Sergeant Steve Hinkle
Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee
Born: 1953
End of Watch: Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Age: 65
Years of Service: 27 years
Badge: 1741
Sergeant Steve Hinkle died from gunshot wounds that he had sustained three days earlier. Deputies had responded to a residence to do a welfare check on the occupant. As they approached the home, the occupant open fired on them forcing them to take cover. When attempting to establish communication with the occupant, he open fired again, striking Sergeant Hinkle. The occupant was found deceased inside the home several hours later, presumably as a result in the exchange of gunfire.
He is survived by his children, his grandchildren, great-grandson, siblings, and several nieces and nephews.
Police Officer Nicholas Scott Galinger
Chattanooga Police Department, TN
Born: June 22, 1980
End of Watch: Sunday, February 24, 2019
Age: 38
Years of Service: 1 month
Badge: 1016
Police Officer Nicholas Galinger was killed by a vehicle while he was checking a manhole cover that had water overflowing from it. He was transported to the local hospital where he died a short time later. After striking him, the vehicle fled the scene. The driver turned herself in two days later after being added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top Ten Most Wanted List. The driver was charged with vehicular homicide.
Officer Galinger had just graduated from the police academy in January and was in field training. He is survived by his children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and other relatives.
K9 Doby
Fairfax County Police Department, Virginia
Breed: Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix
End of Watch: Friday, February 22, 2019
Gender: Male
Age: 2
Years of Service: 11 months
K9 Doby died after suffering a medical emergency while on an active track of two robbery suspects. He and his handler had tracked the suspects several buildings away and were attempting to reacquire their scent when K9 Doby suddenly collapsed. His handler immediately initiated CPR before transporting him to an emergency veterinary clinic. He was not able to be revived.
He was certified in patrol and narcotics detection.
Undersheriff Monty Thomas Johnson
Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: Thursday, February 21, 2019
Age: 63
Years of Service: Not Available
Badge: 306
Undersheriff Monty Johnson was killed in a vehicle crash. Another vehicle crossed the center line and struck his patrol car head-on. He is survived by his wife and children.
Lieutenant Daniel Duane Hinton
Florida Highway Patrol, Florida
Born: December 12, 1962
End of Watch: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Age: 56
Years of Service: 32 years
Badge: Not Available
Lieutenant Daniel Hinton suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in a defensive tactics training exercise. He was transported to the hospital where he died some time later. He was assigned to the Criminal Interdiction Unit. Lieutenant Hinton is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Agent Alfred Zanyet-Pérez
Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: Friday, February 15, 2019
Age: 52
Years of Service: 18 years
Badge: Not Available
Agent Alfred Zanyet-Pérez was shot and killed during an undercover operation. He was at a store when he fatally wounded during a drive-by shooting. A bystander was also wounded. The vehicle fled the scene of the crime and the suspect(s) remain at large.
Agent Zanyet-Pérez was assigned to the Drugs and Narcotics Division. He is survived by his wife and eight children.
Detective Brian P. Simonsen
New York City Police Department, New York
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Age: 42
Years of Service: 19 years
Badge: 3877
Detective Brian Simonsen was shot and killed responding to a robbery. Detective Simonsen and his sergeant were searching the area on an unrelated case when they heard the call for a robbery in progress. They responded to the store, encountered the subject and attempted to apprehend him.
As patrol officers responded to the scene, both detectives who were in plainclothes, were struck by friendly fire after the suspect pointed, what was later to be terminated as a fake gun at the officers. Detective Simonsen died at the scene from his wounds and his sergeant was taken to the hospital with injuries. The suspect was also shot and wounded.
He is survived by his wife.
K9 Defender
BNSF Railway Police Department, Railroad Police
Breed: Not Available
End of Watch: Thursday, February 7, 2019
Gender: Male
Age: Not Available
Years of Service: Not Available
K9 Defender was shot and killed by is handler after being mistaken for a coyote. Defender’s handler had placed him in their patrol vehicle before going out on a foot patrol in the area. Defender somehow managed to get out of the vehicle and approached his handler startling him. His handler, who had just been briefed on recent sightings of coyotes in the area, mistook Defender for a coyote and shot him.
Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Age: 35
Years of Service: 17 Years
Badge: Not Available
Military Veteran
Police Officer Matthew Rittner was shot and killed while he was executing a search warrant related to narcotics and firearms. The Tactical Enforcement Unit attempted to breach an apartment door when the suspect open fired with an AK-47. He shot through the door and struck Officer Rittner in the chest. He was transported to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.
The suspect was taken into custody and was charged with first-degree intentional homicide among other narcotics and weapons charges.
Officer Rittner was a US Marine Corps veteran of the War on Terror. He is survived by his wife and child.
Trooper Lucas Bartley Dowell
Virginia State Police, Virginia
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: February 4, 2019
Age: 28
Years of Service: 4 years, 3 months
Badge: 876
Trooper Lucas Dowell was shot and killed as he and other members of Virginia State Police’s Tactical team entered a home to secure it for a search warrant as part of a narcotics investigation. The team was assisting members of the Piedmont Regional Drug and Gang Task Force to serve a search warrant. The occupant inside opened fire on the officers, fatally wounding Trooper Dowell. Two other members of the team returned fire and killed the subject. Trooper Dowell was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
He is survived by his parents and sister.
Border Patrol Agent Donna Doss
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – United States Border Patrol, US Government
Born: November 6, 1969
End of Watch: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Age: 49
Years of Service: 15 years
Badge: A200
Border Patrol Agent Donna Doss was struck and killed by a vehicle. She had responded to a location to assist a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper to determine the status of a subject that was believed to be in the country illegally.
Agent Doss served with the United States Border Patrol for 16 years assigned to the Del Rio Sector. She is survived by her husband, stepsons, parents, and siblings.
Detective William Lee Brewer
Clermont County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio
Born: January 14, 1977
End of Watch: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Age: 42
Years of Service: 20 years
Badge: Not Available
Detective Bill Brewer was shot and killed while responding to a call from a suicidal man who claimed to be armed with a gun. Shortly before 7:00 p.m. Clermont County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a man who stated that someone had broken into his home. He later told 911 dispatchers that he was suicidal and armed. When officers arrived, they could not contact the man who had barricaded himself inside his apartment.
Several minutes later, the man fired several shots and multiple officers from multiple agencies attempted to negotiate with him. At 10:30, he once again open fired, striking Detective Brewer fatally and wounding a second deputy. A short time later, the SWAT Team had taken the man into custody.
Detective Brewer served the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office for 20 years and is survived by his wife and young son.
Corporal Shane Michael Totty
Baton Rouge Police Department, Louisiana
Born: April 8, 1987
End of Watch: Friday, February 1, 2019
Age: 31
Years of Service: 4 years, 7 months
Badge: Not Available
Corporal Shane Totty was killed in a motorcycle crash while escorting a funeral procession. His police motorcycle collided with another vehicle that pulled out in front of him at 2:40 p.m. Bystanders and other officers performed CPR before being transferred to the local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Corporal Totty had just returned to duty several months earlier from being shot in the face by a mental subject in February 2018. He is survived by his wife, young child, and his parents.