Atlanta Police Department, Georgia

Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while assisting other officers with a traffic incident on the exit ramp from southbound I-75 to northbound I-85.

She had just exited her vehicle when she was struck. The drunk driver was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, DUI, and reckless driving.

Officer Thomas had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 15 years.

Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:

Officer Kim Jones
Public Affairs Unit
Atlanta Police Department
226 Peachtree Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: (404) 546-7237

Pike County Sheriff’s Department, Kentucky

Deputy Sheriff James Thacker was killed in an automobile accident on U.S. 460, just past Marrowbone Creek Road, at approximately 9:00 pm.

He was en route to Elkhorn City to serve civil papers towards the end of his shift when a speeding SUV crossed the center line and struck his patrol car head-on. The SUV then collided with another vehicle. Deputy Thacker succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle that caused the crash was charged with murder.

Deputy Thacker had served with the Pike County Sheriff’s Department for one year and had previously served as an elected county constable for four years.

Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:

Sheriff Charles Keesee
Pike County Sheriff’s Department
146 Main Street #204
Pikeville, KY 41501

Phone: (606) 432-6260

Arkansas Department of Correction, Arkansas

Corporal Barbara Ester was stabbed to death by an inmate at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys, Arkansas.

She had observed an inmate in possession of contraband pair of sneakers and entered the open barracks to confiscate them. As she approached the inmate he suddenly stabbed her twice in the stomach with a shank.

Corporal Ester was flown to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she succumbed to her wounds.

The inmate, who was serving a life sentence for murder, was immediately taken into custody and transferred to the maximum security wing of the prison.

Corporal Ester had served with the Arkansas Department of Correction for 12 years. She is survived by her husband, who also serves as an officer at the same facility.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana

Deputy Sheriff Randall Benoit was killed in an automobile accident at the intersection of Highway 27 and Red Rose Drive in Carlyss at approximately 8:00 am.

His patrol car was struck head-on by another vehicle, causing fatal injuries.

Deputy Benoit had served with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office for 18 years and was assigned to the Civil Division.

Michigan Department of Corrections, Michigan

Correctional Officer Clarence Hammond was shot and killed in a botched robbery attempt as he arrived home at an apartment complex on Harlo Avenue, in Madison Heights, at approximately 12:30 am.

Officer Hammond, who was still in uniform, and his girlfriend had pulled into a parking spot next to a van with an opened door. A subject immediately exited the van and attempted to rob the couple. When he observed Officer Hammond’s uniform he struck him in the head with the gun and then shot him.

The suspect fled the scene and remains at large.

Officer Hammond had served with the Michigan Department of Corrections for six years and was assigned to the Macomb Correctional Facility. He is survived by his two young sons.

New Haven Police Department, Connecticut

Detective Andrew Faggio succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile accident on January 31, 2003, while en route to a stakeout assignment at approximately 4:00 am.

He was cresting a hill on Durham Road, in Madison, when he encountered an oncoming vehicle in his travel lane. He swerved to avoid striking the vehicle, but his car spun around and struck a tree. Detective Faggio suffered severe head injuries and slipped into a coma, from which he never emerged.

Detective Faggio had served with the New Haven Police Department for 14 years at the time of the crash. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona

Deputy Sheriff William Coleman was shot and killed while responding to a burglary call in Anthem at approximately 4:15 am.

As he and another deputy arrived at the scene they encountered a male subject inside of a van at a medical building near the intersection of Anthem Way and Gavilan Peak Parkway. As they attempted to make contact with the man he opened fire on them with a rifle, striking Deputy Coleman below his vest. The suspect was killed by return gunfire from other deputies.

Deputy Coleman was transported to John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

Deputy Coleman had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for 20 years. He is survived by his wife and several children.

Ogden Police Department, Utah

Agent Jared Francom was shot and killed while serving a drug-related search warrant at an Ogden residence on Jackson Avenue around 8:40 pm.

As members of the task force approached the home the suspect opened fire on them. After firing at the officers, the suspect fled to a shed near the home and barricaded himself inside. He was shot and wounded by other responding officers before being taken into custody.

Three other members of the Ogden Police Department, a member of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, and a member of the Roy Police Department were also wounded in the shooting. Agent Francom suffered a fatal wound in the shooting and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

Agent Francom had served with the Ogden Police Department for seven years and was assigned to the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force. He is survived by his wife and two young children.

United States Department of the Interior – National Park Service, U.S. Government

Park Ranger Margaret Anderson was shot and killed while attempting to stop a fleeing suspect near the Longmire Ranger Station in Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County, Washington, at approximately 10:30 am.

Another park ranger had attempted to stop the suspect at a snow-chain checkpoint near the Paradise Ranger Station, but the suspect fled before being intercepted by Ranger Anderson, who had set up a roadblock. Unbeknownst to Ranger Anderson, the suspect was wanted in connection to a shooting the previous day where four people were wounded.

When the suspect reached Ranger Anderson’s roadblock, he made a U-turn, exited his vehicle, and opened fire. Ranger Anderson was shot before she was able to exit her patrol car.

After being shot, Ranger Anderson radioed for help as the suspect fled on foot. Responding units attempting to reach Ranger Anderson were held at bay for approximately 90 minutes as the suspect continued to fire on them. The suspect’s vehicle was recovered with additional weapons and body armor inside.

The suspect’s body was found the following day about six miles from the initial shooting scene.

Ranger Anderson had served with the National Park Service for 11 years. She is survived by her husband and two young children. Her husband also serves as a park ranger in the park and was on duty at the time.