Today the membership of LEW received an e-mail from Law Enforcement United Staff regarding the line of duty death of one of our own.  

Senior Police Officer Tim Schock died during a training dive in the lake at Oak Grove Lake Park.

He and other members of the Chesapeake Police Department's dive team were conducting the dive when he experienced trouble breathing. His dive partner attempted to give him his own respirator as they surfaced, but Officer Schock submerged again. Other officers on scene immediately retrieved him and started CPR on shore. He was transported to Chesapeake General Hospital where he passed away.

Officer Schock was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and active member of Law Enforcement United. He is survived by one child, fiancee, and parents.

Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/21063-senior-police-officer-timothy-schock#ixzz1h8JPDn1v 


Law Enforcement United begins the Virginia Ride each year in Chesapeake, VA.

As of 12/20/11, Line of Duty Deaths for 2011 are at 155, of those, eleven are from December alone.  Though Auto related deaths are down this year, death from gunfire is up, as are felonious assaults on law enforcement officers.

As we enter the Holiday Season, let us not forget those who will be without the ones they love due to line of duty death.  The efforts of Law Enforcement United, Officer Down Memorial Page, and Concerns of Police Survivors increase this time of year, as the needs of survivors are great during this season.  This time of year COPS Christmas parties are being held by the various chapters to bring a bit of joy to the children who lost a parent in the line of duty.  Financial support is given to COPS by LEU.  Please think of the survivors this holiday season and make a holiday donation to LEU so that we may continue our support of COPS and ODMP.

Update 12/21/11 11:08 am: 3 more officers have fallen.  2 from gunfire, 1 from drowning.

9/10/11, Saturday morning was a beautiful early fall New England Morning, The riders arrived and were each given their numbers, which had the name of an officer killed in the line of duty  They also were given 2 blue COPS ribbons, that were tied to each riders helmet and bicycle, to show they were riding the Road To Hope for all the loved ones of fallen officers.  Each rider rode in honor of an Officer who had fallen this year, with the exception of rider Marty Silvia, who rode in honor of Patrolman Louis Golonka (EOW 7/23/68).  Marty assisted me in marking the routes with arrows, while doing so, he told me that he grew up in Cleveland Ohio and his neighbor was Ptl Golonka, who was murdered during one of the many riots that went on during the late 60's and early 70's.  Those riots were sparked from the pain and frustration of ignorance, hatred, and prejudice, yet it is ironic that officers, like Ptl. Golonka were killed out of ignorance, hatred, and prejudice against law enforcement.  Before the riders hit the street, retired Amesbury Police Officer Daniel Cleary sang "Danny Boy", which is often sung at funerals and memorial services for officers.

I want to thank all the people and businesses that made this event possible: Naples Pizza, Amesbury Alehouse/Barking Dog Pub, Brenda Burkholder, Janet Nicholaison, Exeter Cycles, NorEast Cycling, Cabot Cheese, Road ID, Hard Nocks Gym, Primal Cycling Wear, Amesbury Police Department, Amesbury Department of Public Works, Amesbury Parks and Recreation, Amesbury FlatBread Company, Office of Amesbury Mayor Keezer, John Nigro and Basset Landscaping, Dr. Peter Antonsen and Amesbury Sports Injury and Chiropractic, Robert Ballard, Sgt. Daniel Cleary, Concerns of Police Survivors, Officer Down Memorial Page,  and many many more.  I also want to thank all the towns and police departments that the ride traveled through.  

The ride concluded with a post ride party in the Al Capp Memorial Amphitheater in Amesbury.  The AleHouse/Barking Dog Pub, Naples Pizza, and Amesbury FlatBread made this a success.  It felt so good to see everyone have such a good time following the ride.  

To all the riders:  If you have not yet visited Officer Down Memorial Page to look up the officer you rode in honor, please do so soon.

This past year and the first year I rode, I rode in honor of officers from Mississippi.  Both of these officers fell in the month of July, but more importantly, both of these officers have incredible families.  

The first year I rode in honor of Deputy Bill Walters (EOW 7/15/07) who served with the Kemper County Sheriffs Departent.  This past year I rode in honor of Sheriff Gary Welford (EOW7/21/10) of the George County Sheriffs Department.  

Both of these great man served not only in the capacity of Law Enforcement, but each served in the United States Navy before a career in LE.  

Never forget.

Deputy Sheriff Rick Jerome Daly of the Clayton County Sheriff Department.  End of Watch 7/20/2011, served for 25 years and was 55 years of age. 

Deputy Rick Daly was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop near the intersection of East Fayetteville and Walker roads. A fugitive squad in an unmarked car identified a teenage suspect wanted on armed robbery charges and called on Deputy Daly in his marked cruiser to execute the traffic stop around 3:00 pm. 

As Deputy Daly approached the passenger side of the vehicle where the suspect was, the suspect exited the vehicle and fired multiple shots that struck him in locations not protected by his body armor. He was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

The suspect fled the scene and remained at large for several hours before he was captured by a tactical team with the aid of a canine.

As of today, the line of death are up 3 percent over 2010.