As winter comes to a close and spring teases, 2022 was in its infancy when tragedy struck in a very unusual way.
Trooper John S. Horton – NC State Police
Trooper John Horton of the North Carolina Highway Patrol was killed on January 3, 2022 when Trooper Horton was struck and killed by a patrol car while conducting a traffic stop. He had detained the driver of a vehicle and was standing on the shoulder of the roadway with the subject when trooper arriving on scene to back him up, lost control of his patrol car and collided with Trooper Horton’s patrol car, which was then pushed into Horton and the detained subject. The subject of the stop died at the scene and Trooper Horton died after being transported to a hospital in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Trooper Horton had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for 15 years. He is survived by his wife and six children.
K-9 Jedi – Seattle, Washington PD
On January 5th, 2022 the first police K-9 of 2022 was killed in the line of duty. K-9 Jedi, a four (4) year old predominantly German Shepherd mixed breed male, was stabbed to death while attempting an apprehension of a burglary suspect. A resident in the home called 911 to report a subject armed with a machete was attempting to break in. Responding units encountered the subject who then fled on foot. Officers pursued him where K9 Jedi was released to perform an apprehension. The man fatally stabbed K9 Jedi during the apprehension and then stabbed an officer in the face before being shot and killed.
PO Diane Gonzalez – New Haven PD
On January 10th, 2022 PO Diane of the New Haven, Connecticut PD succumbed to injuries she received in a motor vehicle accident that happened on September 10, 2008 when fellow Police Sergeant was killed when their radio cars collided as both responded to a domestic violence incident. PO Gonzalez sustained a traumatic brain injury in that accident causing her to slip into a coma. She remain in a comatose state since the accident until she succumbed to her injuries. Officer Gonzalez had served with the New Haven Police Department for 13 years at the time of the crash. She is survived by her son, two daughters, and grandchildren.
PO Jason Rivera – NYPD
On January 21nd, 2022 PO Jason Rivera was responding to a domestic violence complaint when he was ambushed by a paroled felon. Officer Rivera and another officer went to the rear of the apartment to interview a domestic violence suspect while the third officer stayed with the mother, who was the victim. As the officers approached the door to a room the suspect was in, the suspect opened the door and immediately began to fire at the officers, striking Officer Rivera and one of his partners. The third officer returned fire, wounding the suspect. PO Rivera, the married father of one was shot in the face and died at the scene. His partner is struggling for his life after also being shot in the head. The shooter, Lashawn McNeil, was attempting to flee the scene when he was shot by a third officer PO Rivera was the fifth NYC Police Officer to be shot since New Year’s Day. He was a member of the NYPD for just fifteen (15) months.
Constable Corporal Charles Galloway – Harris County Constables Office, Texas
On January 23rd, 2022 Harris County Precinct 5 Constables Office Corporal Charles Galloway was conducting a traffic stop when the driver reportedly stepped out of his vehicle and fired what police describe as an “assault-style weapon” at Corporal Galloway’s patrol vehicle. The suspect, described as a young Hispanic male, fired multiple rounds from his weapon striking Corporal Galloway multiple times. Galloway was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver reportedly fled the scene in a newer-model white Toyota Avalon and he remains at large at this time. The 47-year-old law enforcement officer is survived by his daughter and sister, officials reported.
Police Officer Wilbert Mora – NYPD
Police Officer Wilbert Mora and Police Officer Jason Rivera were shot and killed when they responded with a third officer to the report of a domestic dispute call in an apartment in Harlem. When the officers arrived at the apartment about 6:30 pm, they spoke with the suspect’s mother. Officer Rivera and Officer Mora went to the rear of the apartment to interview the suspect while the third officer stayed with the mother. As the officers approached the door to a bedroom the suspect was in, the suspect opened the door and immediately began to fire at the officers, striking Officer Rivera and Officer Mora. The third officer returned fire, wounding the suspect.
Officer Rivera and Officer Mora were transported to Harlem Hospital in grave condition. Officer Rivera succumbed to his wounds a short time later. Officer Mora died four days later on January 25th, 2022. Officer Mora had served with the New York City Police Department for four years and was assigned to the 32nd Precinct.
Police Officer John Painter
Campus Safety Officer JJ Jefferson
On Tuesday, February 1, 2022 two officers were shot and killed at Bridgewater College in Virginia after the university reported an “active shooter” on campus, college officials said.
Campus Police Officer John Painter and Campus Safety Officer JJ Jefferson were shot at around 1:20 p.m. after they responded to a call of a suspicious individual who was in an area of the small private liberal-arts college where he was not authorized to be, state police said.
Alexander Wyatt Campbell, 27 from Ashland, VA, opened fire on the officers after a brief interaction, and fled on foot into the town of Bridgewater, about 140 miles southwest of Washington, DC, Virginia State Police said. Campbell then waded into a shallow section of the North River and walked to an island, where he was apprehended by officers from multiple agencies 35 minutes later, according to authorities. The suspect was treated and released for a gunshot wound in an undisclosed area. Police were trying to determine if the shot was fired by Painter, who carried a gun, or if it was self-inflicted, Geller said. .Apparently Campus Safety Officer JJ Jefferson was unarmed when he was murdered.
Police Officer Nicholas Vella
Huntington Beach, California Police Department
On February 19, 2022, Police Officer Nicholas Vella was killed in a police helicopter crash. He and another officer were responding to provide aerial support to the Newport Beach Police Department at the scene of a fight call. The helicopter lost altitude and crashed into Newport Bay. Officer Vella and his partner were both pulled from the helicopter and transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Officer Vella had served with the Huntington Beach Police Department for 14 years and had previously served with the Laguna Beach Police Department for two years. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
Deputy Constable Neil Adams
San Jacinto County, Texas Constable’s Office
On February 23, 2022, Deputy Constable Neil Adams was shot and killed with his own service weapon after being attacked inside of a mall in Houston. The subject was able to disarm Deputy Adams and fatally shot him. The man then fled to the mall’s food court where he was shot and killed by two Houston police officers when he approached them with an edged weapon.
Deputy Adams had served with the San Jacinto County Constable’s Office – Precinct 1 for two years and was assigned as the agency’s environmental officer. He had previously served with the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office for eight years. He is survived by his wife.
Trooper Tamar Bucci
Massachusetts State Police
As the winter prepares to leave us for yet another year, the prospect of tragedy is ever present. On March 3, 2022, Trooper Tamar Bucci was killed in a vehicle crash when her patrol SUV was struck by a tractor-trailer. She had activated her emergency equipment and was moving to the side of the road to assist a stopped motorist when the crash occurred. Her patrol car was pushed against a cliff face as a result of the collision. Two passersby pulled her from the wreckage and a Stoneham police officer began life-saving efforts, however, she succumbed to her injuries at Massachusetts General Hospital. Trooper Bucci had served with the Massachusetts State Police for only two (2) years. She is survived by her parents, sisters, step-brother, and stepsister.
Corporal Benjamin Cooper
Joplin, Missouri PD
On March 8, 2022 Corporal Benjamin Cooper was shot and killed after responding to a disturbance call. While two officers were on scene, a subject opened fire on them, critically wounding both. The man then stole one of the officers’ services weapons and a patrol car. He continued firing at pursuing officers until crashing. The suspect took cover behind a van and opened fire on a third officer who was still inside of his cruiser. The suspect was ultimately shot and killed by other responding officers.
Corporal Cooper had served 19 years in law enforcement, beginning his career with the Joplin Police Department in 2003 and returning in 2016. He had served as a sheriff’s deputy in Colorado between 2003 and 2016. Corporal Cooper is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Lieutenant William Lebo
Lebanon City Police Department, Pennsylvania
On March 31, 2022 Lt. William Lebo was shot and killed as he and other officers responded to a domestic-related burglary. The owners of the house had returned home to discover that an emotionally disturbed relative had broken into the home and remained inside. The man was still inside when officers arrived on the scene. As a reaction team entered the home the man opened fire with a handgun, striking Lieutenant Lebo and two other officers. Despite their wounds, the officers returned fire and shot the subject, who was later found deceased inside the home. Lieutenant Lebo was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Lieutenant Lebo had served the Lebanon City Police Department for 40 years and was scheduled to retire in 30 days, on May 1st, 2022.
The National Police Defense Foundation is taking an active role in helping to identify and apprehend anyone who shoots or kills a police officer. Under the leadership and guidance of Executive Director Joseph Occhipinti, we offer a ten thousand dollar reward ($10,000) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who shoots or kills a member of the law enforcement community. In June of 2020 the NPDF Executive Board took the unprecedented step of expanding the Safe Cop reward program to include rewards for the arrest and conviction of any protestor/domestic terrorist who assaults a public safety officer by using a vehicle or by an act of act of arson.
In my role as the administrator of our very successful Safe Cop Program I am interested in receiving input from our members in both the civilian and law enforcement community. Your tax deductible donations go a long way toward helping us achieve our goal and this quarterly newsletter is designed to keep you abreast of our activity, the sacrifices of law enforcement and to encourage you to get involved in this worthy endeavor. I look forward to hearing from all of our members who have suggestions about how we can be even more effective in achieving our goal of law enforcement support. We pray that God protects our law enforcement officers and blesses their families who have also sacrificed so much.
Fraternally yours,
Sgt. Mike Barry (ret.)
Port Authority of NY & NJ Police Department