Honoring 3 Fallen Heroes

Honoring

Lieutenant Eddie Mays

Bernie Police Department, Missouri

EOW: June 5, 2025 | Age: 58 | Tour: 30 Years

Lieutenant Eddie Mays suffered a fatal heart attack while arresting a man during a domestic call on West Crumb Avenue in Bernie at 4:53 p.m. The subject was arrested and charged with domestic assault. Lieutenant Mays was a United States Air Force veteran and served with the Bernie Police Department for 30 years. He is survived by his wife, two children, and eight grandchildren.

Honoring

Sergeant Shiou Deng

Los Angeles Police Department, California

EOW: June 23, 2025 | Age: 53 | Tour: 26 Years

Sergeant Shiou Deng was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle while assisting at the scene of a vehicle crash on the southbound lanes of Interstate 405 at Moraga Drive in Los Angeles. Around 1:58 a.m., Sergeant Deng was traveling south on the 405 when he witnessed a collision. After turning on his emergency lights, he exited his patrol vehicle to help the victims in the crash when he was hit by another driver. One person died at the scene. Sergeant Deng was transported to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. Sergeant Deng had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 26 years.

Honoring

Firefighter Violet Caramella

Riceville Volunteer Fire Department, Asheville, North Carolina

EOW: June 14, 2025 | Age: 25 | Tour: None

Firefighter Violet Caramella was involved in a serious all-terrain vehicle accident during a fire department training exercise. Despite immediate response from fellow firefighters and emergency medical personnel, Firefighter Caramella passed away at the scene from the injuries she sustained. Two other Riceville Volunteer Fire Department members were injured and transported to the hospital for treatment. One remains in critical condition and the other is in stable condition.

Disclaimer:

This information is supplied by the Officer Down Memorial Page (www.odmp.org) and the U.S. Fire Administration (www.apps.usfa.fema.gov).

Founder of FRBA

First Responder Benefit Association (FRBA) is our nonprofit founded to fill the gap of financial hardship that can often burden families of fallen First Responders. The First Responder Task Force funds 100% of FRBA’s administrative and operational expenses so that 100% of public donations go directly to aiding the families in need.

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First Responder Benefit Association is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

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*The $5,000 survivor benefit is paid when a line of duty death occurs. Line of duty is defined as AFBA members who are Emergency Service Providers to include law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical services providers who are killed while involved in operations at or responding to/from the scene of an incident. If death occurs otherwise, outside of a suicide, the beneficiary will receive a $2000 benefit.

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