Protecting The Palm Beaches, A Tribute to Those Who Serve and Sacrifice – June 7th, 2024
Bottom Line: This weekly feature is designed to recognize those who've paid the ultimate price in service and to serve as a reminder of what our police risk to keep us safe. After years of increases in LODs, including multiple record years, thankfully 2023 produced the fewest line-of-duty deaths in the 2000’s. Unfortunately, that progress hasn’t been sustained this year. LODs are 8% higher year-to-date.
- We lost 123 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2023 including 3 in Florida
- We’ve lost 64 heroes in the line-of-duty in 2024 including 1 in Florida
- Through May 164 law enforcement officers had been shot in the line of duty, a decrease of 1% over a year ago.
We’ve lost these heroes since the previous update.
- In Connecticut, Trooper Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed while conducting a traffic stop. The driver fled the scene but was captured a short time later by responding officers. Aaron is survived by a wife and two children.
- In Minnesota, Officer Jamal Mitchell (pictured) was murdered in an ambush while responding to the scene of a reported shooting. Responding officers killed the suspect with return fire. Jamal is survived by his son and a fiancée.
- In Maryland, Agent Geovanni Martinez was murdered while checking in on a convicted sex offender. The suspect fled the scene and was captured by the US Marshalls in West Virginia the following day.
- In Arizona, Officer Joshua Briese was murdered while responding to a disturbance call. Upon arriving on the scene Joshua and his partner were ambushed. The other officer is in a stable but serious condition. Two suspects were apprehended by other responding officers. Joshua’s father was also killed in the line of duty in 2006.
- In Texas, Senior Officer Vicente Ortiz, Jr. was killed in a crash while leading a funnel procession. Vicente is survived by a wife and two children.
As we reflect on those we’ve lost, please remember the families of our fallen as well. The average age is 39, the average tour-of-duty – 11 years. In addition to losing 64 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty this year, there are 37 widows and 76 children who’ve lost a parent.