Honoring

Chief Engineer Edward P. Bookmyer

Craley Fire Department, Pennsylvania

EOW: Jan. 30, 2021 | Age: 60 | Tour: None

On January 24, 2021, Chief Engineer Edward P. Bookmyer was working on a piece of apparatus after returning from a fire call when he suffered a medical emergency. He was immediately taken to the hospital where he passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2021.

Honoring

Lieutenant Edward Vasquez

NASA Fire Department, White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico

EOW: Jan. 30, 2021 | Age: 35 | Tour: None

While on duty, Lieutenant Edward Vasquez contracted COVID-19 at the fire department. He passed away from the virus on Saturday, January 30, 2021.

Honoring

Captain Michael D'Angelo Garigan

Gordon County Sheriff's Office, Georgia

EOW: Feb. 5, 2021 | Age: 56 | Tour: 30 Years

Captain Mike Garigan died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure at the Gordon County Jail. Captain Garigan had served with the Gordon County Sheriff's Office for 30 years and served as the commander of the Gordon County Jail. He is survived by his wife, three children, four grandchildren, parents, and siblings. In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Honoring

Sergeant William Brautigam

New York City Police Department, New York

EOW: Jan. 31, 2021 | Age: 47 | Tour: 19 Years

Sergeant William Brautigam died as the result of cancer that he developed following his assignment to the search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. Sergeant Brautigam had served with the New York City Police Department for 19 years and was assigned to the Criminal Enterprise Investigative Section. He is survived by his wife and two children. On the morning of September 11th, 2001, seventy-two officers from a total of eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed when terrorist hijackers working for the al Qaeda terrorist network, headed by Osama bin Laden, crashed four hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. After the impact of the first plane into the World Trade Center's North Tower, putting the safety of others before their own, law enforcement officers along with fire and EMS personnel, rushed to the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to aid the victims and lead them to safety. Due to their quick actions, it is estimated that over 25,000 people were saved. As the evacuation continued, the South Tower unexpectedly collapsed as a result of the intense fire caused by the impact. The North Tower collapsed a short time later. Seventy-one law enforcement officers, 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and over 2,800 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center site. A third hijacked plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania when the passengers attempted to re-take control of the plane. One law enforcement officer, who was a passenger on the plane, was killed in that crash. The fourth hijacked plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing almost 200 military and civilian personnel. No law enforcement officers were killed at the Pentagon on 9/11. The terrorist attacks resulted in the declaration of war against the Taliban regime, the illegal rulers of Afghanistan, and the al Qaeda terrorist network which also was based in Afghanistan. On September 9th, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on September 11th, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W. Bush. The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill and eventually led to the death of several rescue workers. On May 1st, 2011 members of the United States military conducted a raid on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and killed Osama bin Laden.

Honoring

Lieutenant Michael Boutte

Hancock County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi

EOW: Feb. 1, 2021 | Age: None | Tour: 8 Years

Lieutenant Michael Boutte was shot and killed after responding to a call involving a subject attempting suicide on Caesar Necaise Road in the town of Necaise. Lieutenant Boutte was shot and critically wounded as he exited his patrol car. The subject was shot and wounded by another deputy who responded to the scene. Lieutenant Boutte was airlifted to a hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he died several hours later. Lieutenant Boutte was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He had served with the Hancock County Sheriff's Office for eight years and had previously served with the United States Marine Corps Civilian Police.

Honoring

Special Agent Laura Ann Schwartzenberger

U.S. Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government

EOW: Feb. 2, 2021 | Age: 43 | Tour: 15 Years

Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger and Special Agent Daniel Alfin were shot and killed while executing a search warrant in Sunrise, Florida, as part of an investigation involving child pornography and violent crimes against children. A team was making entry into the apartment at 10100 Reflections Boulevard when a subject inside opened fire. Special Agent Schwartzenberger and Special Agent Alfin were fatally wounded, and three other agents suffered non-life-threatening wounds. The subject was found deceased inside of the apartment a short time later. Special Agent Schwartzenberger had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 15 years and was assigned to the Miami Field Office Innocent Images National Initiative.

Honoring

Special Agent Daniel Alfin

U.S. Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government

EOW: Feb. 2, 2021 | Age: 36 | Tour: 12 Years

Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger were shot and killed while executing a search warrant in Sunrise, Florida, as part of an investigation involving child pornography and violent crimes against children. A team was making entry into the apartment at 10100 Reflections Boulevard when a subject inside opened fire. Special Agent Schwartzenberger and Special Agent Alfin were fatally wounded, and three other agents suffered non-life-threatening wounds. The subject was found deceased inside of the apartment a short time later. Special Agent Alfin had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 12 years.

Honoring

Patrolman Darian Jarrott

New Mexico State Police, New Mexico

EOW: Feb. 4, 2021 | Age: 28 | Tour: 5.6 Years

Patrolman Darian Jarrott was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop of a known offender on I-10 near milepost 101 in Luna County. The driver of the vehicle was the subject of an ongoing narcotics investigation and was en route to Las Cruces to participate in a drug deal. Patrolman Jarrott was assisting members of the United States Homeland Security Investigations when he stopped the vehicle. The man opened fire on Patrolman Jarrott, fatally wounding him, before fleeing in the pickup truck. Other officers began pursuing the vehicle along I-10. At one point the subject stopped and shot at officers before fleeing again. As the vehicle entered Las Cruces the vehicle struck spike strips and a Las Cruces officer then conducted a precision immobilization technique, successfully stopped the truck. As the truck came to a stop the subject exited the vehicle and exchanged shots with the Las Cruces officer, wounding him. The Las Cruces officer and other responding officers returned fire and killed the subject. Patrolman Jarrott had served with the New Mexico State Police for 5-1/2 years. He is survived by his expectant wife and three children.

Honoring

Chief Lonnie Bolar

Waynoka Volunteer Fire Department, Oklahoma

EOW: Jan. 29, 2021 | Age: 45 | Tour: None

On Friday, January 29, 2021, at approximately 3:07 a.m., Chief Lonnie Bolar and Firefighter Tayler Bradford responded to a residential fire. The fire was initially reported by a person trapped in a bedroom of the home. Chief Bolar and Firefighter Bradford entered the home and found a man and woman. While attempting to perform rescues, there was a roof collapse killing both Chief Bolar and Firefighter Bradford as well as the occupants.

Honoring

Firefighter Tayler Bradford

Waynoka Volunteer Fire Department, Oklahoma

EOW: Jan. 29, 2021 | Age: 28 | Tour: None

On Friday, January 29, 2021, at approximately 3:07 a.m., Chief Lonnie Bolar and Firefighter Tayler Bradford responded to a residential fire. The fire was initially reported by a person trapped in a bedroom of the home. Chief Bolar and Firefighter Bradford entered the home and found a man and woman. While attempting to perform rescues, there was a roof collapse killing both Chief Bolar and Firefighter Bradford as well as the occupants.

Honoring

Lieutenant Brian Ritchie

Weirton Fire Department, West Virginia

EOW: Feb. 2, 2021 | Age: 50 | Tour: None

While on-duty, Lieutenant Brian Ritchie contracted COVID-19 at the fire department. He passed away from the virus on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Lieutenant Ritchie was also the Assistant Chief of the Hooverson Heights Volunteer Fire Department.