By Sgt. Mike Barry PAPD (ret.)
Administrator, NPDF Safe Cop Program
As summer comes to a close and the leaves change to breathtaking crimson colors, the summer of 2022 was indeed bloody for law enforcement. Our nation seems to be gripped by a whirlwind of crime and lawlessness of late and law enforcement is paying a very high price for this chaos indeed. Some of the heroes, both human and K-9, who we lost were:
Deputy Sheriff William Petry
Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky
End of Watch – June 30, 2022
Deputy Sheriff William Petry as well as Captain Ralph Frasure and Police Officer Jacob Chaffins, of the Prestonsburg Police Department, were shot and killed in Allen by a subject who was wanted for domestic violence offenses. Several warrants and a protective order had been issued for the man after he assaulted a family member. As two Floyd County deputies arrived at the man’s to serve the warrants the suspect opened fire. Numerous jurisdictions responded to assist following the initial shooting. The man fired hundreds of rounds from prepositioned firearms throughout the home.
Deputy Petry and Captain Frasure were killed during the incident. Officer Chaffins succumbed to his wounds the following day. Three other law enforcement officers and the director of emergency management were wounded. K9 Drago, also of the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, was also killed in the incident. The subject was taken into custody after remaining barricaded in the home for several hours. He was charged with multiple counts of murder of a police officer, attempted murder of a police officer, and assaulting a service animal.
Deputy Petry had served with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years and had previously served with the Kentucky State Police for 15 years.
Captain Ralph Frasure
Prestonsburg Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch – June 30, 2022
Captain Ralph Frasure and Police Officer Jacob Chaffins, along with Deputy Sheriff William Petry of the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, were shot and killed by a subject who was wanted for domestic violence offenses.
Several warrants and a protective order had been issued for the man after he assaulted a family member. As two Floyd County deputies arrived at the man’s home to serve the warrants, the man opened fire. Numerous jurisdictions responded to assist following the initial shooting. The man fired hundreds of rounds from prepositioned firearms throughout the home.
Deputy Petry and Captain Frasure were killed during the incident. Officer Chaffins succumbed to his wounds the following day. Three other law enforcement officers and the director of emergency management were wounded. K9 Drago, also of the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, was also killed in the incident.
The subject was taken into custody after remaining barricaded in the home for several hours. He was charged with multiple counts of murder of a police officer, attempted murder of a police officer, and assaulting a service animal. Captain Frasure had served with the Prestonsburg Police Department for 39 years.
Police Officer Jacob Russell Chaffins
Prestonsburg Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch Friday, July 1, 2022
Captain Ralph Frasure, Police Officer Jacob Chaffins, and Deputy Sheriff William Petry, of the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, were shot and killed in Allen by a subject who was wanted for domestic violence offenses.
Several warrants and a protective order had been issued for the man after he assaulted a family member. As two Floyd County deputies arrived at the man’s home to serve the warrants the man opened fire. Numerous jurisdictions responded to assist following the initial shooting. The man fired hundreds of rounds from prepositioned firearms throughout the home.
Deputy Petry and Captain Frasure were killed during the incident. Officer Chaffins succumbed to his wounds the following day. Three other law enforcement officers and the director of emergency management were wounded.
K9 Drago, also of the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, was also killed in the incident. The subject was taken into custody after remaining barricaded in the home for several hours. He was charged with multiple counts of murder of a police officer, attempted murder of a police officer, and assaulting a service animal. Officer Chaffins was a Kentucky National Guard veteran and served with the Prestonsburg Police Department for three years.
PO Anthony Mazurkiewicz
Rochester, New York, PD
End of Watch: July 21, 2022
PO Anthony Mazurkiewicz was fatally shot and another officer was wounded in an ambush in Rochester, New York on Thursday. The officers were on patrol as part of a plainclothes tactical unit when they were shot around 9:15 p.m. Police Chief David Smith identified the slain officer as Anthony Mazurkiewicz, a 29-year member of the department. Mazurkiewicz was shot at least once in the upper body, Smith said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Seng, who was shot at least once in the lower body, was treated at another hospital, released and is recovering at home, Smith said.
“Last night, Officer Mazurkiewicz and his partner, Officer Sino Seng, were attacked in a cowardly ambush and fell victim to the very violence in our community that we are trying to combat,” Smith said at a press briefing Friday. Their attacker is still at large.
A bystander suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and was treated at the scene, authorities said.
The NPDF has been in contact with the Rochester, PD to offer a Safe Cop Reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer of PO Mazurkiewicz.
Deputy Matthew Yates
Clark County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: July 25th, 2022
A veteran deputy of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCS was murdered in the line of duty while responding to a report that a woman had broken into a home and opened fire on the occupants late Sunday morning.
The incident occurred at a mobile home Clark County Sheriff Deborah Burchett told reporters during an emotional press conference. Deputies responded to the home after someone called 911 at 10:51 a.m. to report that an unknown female had broken into the house and fired five or six rounds at the people inside. As deputies attempted to enter the home, “they were met with gunfire,” Sheriff Burchett said. Deputy Matthew Yates, a 15-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was shot during the attack.
The wounded hero remained trapped inside the home for hours during an ensuing standoff with the suspect. Sheriff Burchett said that multiple tactical teams, including the Clark County Special Operations that Team Deputy Yates was a member of, responded to the scene to rescue him from the home. The teams were eventually able to reach Deputy Yates and loaded him into an armored vehicle. He was flown to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The identity of the shooter was not immediately released and it wasn’t known whether police had taken anyone into custody in connection with the incident.
The NPDF has been in contact with the Clark County Sherriff’s Office, PD to offer a Safe Cop Reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer of Deputy Yates.
Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz
Elwood Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch Sunday, July 31, 2022
Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz was shot and killed while making a traffic stop at 2:00 AM. The driver of the vehicle he stopped exited his car and opened fire on Officer Shahnavaz before fleeing in his car. The man then led other officers on a pursuit after he was located in Hamilton County, Indiana. The subject continued to fire at officers during the pursuit until officers with the Fishers Police Department conducted a PIT maneuver. Officer Shahnavaz was transported to a local hospital and then flown to a hospital in Indianapolis where he succumbed to his wounds.
The subject who shot him was a convicted felon who had been previously convicted of shooting at police officers in Indianapolis. He was charged with murder and other charges after murdering Officer Shahnavaz. Officer Shahnavaz was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Elwood Police Department for 11 months. He is survived by his parents and siblings.
Sergeant Matthew Fishman
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
End of Watch Tuesday, August 2, 2022
No job is routine, even administrative calls routinely handled by every Sheriff’s Department. Sergeant Matthew Fishman was shot and killed while serving involuntary commitment papers. The subject fired at Sergeant Fishman and two other deputies as they arrived at the home at about 10:30 am. The man barricaded himself inside the house until a SWAT team entered at 8:00 pm and found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Sergeant Fishman was transported to ECU Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds the next day. The two other deputies were transported to ECU Medical Center and Wayne UNC Hospital in stable condition.
Sergeant Fishman had served with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years and had previously served with the Mount Olive Police Department. He is survived by his wife, two children, and father.
Deputy Sheriff Andrew Peery
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado
End of Watch: Sunday, August 7, 2022
Deputy Sheriff Andrew Peery was shot and killed while responding to a shots-fired call A Fountain Police Department officer, Deputy Peery, and another deputy responded to a shooting call. When they arrived in the area, they were immediately met with gunfire. Deputy Peery was transported to UC Health Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
A woman was also found dead in the home’s front yard, presumed to have been shot by the subject. The subject committed suicide inside the home.
Deputy Peery was a United States Army veteran who had served with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for six years and was a SWAT Team member. He is survived by his wife and two children.
K-9 Kano
Slidell, Louisiana Police Department
EOW – August 11, 2022
On August 11, 2022 Sgt. Jake Morris and K-9 Kano were dispatched to a burglary/theft in progress. Upon arrival the suspect fled on foot and entered a wooded area. K-9 Kano and Morris tracked the suspect and eventually apprehended him. Shortly thereafter K-9 Kano became lethargic and was having trouble breathing. The dog was rushed to an animal clinic and was diagnosed with spleen cancer. The dog died due to extreme exertion compounded by the cancer.
The NPDF is currently seeking contributions to replace K-9 Kano. To that end, the NPDF’s Executive Director has decided to kick-start the fund by making an initial $2000.donation. The NPDF campaign for the K-9 replacement reads as follows:
“THE NPDF MOURNS THE LOSS OF SLIDELL (LA) POLICE K-9 KANO WHO ON AUGUST 11, 2022 DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY APPREHENDING A BURGLAR SUSPECT. THE NPDF HAS ESTABLISHED A MEMORIAL FUND WHERE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS WILL BE MADE TO HELP DONATE A NEW POLICE K-9 DOG TO HIS DEPARTMENT. DONATIONS CAN BE PLEDGED BY CALLING THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER 888-SAFE COP OR VIA THE NPDF WEBSITE WWW.NPDF1.ORG.”
Police Officer Cesar “Echy” Echaverry
Miami-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Police Officer Cesar Echaverry succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two nights earlier while chasing a robbery suspect.
A vehicle that had been involved in an armed robbery in Dania Beach earlier in the evening was observed driving in Miami-Dade and fled when officers attempted to stop it. Officers pursued the vehicle until it crashed into a light pole. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot as Officer Echaverry and other officers pursued him on foot. The man opened fire, striking Officer Echaverry, before he was killed by return fire. The officer was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following evening.
A second suspect in the initial robbery was shot and killed the following day as a SWAT team attempted to take him into custody at a local hotel.
Officer Echaverry had served with the Miami-Dade Police Department for five years and was assigned to the Robbery Intervention Detail. He had five years of service.
Constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay
Pima County Constable’s Office, Arizona
End of Watch Thursday, August 25, 2022
Even when undertaking seemingly mundane tasks such as delivering eviction notices, law enforcement officers always face the prospects of danger and worse. Constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay was shot and killed while serving an eviction notice in Tucson, Arizona.
Constable Martinez-Garibay, the apartment manager, and a neighbor were shot and killed by a suspect who then committed suicide. Constable Martinez-Garibay was a United States Army veteran and had served as Constable for Precinct 8 for only five months.
Deputy Sheriff Marshall Samuel Ervin, Jr.
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
End of Watch Thursday, September 8, 2022
Deputy Sheriff Marshall Ervin and Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Koleski were shot and killed while serving a felony theft warrant in Marietta.
They were taking the subject into custody when another subject inside the home confronted them with a firearm. Both deputies gave commands for the man to drop the firearm before an exchange of shots. Both deputies suffered fatal wounds. The wanted subject and the shooter both barricaded themselves in the home but were both taken into custody later in the night.
Deputy Ervin had served with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Randall Koleski
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
End of Watch Thursday, September 8, 2022
Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Koleski and Deputy Sheriff Marshall Ervin were shot and killed while serving a felony theft warrant in Marietta.
They were taking the subject into custody when another subject inside the home confronted them with a firearm. Both deputies gave commands for the man to drop the firearm before an exchange of shots. Both deputies suffered fatal wounds. The wanted subject and the shooter both barricaded themselves in the home but were both taken into custody later in the night.
Deputy Sheriff Koleski was a United States Army veteran. He is survived by his wife.
Police Officer Dillon Michael Vakoff
Arvada Police Department, Colorado
End of Watch Sunday, September 11, 2022
On September 11, 2022, as our nation was mourning the 21st anniversary of the attack of 9-11-01 that took the lives of 2,977 Americans, including thirty seven (37) members of the PAPD along with one (1) K-9 (Sirius) and twenty-three (23) members of the NYPD along with three hundred forty three (343) member of the FDNY, Police Officer Michael Vakoff was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance.
He and another officer were attempting to break up a fight between the family members when one of the involved men opened fire, wounding a woman who was also involved in the disturbance. The subject then exchanged shots with Officer Vakoff and the other officer. Officer Vakoff was mortally wounded before the subject was also shot.
Officer Vakoff was transported to Lutheran Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Officer Vakoff was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Arvada Police Department for three years.
PO Anthony Varvaro
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department
EOW, September 11, 2022
As a retired PAPD Sergeant, this death is particularly disheartening for me.
Officer Varvaro, 37, was killed Sunday morning in a motor vehicle accident on the New Jersey Turnpike while on his way to the World Trade Center to support public safety activities during the 9/11 commemoration events. His personal vehicle was hit head-on by a vehicle driving the wrong way on the NJ Turnpike. The driver of the oncoming vehicle was also killed. Officer Varvaro had a career in professional baseball before joining the PAPD. As many likely have seen in local and national news, Varvaro was a star athlete. A Staten Island native, he played college baseball at St. John’s University then went on to pitch in the majors – playing for the Atlanta Braves, the Seattle Mariners, and the Boston Red Sox. He joined the PAPD in 2016. He is survived by a wife and three young sons.
Deputy Sheriff Michael Hartwick
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
End of Watch Thursday, September 22, 2022
Deputy Sheriff Michael Hartwick succumbed to injuries received when he was struck by a front-end loader at 10:30 pm.
He was working an overnight assignment directing traffic for construction work on I-275. He was outside his cruiser when the front-end loader carrying concrete barriers hit him.
The construction worker fled the scene but was apprehended 10 hours later. Another construction worker who helped the subject hide his work vest and flee was charged with accessory after the fact. Deputy Harwick had served with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years. He is survived by his two sons and mother.
Author’s Note:
This will be the last quarterly newsletter you will receive from me as the Administrator of the NPDF Safe Cop program. I will be moving into a new, challenging position within the organization as NPDF Director of Program Services. I will be turning the highly successful Safe Cop Program over to the very capable hands of a new administrator, Lt. Karl M. Milligan (ret) of the Prince George’s County, Maryland, PD. Karl is a highly experienced retired law enforcement officer who will bring a great deal of knowledge, energy and enthusiasm to the Safe Cop Program. I would like to thank all of you who have reached out to me with ideas for projects and information when a law enforcement officer is killed or severely injured in the line of duty; as well as law enforcement animals. Thank you for all your assistance and I wish Lt. Milligan the very best of luck as he carries on this vital work.
Sgt. Mike Barry (ret.)