First Responders "professionals are not immune to experiencing the impact of the crises they respond to"

First responders need support too

Metro West Daily
By Michael Coughlin
March 19, 2020

While Covid-19 is a unique (and hopefully temporary!) crisis, first responders are on call every day to mobilize on a moment’s notice to assist those in medical crisis, drug overdoses, criminal activity, or natural or human-caused disasters. Think about it: EMTs in this area on a daily basis are administering multiple doses of Narcan to people who have overdosed on top of other medical emergencies. Police officers are constantly called to intervene in tense and dangerous situations all over the community. Hospital emergency room staff go from one medical crisis to the next without catching a breath.

The current worldwide concern about the spreading epidemic of Covid-19, the coronavirus, has reached emergency status in a growing number of hot zones such as Washington state and Northern Italy in addition to the locations in Asia where it first took hold. Closer to home a February biomedical conference in Boston is now linked to as many as 15 new cases of the virus.

At times like these, our community relies heavily on the trained professionals who respond to assist us at times of emergency. We take for granted the role that doctors and other public health professionals, paramedics and EMTs, fire fighters, police officers, and other emergency professionals play to keep the rest of us as healthy and safe as possible. But those professionals are not immune to experiencing the impact of the crises they respond to. Look no further than the heartbreaking story of the young physician in China who was reprimanded for first calling attention to the seriousness of the virus’ threat who then ended up contracting the virus and died from it.
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Officer Katie Thyne killed in the line of duty, was Navy veteran from New Hampshire

‘It’s OK to cry’: Emotional Newport News police chief calls officer killed in line of duty a hero

WAVY
by: Sarah Fearing
Posted: Jan 23, 2020

“There is a lot of healing that needs to take place. There is no timetable for that,” said Chief Drew.

Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew holds a news conference to provide details about a deadly traffic stop Thursday night. Officer Katie Thyne died in the line of duty.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – Speaking through tears, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew identified the officer who died in the line of duty Thursday night as Officer Katie Thyne.

Chief Drew provided new information about the investigation and Officer Thyne during a Friday morning news conference.

Officer Thyne was originally from New Hampshire. She was a Navy veteran and a reservist. She joined the Newport News Police Department in 2018 and was assigned to the South Precinct. She leaves behind her mother and stepfather, a brother, her two-year-old daughter, and a loving partner. She was 24-years-old.

While the driver’s side door was open, Chief Drew said the driver accelerated. Officer Thyne was unable to get out of the way and was dragged for about a block. The driver crashed into a tree at Walnut Avenue, pinning Officer Thyne. She died from her injuries at Sentara Norfolk General.
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UPDATE

‘Raegan will know her mother’: Friend, day care provider remembers Officer Katie Thyne

WTKR
BY CHELSEA DONOVAN
JANUARY 27, 2020

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - "When I leaned her over the casket, I said, 'Kiss your mommy,' and she did and it broke my heart," said Jenifer Locey.

Locey has been providing day care for 2-year-old Raegan Thyne since she was born and had also become great friends with Officer Katie Thyne.

"It's so hard to look at Raegan and know she is not going to see her anymore," said Locey.

Locey described the toddler as innocent, bubbly and always smiling.

"She is just like Katie - always happy, just a spitfire. She is the favorite at daycare," Locey told News 3.
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Long line of police cars escort fallen officer Katie Thyne home

5 dead, 21 others shot in Texas...will the Senate ever do anything?

update

Odessa news station evacuated mid-broadcast due to shooting Odessa, Texas, CNN affiliate KOSA-TV was forced to evacuate their studio in the middle of a live broadcast due to their proximity to the shooting that left at least five people dead.Source: CNN

update Hero cop shot multiple times in Texas rampage

One of the three law enforcement heroes injured in Saturday’s mass shooting in Texas was identified late Saturday on GoFundMe — Midland Police Officer Zack Owens.

Shooter killed in West Texas after 5 people died, at least 21 injured, police say

CNN
By Ed Lavandera and Ralph Ellis
August 31, 2019

(CNN)A gunman in West Texas who killed five people while firing from his vehicle and then from a hijacked mail truck was fatally shot by police in a gun battle in a movie theater parking lot, authorities said Saturday.

At least 21 people were injured, including some who were wounded by the shooter, Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke said at a news conference. Gerke said three law enforcement officers were injured: one from the Department of Public Safety, one officer from the Midland Police Department and one officer from Odessa Police Department. Gerke said the shooter was identified as a white male in his 30's. His name and a motive were not given. Midland Mayor Jerry Morales told CNN the chain of events began when a Department of Public Safety officer pulled over a vehicle on an interstate highway Saturday.

"That's when he shot the officer and then took off and started shooting randomly," Morales said. "Everything happened after that."

At one point, the shooter ditched his vehicle and hijacked a US Postal Service truck, authorities said. Law enforcement officers "trapped him in the parking lot of the Cinergy theater, and that's when they were able to engage him," Morales said.
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Mitch McConnell is the head of the Senate and has blocked anything that the people of this country have been begging for! When he took over the Senate, he gleefully stated that the "number one priority was to make Obama a one term president, even if that meant everything else could go to hell.

While McConnell did not achieve that goal, he saw gains with the Republican takeover of the House in 2010. Two years later, despite the Democrats’ push for gun control legislation after the December 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, McConnell voted against a 2013 bill that would have expanded background checks for gun purchases.

So who is Mitch McConnell working for?

Six Philadelphia officers shot, another trapped with gunman

Suspect in custody after 6 officers hurt in hours-long Philadelphia standoff

All of the officers who were shot had been released from the hospital by late Wednesday night. The city’s mayor said that one of those officers, who is the father of two boys, suffered a graze wound to his head and could have been killed.
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Six Philadelphia officers shot in active standoff with gunman holed up in house

NBC News
By Doha Madani and Tom Winter
Aug. 14, 2019

At least six Philadelphia police officers were shot Wednesday afternoon in an active standoff with a gunman holed up in a North Philly house.

A large police presence responded to a shooting incident at about 4:30 p.m. local time in a residential area of the Nicetown section of the city. One male shooter was still inside a residence in what police described as an active situation.

A police spokesperson told NBC News that the incident began when an officer attempted to serve a warrant at the address.
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Officer Kevin Valencia gets help from PitBull

Free Pitbull concert raises $1M for officer shot in line of duty

Click Orlando
By Adrienne Cutway - Web Editor
July 08, 2019

ORLANDO, Fla. - A free Pitbull concert held last month raised more than $1 million for the family of officer Kevin Valencia, who has been receiving treatment since he was shot in the head a year ago while responding to a hostage situation.

The office of attorney Dan Newlin, which organized the community event, said Monday that the money raised has been presented to the Fraternal Order of Police so that it can be distributed to the Valencia family.

Newlin wrote in a letter to the organization that he and Meghan Valencia came up with the idea because she wanted to bring her husband home but she didn't have the financial resources to make the necessary renovations to her house.

They also hoped the event would highlight Kevin Valencia's ongoing struggle because they both feared that members of the community had forgotten that he's still receiving treatment.
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Firefighter shot and killed while trying to save a life

Fallen Appleton firefighter identified as Mitchell Lundgaard

APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) - The firefighter who was killed in a shooting at Valley Transit Center in Appleton has been identified as Mitchell F. Lundgaard.

Lundgaard was shot an killed Wednesday while responding to a call about a medical emergency on a bus.

"Mitch was married and a father of three young kids. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time," said Appleton Fire Chief Jeremy Hansen. Hansen choked up as he remembered Lundgaard during a news conference Thursday.

Donations can be made in Mitchell Lundgaard's honor at The Friends of the Appleton Fire Department or mailed to:
700 N. Drew St.
Appleton, WI 54911

On Thursday, police and fire vehicles escorted Lundgaard's body down College Ave and to Brettschneider-Trettin-Nickel Funeral Chapel Citizens lined the street to pay their respects.
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WBAY 2 News

APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) - UPDATE: The Appleton Fire Department says the firefighter who was shot Wednesday night has died. The firefighter's name has not been released, but the statement says the firefighter had been with the department for 14 years.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Fire Chief Jeremy Hansen and Mayor Hanna will make a statement to the media on Thursday at the Appleton Police Department.

A procession was held overnight in Milwaukee as the firefighter's body was brought to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office. Firefighters lined the street as emergency vehicles escorted the body.

Valley Transit tells Action 2 News that buses will be running today, but the transfer point will be at West Franklin St. and North Superior St.

Appleton police say an officer and a firefighter are among four people wounded in a shooting near the city transit center Wednesday evening.

Police say all those injured were transported to hospitals. We don't know their conditions. Each of the patients was accompanied by officers.
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Georgia Police grieve loss of Sgt. Kelvin Ansar, Officer, veteran and family man

Police Officer Killed in Line of Duty Was Father of 4 and Army Veteran

The Island Packet Online
By Teresa Moss
13 May 2019

A Savannah, Georgia, police officer who was shot and killed Saturday night while responding to a robbery on Bull Street was a husband, father and military veteran, Savannah Police Department Chief Roy Minter said during a press conference Sunday night.

Sgt. Kelvin Ansari a Savannah, Georgia, police officer who served 21 years in the Army, was killed May 12, 2019, while responding to a robbery. He left behind a wife and four children ranging in ages from 5 to 25. Savannah Police Department

Sgt. Kelvin Ansari left behind a wife and four children ranging in ages from 5 to 25 years old, Minter said. He also was a 10-year veteran of the department and served 21 years in the Army.

"Last night, we lost a great man," Minter said. "We lost a man who spent a substantial portion of his life protecting our country and protecting our community. We lost a husband. We lost a father. We lost a leader."

Ansari and another officer were shot when approaching a vehicle matching a description connected to the robbery at about 8:10 p.m. Saturday, the police news release states. The other officer, Douglas Thomas, was shot in the leg. He was released from Memorial Hospital on Saturday night and is recovering at home.
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Volunteer Firefighter Marine Killed in Afghanistan

update Charity will pay mortgage for family of fallen FNY firefighter

FDNY firefighter from the Bronx killed in Afghanistan suicide attack

By Derick Waller
April 9, 2018

CLAREMONT, Bronx (WABC) -- One of four Americans killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan was an FDNY firefighter.

It is a devastating reminder that this 18-year-long war continues despite recent peace talks.

Christopher Slutman was identified by the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department in Landover, Maryland, where he is a lifetime member.

Slutman, a married father of three, was a 15-year veteran of the FDNY. He most recently worked as a firefighter at Engine 46 Ladder 27 in the Claremont section of the Bronx.

In 2014, he received the FDNY's Fire Chiefs Association Memorial Medal for pulling an unconscious woman from a burning Bronx high-rise apartment.

He served as a Staff Sergeant with the United States Marine Corps.
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Pickup truck turned into path of firefighters responding to emergency did not end well

3 civilians dead, 3 Phoenix firefighters injured in fire truck crash, FD says

Author: 12 News
April 7, 2019

A 6-month-old baby is among those who have died in the crash at 29th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, police say.

All three injured firefighters were taken to the hospital, two of them initially in critical condition but the police department says all three firefighters are now stable. One was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon and the two others will remain in the hospital overnight for precautionary reasons.

PHOENIX — Officials say two adults and a baby are dead, and three firefighters are injured after a serious crash that caused a fire truck to roll over in west Phoenix Sunday morning. The fire engine was on its way to an emergency fire call when it collided with a pickup truck at 29th Avenue and Bethany Home Road shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday, Sgt. Vince Lewis with the Phoenix Police Department said. The fire truck had its lights and sirens on. read more here

Wounded Georgia Police Officer served in Afghanistan and Iraq

Police identify victims, suspected shooter in Henry County standoff leaving 3 dead

By FOX 5 News
Posted Apr 04 2019

A man identifying himself as the father-in-law of one of the injured officers just after arriving by police escort to Grady Memorial Hospital described that officer to FOX 5's Will Nunley as being a 32-year-old Army veteran. He called the situation tragic.

"Army veteran, two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, he's been on the force for a while. It's just a terrible tragedy," said Rick Corssey, a family member of the injured officer. 

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Henry County Police will release more information late Friday morning on a nearly 16 hour- standoff inside a home that left a pregnant woman and her teenage son dead and 2 police officers wounded, apparently at the hands of the woman’s live-in boyfriend who took his own life.

Police identified the victims as 39-year-old Sandra Renee White of Stockbridge and her son, 16-year-old Arkeyvion White.
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Deputy and Police dog recovering after being shot after traffic stop

Video: Driver dead, Pinellas deputy and police dog wounded in shootings after traffic stop

Tampa Bay Times
By Daniel Figueroa IV
March 29, 2019

A man wounded a Pinellas County deputy and K9 officer after fleeing a traffic stop early Friday morning before turning the gun on himself, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department.

ST. PETERSBURG — A driver fleeing from a traffic stop early Friday shot a police dog rounding a corner then a deputy sitting in his car before taking his own life, police said.

The violent sequence of events began around 2 a.m. and centered on a four-block stretch of 3rd Avenue S, from 30th Street S east to 26th Street S.

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Sgt. David Stang Jr. was shot twice in the shoulder and was listed in stable condition Friday at Bayfront hospital. Stang, 51, has worked more than 17 years with the Sheriff’s Office.

“These are always the calls you dread,” Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said in a news conference Friday. “The only thing that’d be worse is if he was in worse shape.”
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Vietnam Veteran, Firefighter died fighting fire

Town of Marion mourns death of veteran firefighter

NBC 10 NEWS
by MATTHEW STEVENS
February 27th 2019

MARION, Mass. (WJAR) — A 45-year-veteran of the Marion Fire Department passed away Wednesday in the line of duty.

Marion town officials said Firefighter Thomas Nye, 72, helped extinguish a fire on Point Road Tuesday and then collapsed early Wednesday morning after suffering from an apparent cardiac arrest incident.

Thomas Nye passed away in the line of duty Wednesday. (Marion Fire Department)

Nye was taken to Tobey Hospital in Wareham where he was pronounced dead.

"Firefighter Nye was a proud firefighter who served our community with distinction. We are a call fire department, and Firefighter Nye anchored our Station 2 during the day. While many of our younger firefighters are working their private jobs, he was always available when people needed help." Marion Fire Chief Brian Jackvony said. "We are all feeling the loss of our friend and brother firefighter today."

Nye was a Vietnam veteran and also worked as an auto mechanic. Officials said Nye was known for his handy work and was always helping service the station's equipment.
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Fallen Milwaukee Officer was also Iraq Veteran

Slain Milwaukee Police Officer was Iraq veteran

WSAU News
by Michael Leischner
Thursday, February 07, 2019

Matthew Rittner is the 3rd Officer killed while on duty in less than 12 months.

MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) -- The Milwaukee Police Officer killed while executing a search warrant on Wednesday was also a combat Veteran.

Matthew Rittner, 35, served two tours in Iraq before joining the Milwaukee Police force as a tactical officer where he would serve for 17 years.

Rittner enlisted in the Marines shortly after graduating high school and reportedly survived multiple IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attacks and a four-hour firefight.

Rittner leaves behind a wife, whom he married in a ceremony at Miller Park, and a child. A suspect, 26-year-old Jordan Fricke, is in custody. Formal charges against him are pending.
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Houston Police Officer recovering after third time being shot on the job

Houston police officer rushed into gunbattle "because I knew my guys were down"

CBS News
Alex Sundby
January 29, 2019

The police department said in a statement later Tuesday that the 54-year-old officer was shot in the neck and listed in serious but stable condition. At the press conference, Acevedo described the officer as a "big teddy bear" who was also shot in the line of duty in 1992 and 1997.

A veteran Houston police officer who was shot after rushing into a gunbattle at a suspected drug house to help two of his wounded colleagues said he had to do it "because I knew my guys were down," the city's police chief said Tuesday. The officer, who has been on the police force for 32 years, was shot for the third time in his career Monday, Chief Art Acevedo said at a press conference.

"'I had to get in there because I knew my guys were down,'" Acevedo said the officer, 54, wrote in a note. "That just speaks volumes as to this man and just his courage under fire."

Four officers in total were shot Monday, and a fifth suffered a knee injury in the gunbattle, which stemmed from an attempt to serve a search warrant. Acevedo didn't identify the officers because they all work undercover in narcotics.
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Vietnam veteran charged with shooting 7 police officers

The Latest: Disabled veteran held in shooting of 7 officers
Associated Press
October 4, 2018

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) — The Latest on the shooting of seven South Carolina law enforcement officers

The man accused of killing a police officer and wounding six other law enforcement officers in a South Carolina standoff is a military veteran who received disability payments after being wounded in the Vietnam War.

That’s according to a South Carolina Supreme Court ruling in a divorce case involving 74-year-old Frederick Hopkins and his ex-wife Carol Hopkins.

The court noted in the year 2000 that Frederick Hopkins was injured in the Vietnam War and he was receiving a disability payment of $1,127 a month. Hopkins also was a lawyer, admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1980, but was later disbarred.
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Weymouth Police Officer-Iraq Veteran killed in line of duty

Massachusetts police officer, bystander die from gunshot wounds
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, July 15, 2018

Grimes described Chesna as a 42-year-old Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 4 and 9.

WEYMOUTH, Mass. — A Massachusetts police officer and bystander died Sunday from wounds sustained when a suspect allegedly took the officer’s gun and fired following a vehicle crash and a foot chase.

Authorities said Weymouth officer Michael Chesna was shot multiple times by his own fire arm before 8 a.m. Sunday, and died from the injures at South Shore Hospital.

Officials said an unidentified elderly woman also died after being hit by stray bullets in a nearby home.

Weymouth Police Chief Richard Grimes said the shooting suspect, Emmanuel Lopes, was in custody. No additional information about Lopes has been released.
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Two firefighters shot responding to report of explosion

Veteran firefighter killed, 2 others injured in shooting at California retirement home
The Associated Press
June 25, 2018

Fire Capt. Dave Rosa, who had worked for the department for 17 years, died at a hospital Monday morning, DuRee said. He is survived by a wife and two children, the chief said.

LONG BEACH, Calif. – A resident of a retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters responding to a report of an explosion in the building, killing a veteran fire captain and wounding a second firefighter and another person, officials said.

The shooting happened after firefighters responded to a 3:49 a.m. alarm at the 11-story retirement facility in Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, and found some windows blown out, activated sprinklers, the smell of gas and a fire that they extinguished, authorities said.

Firefighters were searching the building when shots were fired at 4:08 a.m. and the two firefighters were hit, Long Beach Fire Chief Michael DuRee said.
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Two Wyandotte County Sheriff's Deputies Killed

Second sheriff's deputy dies following shooting in Kansas
CBS News
June 16, 2018

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- A second sheriff's deputy has died after being shot while an inmate was being transported to a Kansas City courthouse. Kansas City, Kansas, police confirmed that 44-year-old Deputy Theresa King died early Saturday from injuries suffered when an inmate overpowered the two deputies.

The shooting happened Friday as an unidentified inmate was being moved. Police said it is possible that King and the other slain deputy, 35-year-old Patrick Rohrer, were shot with their own firearm, but police gave no other details.

Investigators said the inmate may have grabbed a weapon from one of the deputies during a struggle after he got out of a van transporting him late Friday morning. The inmate was shackled and in handcuffs, CBS affiliate KCTV reported.

Both officers were with the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Department. King had 13 years of service and Rohrer had been with the department for seven years.
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Volunteer Firefighter admitted he embezzled from death benefit fund?

Veteran Volunteer Firefighter Accused Of Embezzling Thousands From VFD
CBS Pittsburg
By Paul Martino
May 17, 2018

CASTLE SHANNON (KDKA) — A veteran volunteer firefighter in Castle Shannon was charged Thursday with embezzling nearly $140,000 from the department’s death benefit fund, but the state auditor general says even more money is unaccounted for.

The Allegheny County District Attorney took over the investigation after the state auditor general uncovered tens of thousands of dollars in unaccounted for money.

Castle Shannon volunteer firefighters learned they were swindled when they confronted 76-year-old John Montgomery last month. They say Montgomery told them, “Yeah, I stole it.”

“What’s sad is that this was a member of the fire department who had worked with his fellow firefighters for over 40 years and had achieved a position of trust,” attorney John Zagari said.
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Fallen Pierce County deputy was Navy veteran

Fallen Pierce County deputy was Navy veteran, father 

The Pierce County deputy who was fatally shot near Spanaway was a father to three young boys. Author: KING 
January 8, 2018

McCartney joined the Navy in 2002 and served as an electronics technician 2nd class. He was also deployed to Afghanistan toward the end of his tour. McCartney was honorably discharged in 2008.

Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel McCartney, 34, of Yelm.

Photo: Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

The Pierce County deputy who was fatally shot near Spanaway on Monday morning was a Navy veteran and a father to three young children, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. 

Daniel A. McCartney, 34, of Yelm was shot while responding to a burglary call in the Frederickson area. He was a husband and had three sons. 
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