Honoring

Sergeant Kuo-sheng "Johnny" Wang

South Houston Police Department, Texas

EOW: Aug. 19, 2021 | Age: 52 | Tour: 20 years

Sergeant Johnny Wang died from complications of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. Sergeant Wang served with the South Houston Police Department for 20 years. He is survived by his wife and three children. Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Honoring

Sergeant Frank Tobar

Palm Bay Police Department, Florida

EOW: Aug. 20, 2021 | Age: 54 | Tour: 17 years

Sergeant Frank Tobar died from complications of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty while supervising a Police Explorer Academy. Sergeant Tobar had served with the Palm Bay Police Department for 17 years. He is survived by his wife. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Honoring

Corrections Deputy Kevin Kokinis

Branch County Sheriff's Office, Michigan

EOW: Aug. 22, 2021 | Age: 61 | Tour: 22 years

Corrections Deputy Kevin Kokinis died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while working at the Branch County Jail. Deputy Kokinis served with the Branch County Sheriff's Office for 22 years. He is survived by his wife, three sons, six grandchildren, and two brothers. Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Honoring

Trooper James J. Monda

New York State Police, New York

EOW: Aug. 22, 2021 | Age: 45 | Tour: 18 years

Trooper James Monda drowned while conducting a training dive in the Great Sacandaga Lake in Northampton, New York, at approximately 4:00 pm. He failed to resurface after going into the water at a boat launch on Bunker Hill Road. He was working a marine patrol detail on the lake when the incident occurred. Trooper Monda had served with the New York State Police for 18 years and was assigned to SP Princetown. He is survived by his fiancée and parents.

Honoring

Detective Manuel "Chris" Widner

Paris Police Department, Texas

EOW: Aug. 22, 2021 | Age: 47 | Tour: 11 years

Detective Chris Widner died from complications of contracting COVID-19 while performing his duties as an investigator. Detective Widner served with the Paris Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and son. Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Honoring

Deputy Sheriff Christopher Broadhead

Polk County Sheriff's Office, Florida

EOW: Aug. 23, 2021 | Age: 32 | Tour: 10 years

Deputy Sheriff Christopher Broadhead died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. Deputy Sheriff Broadhead served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and five children. Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Honoring

Deputy Sheriff Roger A. Mitchell

Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee

EOW: Aug. 24, 2021 | Age: 67 | Tour: 8 years

Deputy Sheriff Roger Mitchell died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while assigned to the Transportations Division. Deputy Mitchell served with the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office for eight years. He is survived by his wife and one child.

Honoring

Chief of Police Kenneth Kirkland

Colquitt Police Department, Georgia

EOW: Aug. 25, 2021 | Age: 51 | Tour: 30 years

Chief of Police Kenneth Kirkland suffered a fatal heart attack while moving clearing out the department's storage shed. He had moved several pieces of equipment that weighed over 100 pounds each into the department's pickup truck. He was driving the items to the county landfill when he suffered a heart attack. His vehicle left the roadway and became obscured by trees and bushes along Georgia Highway 45. He was located later in the evening after a search was initiated when he failed to arrive at a community speaking engagement. Chief Kirkland had served with the Colquitt Police Department for 20 years and had served in law enforcement for a total of 30 years. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and brother.

Honoring

Corrections Deputy Lakiesha Tucker

Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee

EOW: Aug. 25, 2021 | Age: 42 | Tour: 16 years

Corrections Deputy Lakiesha Tucker died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while working at the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar Avenue in Memphis. Deputy Tucker had served with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office for 16 years. She is survived by her daughter, mother and brother. Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Honoring

Senior Police Officer Randolph Boyd, Jr

Austin Police Department, Texas

EOW: Aug. 25, 2021 | Age: 50 | Tour: 7 years

Senior Police Officer Randy Boyd died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while working patrol. Officer Boyd served with the Austin Police Department for seven years. He is survived by his wife and twin sons. Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Honoring

Senior Sergeant Steve Urias

Austin Police Department, Texas

EOW: Aug. 26, 2021 | Age: None | Tour: 31 years

Senior Sergeant Steve Urias died as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. Sergeant Urias worked for the Austin Police Department for 31 years. He is survived by his wife and two children. Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Honoring

Border Patrol Agent Ricardo Zarate

Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government

EOW: Aug. 16, 2021 | Age: 33 | Tour: 12 years

Border Patrol Agent Ricardo Zarate died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty in the Rio Grande Valley Sector in Texas. Agent Zarate had served with the United States Border Patrol for 12 years and was assigned to the McAllen Station. Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

Honoring

Engineer Justin Hansen

Central Mat-Su Fire Department, Alaska

EOW: June 27, 2021 | Age: 37 | Tour: None

Engineer Justin Hansen worked a 24-hour shift, ending the morning of Sunday, June 27, 2021. While on-duty Engineer Hansen responded to both fire and EMS calls. A few hours after returning home, Engineer Hansen was found deceased. The cause of his death was cardiac-relat

Honoring

Firefighter/Squad Boss Frumencio Ruiz Carapia

GE Forestry, Oregon

EOW: Aug. 23, 2021 | Age: 56 | Tour: None

On Monday, August 23, 2021, while working at the Gales Wildland Fire, Firefighter/Squad Boss Frumencio Ruiz Carapia was killed when he was struck by a falling tree.

Honoring

Firefighter Judy Spencer

Hartland Volunteer Fire Company, New York

EOW: Aug. 24, 2021 | Age: 65 | Tour: None

On Tuesday, August 24, 2021, while at the scene of a field fire, Firefighter Judy Spencer, who was acting as a spotter for the Barker Fire Department rescue truck, was hit when the truck was backing up. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Honoring

Paramedic Kyle Martincic

White River Township Fire Department, Indiana

EOW: Aug. 23, 2021 | Age: 51 | Tour: None

A White River Township paramedic died Monday during a fitness training, officials said, becoming the first line of duty death within the fire department. Officials said Kyle Martincic had a "medical emergency" during the routine training. Fellow White River Township Fire Department paramedics, firefighters and EMTs at the training provided treatment before he was taken to the hospital. The 34-year-old died at IU Health Methodist Hospital. His death is the fire department's first line of duty death. "Our department is absolutely heartbroken to lose our brother Kyle Martincic. He was not only an excellent paramedic, but he was also a friend, mentor and counselor to those he worked with," the department said in a statement. "He had the unique ability to brighten a room with his warm smile and positive attitude. I know that his legacy did not end today. It lives on in the hearts of his brothers and sisters in the fire service as well as in those people he provided medical care to in their time of need." Martincic joined the department in 2019. He previously worked as a paramedic with the Bargersville Community Fire Department and IU Health Bloomington EMS. He is survived by his wife and two children. A GoFundMe is collecting donations for the family of Paramedic Kyle Martincic. The fundraiser says, "The deep sense of loss felt by family, friends, and all his brothers and sisters in public safety is a testament to the love we feel for Kyle."

Honoring

Edward "Eddie" Henry Phillips

Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department, South Carolina

EOW: Aug. 24, 2021 | Age: 57 | Tour: 40 years

Edward “Eddie” Henry Phillips, 57, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at Spartanburg Medical Center. Born in Spartanburg, he was the husband of Pamela Watkins Phillips and son of the late Hubert Edward Phillips and Shirley Thrift Phillips. He was the owner/operator of Watkins Brothers Welding and of the Baptist faith. Eddie was a member of the Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department for 40 years and a member of the Broad River Antique Power Association. Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, Zachary Phillips and Luchas Phillips, both of the home; four daughters, Michayla Dean, Savannah Phillips, Lily Phillips and Olivia Phillips, all of the home; a sister, Sheila Wilkie (Lynn) of Cowpens.