Lieutenant Steven Dewayne Whitstine
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, LA
Born: August 3, 1976
End of Watch: May 30, 2019
Age: 42
Years of Service: 17
Badge: Not Available
Lieutenant Steven Whetstone was killed in an automobile crash at about 6:30 a.m. He was en route to the sheriff’s office when his patrol car left the roadway, stuck a tree, and overturned. He suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash. His canine partner suffered minor injuries and was treated by a local veterinarian. It is believed that the Lieutenant suffered a medical emergency immediately prior to the crash.
He served with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office for eight years and had previously served with the Baker Police Department for nine years. He is survived by his wife and children.
Lieutenant Joseph P. Johnson
Seminole Police Department, Tribal Police
Born: November 29, 1954
End of Watch: May 30, 2019
Age: 64
Years of Service: 41 Years
Badge: 236
Military Veteran
Lieutenant Joe Johnson was killed in a vehicle crash. He was driving between two Seminole Indian Reservations at 10:20 p.m. when his vehicle left the roadway and overturned into an adjacent canal. He was transported to the hospital where he died later from his injuries.
Lieutenant Johnson was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and served the Seminole Police Department for 10 years. He previously served with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office for 26 years and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office for five years. He is survived by his wife, two children, three grandchildren, and three siblings.
Police Officer Jesus Marrero-MartĂnez
ManatĂ Municipal Police Department, PR
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: May 25, 2019
Age: 37
Years of Service: 16 Years
Badge: 4573
Police Officer Jesus Marrero-MartĂnez was shot and killed while intervening in a car jacking attempt while off duty. He and a friend had gone to a club not realizing that it was closed. When they arrived in the parking lot, they were confronted by three masked men who demanded their car keys. His friend relinquished his keys but Officer Marrero-MartĂnez identified himself and drew his weapon. He shot and killed one of the subjects during a gunfire exchange. A second subject shot him in the back and arm before fleeing the scene. The two subjects are still at large but have been identified. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is handling the ongoing investigation into the attack.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
Police Officer William Ray Buechner, Jr.
Auburn Police Division, AL
Born: August 27, 1981
End of Watch: May 19, 2019
Age: 37
Years of Service: 13 Years
Badge: Not Available
Police Officer William Buchner was shot and killed when he and two other officers responded to a domestic disturbance at 10:10 p.m. After the officers arrived on the scene a subject at the mobile home opened fire on them, killing Officer Buchner and wounding two other officers. The man fled the area on foot but was arrested early the next morning. The subject was charged with capital murder.
He served with the Auburn Police Division for 13 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and step-daughter.
Sergeant Kelvin Ansari
Savannah Police Department, GA
Born: July 8, 1968
End of Watch: May 11, 2019
Age: 50
Years of Service: 10 Years
Badge: Not Available
Military Veteran
Sergeant Kelvin Ansari was shot and killed in an attempt to apprehend a robbery suspect. He and other officers responded to a robbery that occurred at a barbershop. The suspect was believed to have left the area but was inside a nearby vehicle. As Sergeant Ansar checked the area the man exited and opened fire on him and another officer striking them both. The subject fled into a nearby residential area and was found a short time later. As responding officers ordered him to surrender, he exited the shed that he was hiding in and opened fire again. He was fatally wounded by return fire.
Sergeant Ansari had retired from the U.S. Army and served with the Savannah Police Department for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Constable Willie Houston “Hoot” West
Lowndes County Constable’s Office, MS
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: May 9, 2019
Age: 81
Years of Service: 52
Badge: Not Available
Constable Hoot West succumbed to injuries sustained three days earlier when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. He was serving civil service papers when the crash occurred.
Constable West served as the elected constable of Lowndes County’s District 1 since 1971 and was serving his 13th consecutive term. He had a total of 52 years of law enforcement services and was a founding member and first president of the Mississippi Constables Association.
He is survived by his son, two daughters, five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, mother, brother, and two sisters.
Police Officer Anthony Neri
Sanibel Police Department, FL
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: May 6, 2019
Age: 63
Years of Service: 7 years
Badge: 1375
Police Officer Anthony Neri suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in the physical ability test. He collapsed while conducting an exercise and was transported to the local hospital where he passed away. He had served with the Sanibel Police Department for four years. Previously, he served with the Union Township Police Department in New Jersey where he served for three years. He is survived by his wife, Debra, and their children Allison and Daniel as well as his mother.
Trooper Matthew Gatti
Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: May 6, 2019
Age: 24
Years of Service: 11 months
Badge: Not Available
Trooper Matthew Gatti was killed when his patrol car collided with two tractor-trailers. The incident occurred at approximately 3:45 pm as he was responding to a car fire. His patrol car struck the rear of one semi before spinning into the second one.
Police Officer Robert McKeithen
Biloxi Police Department, MS
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: May 5, 2019
Age: 58
Years of Service: 24 years
Badge: 126
Military Veteran
Police Officer Robert McKeithen was shot and killed in the Public Safety Center’s (Police Station) parking lot around 10:00 pm. A male subject approached him and shot him multiple times without provocation. The male subject fled the scene. Officer McKeithen was transported to a nearby hospital where he died from his wounds. The man who shot him, age 19, was arrested on May 6th and was charged with capital murder.
After Hurricane Katrina, Officer McKeithen was one of five officers in the Biloxi Police Department to receive a Medal of Valor for helping to rescue four disabled children from a flooded home.
Officer McKeithen was a US Air Force veteran and was with the police department for 24 years. He had planned to retire by the end of this year. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and stepchildren.
K9 Officer Jordan Harris Sheldon
Mooresville Police Department, North Carolina
Born: Not Available
End of Watch: May 4, 2019
Age: 32
Years of Service: 6 years
Badge: Not Available
Police Officer Jordan Sheldon was shot and killed conducting a traffic stop. He was transported to the hospital where he died from his wounds. The suspect that shot him fled the scene of the crime and and later committed suicide in a nearby apartment.