Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Officer Dexter Hammond, 38

Headland Alabama Police Department

Officer Dexter Hammond was shot and killed on April 24, 2009, when he responded to an officer down call. He had arrived at the scene to assist a deputy sheriff when the suspect opened fire with a rifle. Officer Hammond leaves behind a wife and a son.

Deputy Sheriff Burton (Burt) Lopez, 44

Deputy Sheriff Warren (Skip) York, 44

Okaloosa County Florida Sheriff’s Office

Deputies Burt Lopez and Skip York had responded to domestic call earlier in the evening on April 25, 2009, and as a follow up to the case they found the suspect at a local gun club. The suspect became so uncooperative and violent the deputies had to deploy a Taser on him. When the electricity cycle ended the man pulled a gun and fired at the officers. During a brief gun battle, both deputies were shot and killed. The suspect was later killed in a second shootout with deputies from a neighboring county.

Deputy Lopez is survived by his wife and children.

Deputy York is survived by his wife and children.

Deputy Sheriff Brandon Scott Coker, 27

Vance County North Carolina Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Brandon Coker was killed in an automobile accident on April 25, 2009, while attempting to stop a reckless driver. Deputy Coker leaves behind his wife, parents, and four brothers.

Deputy Sheriff D. Robert Harvey

Lubbock County Texas Sheriff’s Department

On April 26, 2009, Deputy Robert Harvey was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a fight in progress call. A driver made a left turn in front of the officer, which caused the deadly head on collision. Deputy Harvey leaves behind a wife and children.

* Thanks to ODMP