Honoring

Police Officer Wisbens Antoine

Knoxville Police Department, Tennessee

EOW: Feb. 25, 2024 | Age: 32 | Tour: 1 Day

Police Officer Wisbens Antoine passed away after collapsing at the completion of a 1.5-mile run during Basic Recruit Training at 1650 Huron Street in Knoxville on February 23, 2024. The training staff provided life-saving measures until he could be transported to UT Medical Center. His condition worsened, and he passed away on February 25, 2024. Officer Antoine had served with the Knoxville Police Department for one day. He was a member of the 2023-B Basic Recruit Class. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Honoring

Trooper Christopher M. Gadd

Washington State Patrol, Washington

EOW: March 2, 2024 | Age: 27 | Tour: 2 Years

Trooper Christopher Gadd was killed when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle while he was parked on the shoulder of I-5, near 136th Street NE in Marysville, at about 3:00 am. He was conducting DUI enforcement patrols when the crash occurred. The vehicle that struck him was traveling at a high rate of speed when he drove into the back of his patrol car. Then, the vehicle ricocheted off his patrol vehicle and was hit by a van. The driver, who is in the United States illegally, has an eleven-year history of convictions for driving with a suspended license, multiple tickets for speeding more than 49 mph over the speed limit, several orders of protection for domestic violence, and failing to make court appearances. Multiple times, he was granted non-felony plea deals for felonious crimes. He was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault while awaiting toxicology reports. Trooper Gadd had served with the Washington State Patrol for 2-1/2 years. He is survived by his wife, 2-year-old daughter, parents, and sister. His father also serves with the Washington State Patrol, and his sister serves with the Texas Highway Patrol.

Honoring

Officer Cody Allen

Independence Police Department, Missouri

EOW: Feb. 29, 2024 | Age: 35 | Tour: 15 Years

Officer Cody Allen was shot and killed at 1100 N Elsea Smith Road while responding to the shooting of Civil Process Server Drexel Mack, of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County, at about 1:00 pm. Mr. Mack and several other process servers were serving an eviction notice at the residence when an occupant opened fire, wounding him. The other court officers and a neighbor called 911 following the initial shooting. As Officer Allen and other Independence police officers arrived at the scene, they attempted to rescue Mr. Mack, but also were fired upon. Officer Allen suffered fatal gunshot wounds while the other two suffered non-fatal wounds. Mr. Mack also succumbed to his wounds. The subject was taken into custody a short time later. Officer Allen had served with the Independence Police Department for six years and had served in law enforcement for 15 years. He had previously served with the Grandview Police Department for six years and the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office for seven years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Honoring

Assistant Chief Tommy Lee

Kill Devil Hills Fire Department, North Carolina

EOW: Feb. 19, 2024 | Age: 82 | Tour: 51 Years

Kill Devil Hills Assistant Chief Tommy Lee, 82, had participated in physical fitness training before he was stricken. The assistant chief of Kill Devil Hills Fire Department died of an apparent heart attack last month after participating in training. Longtime volunteer Tommy Lee, 82, had participated in departmental physical fitness training on Feb. 19. He went home after the detail ended, the U.S. Fire Administration reported Monday. Lee was found unresponsive in his garage about 4 p.m. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He served as a firefighter for 51 years.

Honoring

Border Patrol Agent Christopher Luna

United States Department of Homeland Security

EOW: March 8, 2024 | Age: 51 | Tour: None

Border Patrol Agent Chris Luna was killed in a helicopter crash along with two members of the New York National Guard in Starr County, Texas. The New York National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter was supporting the Department of Homeland Security as part of Joint Task Force North. Agent Luna was onboard the military aircraft when it crashed just north of the Rio Grande River, approximately two miles southeast of La Grulla, Texas. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia were also killed in the crash, while a third service member was injured. Agent Luna was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and brother.

Honoring

Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello

Genesee County Sheriff's Office, New York

EOW: March 10, 2024 | Age: 54 | Tour: 32 Years

Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello died after being attacked after responding to a dispute between two patrons at one of the Batavia Downs Casino's bars at 8315 Park Road in Batavia. One of the patrons was arrested at about 12:30 am and was being escorted from the establishment by Sergeant Sanfratello and security when the second patron attacked him. A violent struggle ensued during which Sergeant Sanfratello attempted to use his taser on the subject. Sergeant Sanfratello became unresponsive and died despite security personnel and bystanders administering CPR. Sergeant Sanfratello had served with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office for 32 years and had twice been recognized as Officer of the Year.

Honoring

EMT Shayna Baker

Murrysville Medic One, Pennsylvania

EOW: March 11, 2024 | Age: None | Tour: None

An EMT/paramedic student with Murrysville Medic One was killed in a vehicle crash. The crash happened around 4:30 a.m. on March 10 in Brooke County, West Virginia, just over the Pennsylvania state border, KDKA reports. EMT/paramedic student Shayna Baker was the lone occupant in the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to KDKA. Murrysville Medic One said Baker was a full-time EMT while attending training to become a paramedic. She was scheduled to graduate this year.

Honoring

Chief Zeb Smith

Fritch Fire Department, Texas

EOW: March 5, 2024 | Age: 40 | Tour: 8 Years

Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith, the first to go into the burning house, was found about 30 minutes later by firefighters. The fire chief of one of the cities suffering the most destruction from the Texas Panhandle wildfires that have been raging for more than a week died Tuesday. Fritch Fire Department Chief Zeb Smith responded about 7 a.m. to a structure fire at a home, where he entered the residence but did not exit, City of Borger and Hutchinson County Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Brandon Strope said during a news conference. He was the first person at the scene. Smith, 40, was found nearly a half-hour later by a rapid intervention team, which rendered emergency medical aid, before Smith was transported to the Golden Plains Community Hospital, where he died from his injuries. A cause of death has yet to be determined, pending results of an autopsy. The fire was not related to the historic blazes burning across the Panhandle. Local officials including Hutchinson County Judge Cindy Irwin, Stinnett Fire Department Chief Alan Wells and Fritch Mayor Tom Ray each shared tearful remarks about Smith. Nothing brought him more joy than his 2 boys; he would travel two hours for a thirty-minute soccer game if it meant being there for them. "He had tons of family, both blood and chosen, that he loved with everything, including the entire Firefighting and First Responder Community. All of which are devastated," the City of Borger / Hutchinson County Office of Emergency Management said in a Facebook post.