Honoring

Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link

Lake County Sheriff's Office, Florida

EOW: Aug. 2, 2024 | Age: 28 | Tour: 6 Years

Master Deputy Sheriff Brad Link was shot and killed when he and other deputies responded to a disturbance at a home on Brookside Drive near County Road 439 in Eustis. As deputies responded to the initial 911 call, they were directed to a second nearby house. When they arrived at that location, they discovered a door had been kicked in and they could hear yelling inside. As they entered the home a subject inside opened fire on them from ambush. Deputy Link was shot and became trapped inside. Two other deputies were wounded, one critically, during the incident and subsequent attempt to rescue Deputy Link. Two people were found dead inside the home and a third was transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound. Deputy Link was a U.S. Army Reserves veteran. He had served with the Lake County Sheriff's Office for 4-1/2 years and had previously served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for two years. He had also served as an Explorer with the Lake County Sheriff's Office as a teenager. He is survived by his wife.

Honoring

Police Officer Demetrice Johnson

Memphis Police Department, Tennessee

EOW: Aug. 2, 2024 | Age: 34 | Tour: 1 Year

Police Officer Demetrice Johnson was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of Mississippi Boulevard and Danny Thomas Boulevard at about 3:00 am. A vehicle fleeing the scene of a nearby shooting collided with the patrol car Officer Johnson was in. The other driver, who had been wounded in the shooting, was also killed in the crash. Officer Johnson's partner suffered critical injuries. Officer Johnson had served with the Memphis Police Department for just over one year and had graduated from the police academy only three months prior. He was assigned to the North Main Station. He is survived by his wife and young son.

Honoring

Firefighter Ty Voth

Wichita Fire Department, Kansas

EOW: Aug. 1, 2024 | Age: 27 | Tour: 5 Years

A five-year veteran Wichita firefighter, stricken at a house fire Thursday, died at a local hospital. Ty Voth, 27, was found unresponsive, received immediate EMS care and was taken from the scene of a house fire. Local 135 President Tim Bush said that Ty was a generational firefighter who loved his job, loved his Station 5, and he gave his life in service to the community, KFDI reported. Fellow firefighters escorted him from the hospital to the medical examiner's office Thursday evening. Firefighters from Wichita, Derby, McConnell and Sedgwick County fire departments responded to the house fire in the 9800 S. Laura at 2:55 p.m. The firefighter—the only one injured at the incident—was unconscious and not breathing, county dispatchers told the television station. “We will never be the same after today,” President Ted Bush of the Wichita firefighters’ union told The Wichita Eagle. “We won’t, but the job remains the same. Even in the midst of this great tragedy and pain, there are firefighters out there right now doing their jobs.” Investigators from the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office, Sedgwick County and the Bureau of Alcohol, Fire and Tobacco were called to the scene. A neighbor told KSN the homeowner was not home when fire was reported.

Honoring

Deputy Rafael Wordlaw

Cook County Sheriff's Office - Department of Corrections, Illinois

EOW: July 30, 2024 | Age: 31 | Tour: None

Deputy Rafael Wordlaw was shot and killed at about 1:25 am when he intervened in an armed robbery on the 500 block of E 67th Street, in Woodlawn, while he was off duty. He was sitting in a car at a gas station when an armed subject attempted to rob his friend, who was pumping gas. Officer Wordlaw drew his weapon and attempted to intervene in the robbery. During a subsequent exchange of gunfire Officer Wordlaw was struck in the chest. The subject was armed with two handguns, one of which had a drum magazine and converted to fully automatic. The offender fired 69 rounds at Officer Wordlaw during the shooting. One of the rounds struck Officer Wordlaw's firearm and disabled it after he fired one round, which struck the subject in the leg. Officer Wordlaw's friend was also wounded. The man was arrested several hours later at a local hospital while seeking treatment for his gunshot wound. He was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery with a firearm, and numerous other felonies. He had recently been released from prison after serving only one year of an eight-year sentence for multiple felony firearms-related charges. Officer Wordlaw had served with the Cook County Sheriff's Office - Department of Corrections for 4-1/2 years and was assigned to Division 6 of the Cook County Jail. Officer Wordlaw is survived by his father, who served with the Chicago Police Department, and his aunt who raised him.