Honoring

Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier

Connecticut State Police, Connecticut

EOW: May 30, 2024 | Age: 34 | Tour: 9 Years

Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed by a truck while conducting a traffic stop on I-84 East near Exit 31 in Southington. At 2:45 p.m., Trooper Pelletier pulled over a vehicle on the right shoulder of the highway with his emergency equipment activated on his cruiser. While he was speaking with the driver of the car, a truck crossed the dividing line into the shoulder lane, sideswiped his cruiser, and struck him. The driver fled in the vehicle and was apprehended approximately five miles away in a wooded area. Trooper Pelletier was killed instantly. His canine partner, Roso, was in the cruiser when it was struck, but he was not injured. The subject was arrested and charged with evading responsibility for a crash causing death, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, failure to drive in the proper lane, second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, failure to move over, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle without a driver's license. Trooper Pelletier had served with the Connecticut State Police for nine years and was assigned to Troop H in Hartford. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Honoring

Police Officer Jamal Mitchell

Minneapolis Police Department, Minnesota

EOW: May 30, 2024 | Age: 36 | Tour: 2 Years

Police Officer Jamal Mitchell was shot and killed after being ambushed while responding to a shooting call. Just after 5:00 p.m., officers responded to a shots fired call at an apartment on 22nd Street near Blaisdell Avenue in Minneapolis. When officers arrived, the suspect fired at officers, and a gunfight ensued. Officer Mitchell stopped to render aid to who he thought was a wounded victim when that man shot him multiple times. Two officers arriving on the scene witnessed the suspect shooting Officer Mitchell. The suspect turned and started shooting at them. They returned fire, killing the suspect. Two shooting victims were found at the scene. One was pronounced dead, and the other was in critical condition. Another officer and firefighter were wounded with non-life-threatening injuries. An innocent bystander was also shot. Officer Mitchell was transported to Hennepin Healthcare where he succumbed to his wounds. Officer Mitchell had served with the Minneapolis Police Department for two years. He is survived by his son and fiancée. On Officer Mitchell's third day working for the Minneapolis Police Department, he rescued an elderly couple from a burning home.

Honoring

Agent Davis Geovanni Martinez

Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Division of Parole and Probation

EOW: May 31, 2024 | Age: 33 | Tour: 6 Years

Agent Davis Martinez was murdered while conducting a home visit on a convicted sex offender in the 2800 block of Terrace Drive in Chevy Chase. Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department went to check on Agent Martinez after he failed to return to his office. The officers discovered his body at the offender's apartment suffering multiple injuries. The subject had fled the scene but was arrested in Hurricane, West Virginia, the following day by members of a United States Marshals Service task force. Agent Martinez had served with the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation for six years and was assigned to the Silver Spring Field Office.

Honoring

Police Officer Joshua Briese

Gila River Police Department, Tribal Police

EOW: June 1, 2024 | Age: 24 | Tour: None

Police Officer Joshua Briese was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call at 2:00 a.m. at a home in Santan, District 4 of the Gila River Indian Community. When Officer Briese and his training partner arrived on the scene, they were met with gunfire. Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Officer Briese succumbed to his wounds. The other officer is in stable but serious condition. Four other people from the large crowd were struck by gunfire, including one who died. Officer Briese's father, Deputy Sheriff David Leroy Briese, Jr. of Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, Montana, died in the line of duty on November 3, 2006. Officer Briese had served with the Gila River Police Department for less than one year and was still completing field training.

Honoring

Senior Police Officer Vicente Ortiz, Jr.

Corpus Christi Police Department, Texas

EOW: June 1, 2024 | Age: None | Tour: 15 Years

Senior Police Officer Vicente Ortiz succumbed to injuries sustained 10 days earlier when he was involved in a motorcycle crash while escorting a funeral procession. He was traveling southbound on Kostoryz Road when another driver attempted to cross the road at the intersection with Sacky Drive. Officer Ortiz was unable to stop and struck the other vehicle. He was transported to a local hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries before succumbing to his injuries. Officer Ortiz had served with the Corpus Christi Police Department for 15 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.