UNITED STATES LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH REPORT May 2020
The monthly United States Line-of-Duty Deaths Report is a joint publication of the International Association of
Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). IACP and ODMP are committed to
honoring fallen law enforcement officers while also raising awareness about line-of-duty deaths, including
related trends and causal factors.
The IACP is the world’s largest professional organization for police leaders. The IACP’s Center for
Officer Safety and Wellness offers a host of resources related to officer health, mental and physical
wellness, tactical safety, and more. Learn more at https://www.theiacp.org/topics/officer-safety-
wellness.
ODMP is dedicated to honoring the memory of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of
duty. Through its online memorial and reflection pages, ODMP pays lasting tribute to the more than
20,000 officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Learn more at www.ODMP.org.
UNITED STATES LINE OF DUTY DEATH REPORT May 2020
The monthly LODD report is a joint publication of the International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP) and the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).
GUNFIRE
Police Officer Mike Mosher (Overland Park Police Department, Kansas) was shot and killed while attempting to
arrest a hit-and-run suspect. He called dispatchers as he followed the vehicle until it stopped at an intersection.
The suspect confronted Officer Mosher with a firearm, leading to a shootout that resulted in the death of Officer
Mosher and the suspect.
Police Officer Cody Holte (Grand Forks Police Department, North Dakota) was shot and killed after responding
to assist deputies who were fired upon as they served an eviction notice at an apartment. When deputies made
contact with the subject he fled into a bedroom and began firing at them with a semi-automatic rifle. Officer
Holte and another officer responded to the deputies' call for assistance. When they arrived, the suspect again
opened fire, killing Officer Holte and wounding one of the deputies.
Police Officer Nathan James Lyday (Ogden Police Department, Utah) was shot and killed while responding to a
domestic disturbance call at a private residence. A woman had called 911 and reported that a male subject was
threatening to kill her. When Officer Lyday and other officers arrived at the home the subject was located on the
front porch. He was uncooperative with officers before running inside the home. As officers approached the
front door, he opened fire, shooting through the door and fatally wounding Officer Lyday.
Deputy Constable Caleb Rule (Fort Bend County Constable’s Office – Precinct 4, Texas) was inadvertently shot
and killed by a fellow deputy while responding to a suspicious person call. As officers were clearing a home
associated with the call, Deputy Constable Rule was mistaken for the suspect and struck by gunfire . He was
transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
Police Officer Waldis “Jay” Johnson (Detroit Police Department, Michigan) succumbed to a gunshot wound
sustained in April of 2017. Officer Johnson and a fellow officer responded to a call at an apartment complex
when they were confronted with an individual holding a semi-automatic handgun. While attempting to gain
control of the handgun and suspect, Officer Johnson went to grab his service weapon and both individuals fired
simultaneously. Officer Johnson was shot once in the head and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He remained in
a rehabilitation facility until his death.
AUTO RELATED
Deputy Sheriff Wyatt Maser (Bonneville County Sheriff's Office) initially responded to a single-vehicle rollover
crash. When he arrived, he encountered a woman experiencing a mental crisis walking away from the crash
carrying a machete. Deputy Maser and another responding deputy attempted to talk to her for several minutes
as she continued to disobey commands as she walked in the roadway. A third deputy who was responding to the
scene came upon the group on the dark roadway and inadvertently struck Deputy Maser. He was transported to
a nearby medical center where he succumbed to his injuries.
Trooper George Baker (Louisiana State Police) was struck by a patrol car while removing stop sticks from the
roadway following a vehicle pursuit. As the troopers attempted to remove the stop sticks, they were
inadvertently struck by a responding patrol car. Both troopers were transported to a local hospital where
Trooper Baker succumbed to his injuries several days after the incident.
UNITED STATES LINE OF DUTY DEATH REPORT May 2020
The monthly LODD report is a joint publication of the International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP) and the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).
AIRCRAFT RELATED
Police Officer Jason Knox (Houston Police Department, Texas) was killed in a helicopter accident after the
aircraft experienced an issue during a search in a local bayou, causing it to crash into an apartment complex
clubhouse.
COVID-19 and Medical-Related Causes
Officer Richard McCoy (United Stated Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection –
Office of Field Operations) died after contracting COVID-19 while on duty at the Fort Lauderdale/Port Everglades
Port of Entry in Florida.
Deputy Sheriff Richard O’Brien, Jr. (Cook County Sheriff's Office - Department of Court Services, Illinois) died
after contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak of the virus among inmates and correctional staff at the county
jail.
Officer Omar E. Palmer (United Stated Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection –
Office of Field Operations) died after contracting COVID-19 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York
City following exposure to an employee who tested positive.
Sergeant Lionel Q. Martinez (Alamo Colleges Police Department, Texas) suffered a fatal heart attack while
responding to a shooting call, resulting in his patrol car striking a nearby parked vehicle. Other responding
officers immediately started CPR and he was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later.
Sergeant Raymond John Scholwinski (Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas) died after contracting COVID-19
from a confirmed exposure with another employee.
Corrections Officer Jesse Wayne Bolton (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) died after contracting COVID-19
during an outbreak at the Eastham Unit in Lovelady, Texas.
Corrections Officer Maria Mendez (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) died after contracting COVID-19 in a
presumed exposure during an outbreak at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, Texas.
Correctional Officer Antoine Jones (Cook County Sheriff's Office - Department of Corrections, Illinois) died after
contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak of the virus among inmates and correctional staff at the county jail.
Corrections Supervisor George “Bernie” Robare (Kansas Department of Criminal Justice) died after contracting
COVID-19 during an outbreak of the virus amongst inmates and employees at the Lansing Correctional Facility.
Sergeant Charles “Rob” Roberts, III (Glen Ridge Police Department, New Jersey) died after contracting COVID-19
during an outbreak of the virus at the city government building and police headquarters.
Corrections Supervisor Fella A. Adebiyi (Kansas Department of Criminal Justice) died after contracting COVID-19
during an outbreak of the virus amongst inmates and employees at the Lansing Correctional Facility.
Sergeant José García-Vázquez (Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico) died after contracting COVID-19
while on duty during an outbreak in the district police station.
Officer Ching Kok “CK” Yan (United Stated Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection –
Office of Field Operations) died after contracting COVID-19 while on duty at John F. Kennedy International
Airport in New York City.
UNITED STATES LINE OF DUTY DEATH REPORT May 2020
The monthly LODD report is a joint publication of the International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP) and the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).
Correctional Officer Berisford Anthony Morse (Washington State Department of Corrections) died after
contracting COVID-19 through a confirmed exposure to an inmate during a facility outbreak.
Trooper First Class Eugene Kenneth Baron, Jr. (Connecticut State Police) died of cancer contracted while
assisting with rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the September 11
th
, 2001
terrorist attacks.
Detective John D. Songy (Rutland Police Department, Massachusetts) died after contracting COVID-19 due as
the result of a presumed exposure while on duty.
