As the holiday season approaches let us pause for a moment and remember the law enforcement officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice who will not be with their families this year. We must never forget the sacrifices of our brave law enforcement officers. The National Police Defense Foundation (NPDF) wishes all our members, as well as active/retired law enforcement officers a safe holiday season.
Police Officer Jorge Pastore
Austin (TX) Police Department
EOW: 11/11/2023
Senior Police Officer Jorge Pastore was shot and killed during a hostage barricade at 9308 Bernoulli Drive at about 4:10 am.
Patrol officers had initially responded to the residence for a domestic violence call involving a stabbing shortly before 3:00 am. Arriving officers located an injured victim outside of the home and learned there were two more injured victims inside. As the officers attempted to enter the home to rescue the victims the subject inside opened fire, causing the officers to retreat.
The agency’s SWAT team arrived at the scene and attempted a hostage rescue at about 4:30 am. The subject opened fire on the SWAT team, fatally wounding Officer Pastore and wounding a second officer. The officers returned fire, killing him. The other two victims were also found deceased inside the home.
Officer Pastore had served with the Austin Police Department for four years. He is survived by his wife, two stepsons, and parents.
Chief Frank Hayes, Jr.
Goodland (KS) Police Department
EOW: 8/30/2023
Chief of Police Frankie Hayes passed away from complications of a heart attack after a standoff.
On August 16, 2023, Chief Hayes arrived at the location of a barricaded subject shooting at neighbors, officers, and inside his home. After two hours of negotiations, the subject surrendered. Chief Hayes left the scene and went to the emergency room, where he suffered a double heart attack. Despite surgery, he died two weeks later.
Chief Hayes had served with the Goodland Police Department for nine years and was Chief of Police for almost three years. He is survived by his wife, four children, two brothers, two sisters, and five grandchildren.
K-9 Fury
Franklin (OH) Police Department
EOW: 11/11/2023
K9 Fury was killed when the patrol car he was riding in was struck by a reckless driver on S River Street near W 7th Street at about 10:40 am.
K9 Fury’s handler and another officer were driving in a patrol car when an oncoming vehicle suddenly crossed into their travel lane and accelerated, striking them head-on. Fury was taken to a local veterinarian where he succumbed to his injuries.
The driver who caused the collision was charged with felonious assault of a police officer and felonious assault of a police dog, with additional charges pending.
LT Milton Resendez
San Benito (TX) Police Department
EOW: 10/17/2023
Lieutenant Milton Resendez was shot and killed during a police pursuit at the 1100 block of North Sam Houston Boulevard in San Benito.
At 10:58 p.m., the San Benito Police Department was notified that a fleeing vehicle being pursued by the Texas Department of Public Safety was entering their jurisdiction. Lieutenant Resendez was traveling north on North Sam Houston Boulevard when the fleeing vehicle approached from the southbound lanes. The subjects fired at his patrol vehicle. One bullet hit the front of his vehicle, and the second struck the driver’s side door. One of the bullets pierced Lieutenant Resendez in the abdomen below his vest. He was transported to Valley Baptist Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
The two subjects were arrested after a pit maneuver stopped their vehicle. They have been charged with evading arrest, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and capital murder.
Lieutenant Resendez had served with the San Benito Police Department for 27 years and previously served with the Brownsville Police Department and Palm Valley Police Department.
Deputy Tucker Blakely
Knox Co. (TN) Sheriff’s Office
EOW: 10/2/2023
Deputy Sheriff Tucker Blakely succumbed to gunshot wounds he received while responding to a domestic violence call at the 3200 block of Denver Lane in Knoxville.
At 11:30 p.m., deputies encountered an armed subject after receiving a domestic violence call. The situation escalated, and a gun battle ensued. Deputy Blakely was struck twice.
The subject was shot and killed by returning gunfire.
Deputy Blakely was transported to UT Medical Center and remained on life support so his organs could be donated.
Deputy Blakely was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for two years. He is survived by his wife, son, and brother.
Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer
Los Angeles Co. (CA) Sheriff’s Office
EOW: 9/16/2023
Deputy Sheriff Ryan Clinkunbroomer was shot and killed in an unprovoked ambush at the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q just outside of the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station at about 6:00 p.m.
Deputy Clinkunbroomer was stopped at a red light when another car pulled alongside his patrol and an occupant opened fire, striking him in the head. A passerby located Deputy Clinkunbroomer in the vehicle moments later and alerted authorities. Deputy Clinkunbroomer was transported to Antelope Valley Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds.
A suspect was arrested later after a several-hour stand-off.
Deputy Clinkunbroomer had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for eight years and was a third-generation member of the agency. He is survived by his fiancée, parents, and grandparents.
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.
Fraternally yours,
LT Karl N. Milligan (ret.)
Prince George’s County (MD) Police