The National Police Defense Foundation (NPDF) wishes all our members, as well as active/retired law enforcement officers a safe winter. However, as we celebrate the holiday season, we must never forget the sacrifices of our brave law enforcement officers.
DUSTIN DEMONTE & ALEX HAMZY
BRISTOL (CT) POLICE DEPARTMENT
EOW: OCTOBER 12, 2022
Officers Dustin Demonte and Alex Hamzy were shot and killed in an ambush in front of a home on Redstone Hill Road, near Birch Street, at about 11:00 pm.
Officers had responded to a business earlier in the evening in response to complaints about a disorderly patron. Officers who responded to the call issued the man a summons and released him. The man then went home, armed himself with an AR-15 rifle, and made a fake 911 call reporting a disturbance at his home. As officers arrived at the scene, the man opened fire on them from the front yard.
Demonte and Hamzy were both fatally wounded, while a third officer suffered non-life-threatening wounds.
Demonte had served with the Bristol Police Department for 10 years. He is survived by his expectant wife and two children.
Demonte was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant and Hamzy to Sergeant.
TRUONG THAI
LAS VEGAS (NV) METROPOLITAN PD
EOW: OCTOBER 13, 2022
Police Officer Truong Thai was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call in the 800 block of East Flamingo Road at about 1:00 am.
The subject opened fire from inside his vehicle as Officer Thai and his partner attempted to make contact with him at the intersection of East Flamingo Road and South University Center Drive. Officer Thai and a civilian were both struck by the subject’s shots. Officer Thai succumbed to his wounds while being transported to a local hospital.
The man fled the scene but was apprehended by a police canine approximately three miles away after refusing to exit his vehicle.
Officer Thai had served with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 23 years and was assigned to the South Central Area Command. He is survived by his daughter.
K-9 ToSti
WEST FARGO (ND) POLICE DEPARTMENT
EOW: October 22, 2022
West Fargo Police Department (WFPD) K-9 ToSti died on Oct. 22 after suffering a medical emergency, according to his department.
The WFPD confirmed the seven-year-old Dutch shepherd’s tragic passing in a Facebook post on Oct. 27.
“On Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, West Fargo Police Department’s K-9 ToSti passed away unexpectedly due to an unforeseen medical emergency while off duty,” the department said.
His exact cause of death was not immediately released.
“K-9 ToSti was a loyal companion and dedicated his life to ensure the safety of his handler, fellow officers and the residents of West Fargo,” West Fargo Police Chief Denis Otterness said in the agency’s Facebook post. “He was a valuable member of our department and will be greatly missed.”
K9 ToSti, who was born in Holland, joined the WFPD in November of 2015 and served alongside his human partner, WFPD Officer Ben Orr.
He was trained in building searches, narcotics detection, article recovery, and suspect tracking, and was deployed more than 800 times during his career.
BRANDON TSAI
GRAND PRAIRIE (TX) POLICE DEPARTMENT
EOW: NOVEMBER 14, 2022
Police Officer Brandon Tsai was killed in a vehicle crash while pursuing a vehicle with a fraudulent temporary tag at about 10:45 pm.
The vehicle fled when Officer Tsai attempted to stop it at the intersection of SW 3rd Street and Pioneer Parkway. Officer Tsai and another officer pursued the vehicle for approximately five miles until it slowed suddenly to turn. Officer Tsai’s patrol car made contact with the patrol car in front of him as they both attempted to slow down as well. The impact caused Officer Tsai’s patrol car to turn on its side and strike a utility pole.
Officer Tsai was transported to Methodist Dallas Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
The vehicle he was pursuing continued to flee and the driver remains at large.
Officer Tsai had served with the Grand Prairie Police Department for 11 months and had previously served with the Los Angeles Police Department, California, for five years.
KRISTINA ZELL
NIAGARA FALLS (NY) POLICE DEPARTMENT
EOW: NOVEMBER 7, 2022
Kristina Zell died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Zell had served with the Niagara Falls Police Department for over 22 years and was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division. She had previously served with the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force. She is survived by her parents and two brothers.
Zell was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant.
CAPT. PAUL JAMOLAWICZ
BAYONNE (NJ) POLICE DEPARTMENT
EOW: NOVEMBER 11, 2022
Bayonne Police Department (BPD) Captain Paul Jamolawicz died in the line of duty on Nov. 11, according to city officials.
The 61-year-old police captain was on shift on Nov. 11 when he “died unexpectedly,” Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis said in a press release on Monday.
Capt. Jamolawicz’s family said he passed away “while protecting the city he loved so much,” according to his obituary.
His exact cause of death was not immediately released.
Capt. Jamolawicz devoted 37 years of his life to his law enforcement career.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the death of Bayonne Police Department Captain Paul Jamolawicz,” Bayonne Police Chief Robert Geisler said in a Facebook post. “Captain Jamolawicz died unexpectedly tonight while on-duty serving our community.”
“On behalf of the City of Bayonne and the Bayonne Police Department, I would like to express our condolences to the Jamolawicz Family,” Chief Geisler added.
Capt. Jamolawicz graduated from Bayonne High School before earning a criminal justice degree from New Jersey City University, according to his obituary.
He joined the BPD in 1985, and received seven Excellent Police Service Awards and three commendations during his nearly four-decade career.
“Paul’s love of family and this city was evident every day of his life and his friendship will be sorely missed,” Davis told the Hudson Reporter. “Please keep Paul’s family in your thoughts and prayers, as well as our great Police Department… Rest in Peace Paul.”
Capt. Jamolawicz leaves behind his wife, Jeanne, and his children, Lori and Paul, according to his obituary.
Capt. Jamolawicz will be laid to rest on Nov. 17.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families Bayonne Police Department Captain Paul Jamolawicz, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
MICHEL O. MACEDA
U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION
EOW: NOVEMBER 17, 2022
Marine Interdiction Agent Michel Maceda was shot and killed during a maritime narcotics interdiction operation approximately 12 miles southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
He and two other Marine Interdiction Agents intercepted a vessel they believed to be transporting narcotics. One of the occupants of the vessel opened fire on the agents as they began to board it. All three agents and both subjects were shot during the ensuing shootout.
The United States Coast Guard flew all three agents to a hospital in Puerto Rico where Agent Maceda later succumbed to his wounds. One of the two smugglers on the boat was also killed.
The NPDF Executive Director Joe Occhipinti has been in contact with officials at DHS and HSI and offered a $10K Safe Cop reward for information leading to the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of any co-conspirators involved in this tragic event. In addition, the NPDF will help defray the costs of this heroes funeral expenses. See Press Release here
JORDAN JACKSON
BELLEVUE (WA) POLICE DEPARTMENT
EOW: NOVEMBER 21, 2022
Police Officer Jordan Jackson was killed in a motorcycle crash in the 500 block of Bellevue Way SE.
He was traveling northbound when a vehicle pulled out of a parking lot and into his path, causing a collision. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries several hours later.
Officer Jackson had served with the Bellevue Police Department for 4-1/2 years and was assigned to the Motor Unit. He had previously served as an EMT and as a volunteer with the King County Sheriff’s Office Search and
Note: A special thanks goes out to Sgt. Mike Barry (ret) of the PAPD for all his hard work and dedication in putting this newsletter together over the past several years.
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 goals. We pray that God protects our law enforcement officers and blesses their families who have sacrificed so much.