In Memoriam 2017

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Detective
Jerry Walker
Little Elm Police Department, Texas

End of Watch: Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Detective Jerry Walker was shot and killed after responding to a call involving an armed subject on the 1400 block of Turtle Cove Drive.

Responding officers encountered the man standing behind a fence. As they ordered him to drop his weapon the man ran into a home and then started shooting out of the home’s windows.

Detective Walker was struck in the neck by one of the rounds. He was flown to Medical City Denton where he succumbed to his wounds.

The subject remained barricaded inside the home for several hours. The man was found dead inside the home approximately six hours of the initial shooting.

Detective Walker was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Little Elm Police Department for 18 years. He is survived by his wife and four children.

 

 width=Chief Deputy
Clint Greenwood
Harris County Constable, Precinct 3, Texas

End of Watch: Monday, April 3, 2017

Assistant Chief Deputy Clint Greenwood was shot and killed behind the agency’s headquarters building, in the 700 block of West Baker Road in Baytown, at approximately 7:00 am.

It is believed he was shot from ambush as he arrived for work. He was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

The subject who shot him remains at large.

Assistant Chief Deputy Greenwood had served in law enforcement for 30 years. He had previously served with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, and Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant Chief Deputy Greenwood was a graduate of the 263rd Session of the FBI National Academy.

 

 width=Sergeant (Retired)
John H. Cothrun
Arizona Highway Patrol, Arizona

End of Watch: Sunday, March 5, 2017

(November 30, 1950 – March 5, 2017)
John Harvey Cothrun was born November 30th, 1950 to Oscar Royal and Audrey Ruth Cothrun in Silver City, New Mexico. He graduated from Northern Arizona University in May of 1972 with a degree in Forest and Land Management, but instead of going into forestry chose to apply to the Department of Public Safety.
He was hired in August of 1972, graduated the academy and was assigned to his first duty station in Seligman, Arizona in December of 1972. He remained here for 34 years, serving 12 of those as the area Sergeant and retired in 2006 after 34 years of service. He resided in Seligman until 2014 then joined Kathleen in Flagstaff when she changed careers.
John is survived by his wife of 44 years, Kathleen Sue, and his two sons, John Clinton (32) of Tallahassee, FL and Thomas Royal (29) of Flagstaff, AZ.
John’s lifelong passions were fitness, track and field and hunting. In college he competed on the collegiate track and field team at NAU on scholarship as a discus and javelin thrower. He continued to compete in track and field until July of 2016 and was inducted into the Texas Athletic Federation Hall of Fame in 2012. He also fulfilled a lifelong dream of hunting a Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep in December of 2015.
John was delivered to the Lord on March 5th, 2017. He died at home surrounded by his wife and two sons.
John was well known at the Texas Police Games, where he participated in Track & Field events. John was honored after being placed in the 2011 Hall of Fame.

Border Patrol Agent width=Isaac Morales
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government

End of Watch: Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Border Patrol Agent Isaac Morales succumbed to wounds sustained four days earlier when he was stabbed in an unprovoked attack in El Paso, Texas, while off duty.

Agent Morales and several friends were walking to their cars in the 12000 block of Tierre Este when they were confronted by the subject. Agent Morales identified himself as a United States Border Patrol agent in an attempt to diffuse the situation. The man then attacked him with a knife and stabbed him in the eye.

Despite the wound, Agent Morales chased the subject with several witnesses. The man was subdued by citizens and taken into custody by responding officers.

Agent Morales was transported to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition until passing away on May 24th, 2017.

Agent Morales had served with the United States Border Patrol for eight years and was assigned to the Ysleta Border Patrol Station.

 width=Corrections Officer
Shana Tedder
Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas

End of Watch: Friday, June 9, 2017

Corrections Officer Shana Tedder died after suffering a suspected heart attack following a use of force incident with an inmate at the Christina Melton Crain Unit in Gatesville, Texas.

She began to experience shortness of breath following the incident and collapsed after walking to a different area of the facility to rest. Other officers immediately began CPR as medics responded to the facility, however, they were unable to revive her.

Officer Tedder had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for 12 years.

 width= Police Officer
Miguel Moreno
San Antonio Police Department, Texas

End of Watch: Friday, June 30, 2017

Police Officer Miguel Moreno was shot and killed as he and his partner attempted to contact two subjects near the intersection of Evergreen Street and Howard Street at approximately 3:00 pm.

The officers observed the men near a car that appeared to have been broken into. As they stopped to speak to the subjects one of the men immediately opened fire, striking Officer Moreno in the head and his partner in the torso. Despite his wounds, Officer Moreno’s partner was able to pull him out of the line of fire and then returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect.

The second subject was taken into custody. Officer Moreno was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wound the following morning.

Officer Moreno had served with the San Antonio Police Department for nine years.

 width= Deputy Sheriff
Jason Fann
Yoakum County Sheriff’s Office, Texas

End of Watch: Saturday, August 5, 2017

Deputy Sheriff Jason Fann was killed in a vehicle crash at approximately 6:00 pm while responding to an accident on Highway 214, two miles south of Plains.

His patrol car left the roadway and overturned, causing him to sustain fatal injuries.

Deputy Fann served with both the Seagraves Police Department and Yoakum County Sheriff’s Office.

 width= Detective
Elise Ybarra
Abilene Police Department, Texas

End of Watch: Sunday, August 6, 2017

Detective Elise Ybarra was killed in a vehicle crash on I-20, outside of Abilene, when her department vehicle was struck by another car at approximately 6:15 pm.

She and two other detectives were en route to Dallas to attend the Crimes Against Children Conference. They encountered slow traffic due to a previous wreck on the interstate. A few moments later a pickup truck struck the rear of their unmarked car, causing Detective Ybarra to suffer fatal injuries. The other two detectives were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Detective Ybarra had served with the Abilene Police Department for three years and was assigned to the Special Victims Unit. She had previously served with the Sedalia, Missouri, Police Department. She is survived by her husband and 10-month-old daughter.

 width= Corporal
Monty D. Platt
West Texas A&M University Police Department, Texas

End of Watch: Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Corporal Monty Platt died of complications of an animal bite sustained on July 24th, 2017, as he attempted to capture an injured feral cat on campus in the area of 301 26th Street.

The cat bit him through his work gloves and punctured his skin. He received medical treatment and was given medication, which caused him to suffer a severe allergic reaction. He was transferred to the ICU at University of Medical Center, in Lubbock, where he was placed on a ventilator. His condition rapidly deteriorated and he passed away on August 8th, 2017.

Corporal Platt had served with the West Texas A&M University Police Department for 21 years and had served in law enforcement for 24 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and mother.

 width= Sergeant
Steve Perez
Houston Police Department, Texas

End of Watch: Sunday, August 27, 2017

Sergeant Steve Perez drowned after his patrol car was caught in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Sergeant Perez left home at approximately 4 a.m. in an attempt to report to his duty station in the downtown area, but was unable to reach it due to impassible roads caused by extreme flooding. He spent more than two hours trying to find a route, but when he could not, he alerted his colleagues that he would that he would follow department protocol and report to the nearest station in Kingwood, but he but never made it. His patrol car was washed away in high water in the area of Hardy Tollway and Beltway 8. His body was recovered by members of Houston Police Department dive team and citizens on August 29th, 2017.

Sergeant Perez had served with the Houston Police Department for 34 years and was just days shy of his 61st birthday. He is survived by his wife, two adult children, and father-in-law.

 width= Deputy Constable
Mark Diebold
Tarrant County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5, Texas

End of Watch: Thursday, September 7, 2017

Deputy Constable Mark Diebold suffered a fatal heart attack following qualifications for the agency’s tactical team.

Members of the tactical team immediately began CPR when he collapsed following the qualifications. He was transported to Alliance Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Deputy Diebold had served with the Tarrant County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5 for nine years and had previously served with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

 width= Police Officer
Elias Martinez
Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Department, Texas

End of Watch: Sunday, September 17, 2017

Police Officer Elias “Sonny” Martinez succumbed to injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash one week earlier while escorting permitted loads on Gulf Freeway, in the area of FM 646, in League City, Texas.

He was passing the trucks in the escorted convoy when he laid his motorcycle down in an attempt to avoid a collision. He struck the rear of one of the trucks, causing him to suffer severe injuries. He was flown to Hermann Memorial Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his injuries on September 17th, 2017.

Officer Martinez had served with the Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Department for 25 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

 width= Police Officer
Floyd East, Jr.
Texas Tech University Police Department, Texas

End of Watch: Monday, October 9, 2017

Police Officer Floyd East was shot and killed inside of the Texas Tech University Police Department while questioning a narcotics suspect at approximately 8:30 pm.

Officers were conducting a welfare check on a freshman student when they discovered narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia inside of his room. The subject was taken into custody and transported to the police station for further questioning and booking.

The subject, who was not handcuffed, shot Officer East in the back of the head with a .45 caliber pistol as he completed paperwork. The man then stole Officer East’s bodycam and fled the police station. He was arrested a short time later and charged with capital murder.

Officer East is survived by his wife and two daughters.

 width= Senior Trooper
Thomas Nipper
Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Highway Patrol, Texas

End of Watch: Saturday, November 4, 2017

Senior Trooper Tom Nipper killed in a vehicle crash while conducting a traffic stop on southbound I-35, near Midway Drive, in Temple.

He was sitting in his patrol car during the stop when it was struck from behind by a pickup truck. The impact caused the patrol car to strike the stopped vehicle and Trooper Nipper. He was transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Trooper Nipper had served with the Texas Highway Patrol for almost 35 years.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

 width= Border Patrol Agent
Rogelio Martinez
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government

End of Watch: Sunday, November 19, 2017

Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez was killed while he and his partner were attacked as they responded to smuggling activity near I-10 in the area of Van Horn, Texas.

A group of illegal aliens they were tracking attacked them with rocks, seriously injuring both agents. Agent Martinez’s partner was able to notify dispatchers and requested assistance. Responding units and rescue personnel transported them to a hospital where Agent Martinez succumbed to his wounds.

The suspect(s) who attacked them remain at large.

Agent Martinez had served with the United States Border Patrol for four years and was assigned to the Big Bend Sector.
He is survived by his fiancee and son.

 width= Texas State Trooper
Damon Allen
Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Highway Patrol, Texas

End of Watch: Thursday, November 23, 2017

Trooper Damon Allen was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on I-45 in Freestone County, just south of Fairfield, at approximately 4:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day.

He had contacted the driver and was returning to his patrol car when the man exited his car and opened fire with a rifle. Trooper Allen was killed at the scene.

The man was located in Waller County several hours later and taken into custody after exchanging shots with officers.

Trooper Allen had served with the Texas Highway Patrol for 15 years. He is survived by his wife and three children.

 width= Police Officer
Kenneth Copeland
San Marcos Police Department, Texas

End of Watch: Monday, December 4, 2017

Police Officer Ken Copeland was shot and killed while he and other officers attempted to serve a warrant on a man wanted for a crime of violence.

The officers were ambushed at the man’s home on Cottonwood Parkway, near Capistrano Drive, and Officer Copeland was struck multiple times. He was transported in a patrol car to Central Texas Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds.

The subject who shot him surrendered following a brief standoff with members of the regional SWAT team.

Officer Copeland had served with the San Marcos Police Department for 19 years. He was working an overtime shift on the day he was slain. He is survived by his wife and four children.

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