch
EOW: Sunday, November 19, 2017
Cause of Death: Unidentified
Senior Trooper Thomas Patrick Nipper
Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Highway Patrol, Texas patch
EOW: Saturday, November 4, 2017
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Police Officer Floyd East, Jr.
Texas Tech University Police Department, Texas patch
EOW: Monday, October 9, 2017
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Police Officer Elias Martinez, Jr.
Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Department, TX
EOW: Sunday, September 17, 2017
Cause of Death: Motorcycle crash
Deputy Constable Mark Diebold
Tarrant County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5, TX
EOW: Thursday, September 7, 2017
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Sergeant Steve Albert Perez
Houston Police Department, TX
EOW: Sunday, August 27, 2017
Cause of Death: Drowned
Corporal Monty D. Platt
West Texas A&M University Police Department, TX
EOW: Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Cause of Death: Animal related
Detective Elise Ybarra
Abilene Police Department, TX
EOW: Sunday, August 6, 2017
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff Jason Fann
Yoakum County Sheriff’s Office, TX
EOW: Saturday, August 5, 2017
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Police Officer Miguel I. Moreno
San Antonio Police Department, TX
EOW: Friday, June 30, 2017
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Corrections Officer Shana Tedder
Texas Department of Criminal Justice, TX
EOW: Friday, June 9, 2017
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Border Patrol Agent Isaac Morales
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Assistant Chief Deputy Clinton Greenwood
Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct 3, TX
EOW: Monday, April 3, 2017
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Detective Jerry Ronald Walker
Little Elm Police Department, TX
EOW: Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Our hearts go out to the families of these fallen officers, the San Antonio Police Department, and everyone else affected by last year’s tragic deaths.