National Fallen Officer Foundation

08/05/2026

07/18/2026

Never to be forgotten

“During the morning hours of July 17, 2016, officers with the Baton Rouge Police Department and deputies with the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office were ambushed by a sovereign citizen targeting police. The day would see three officers killed and three wounded, one of which would succumb to wounds years later. The suspect was killed by a SWAT team.

Baton Rouge Police Department Corporal Montrell Jackson was shot and killed immediately as the suspect fired from behind him. He was a 10-year veteran of BRPD and left behind his wife and infant son. Corporal Jackson was 32 years old.

Baton Rouge Police Department Officer Matthew Gerald was shot and killed in the initial gunfire. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with BRPD for 10 months. He left behind his wife, two daughters, and a son born after he was killed. Officer Gerald was 41 years old.

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bradford Garafola was shot and killed while engaging the suspect in a firefight after attempting to get to other officers who had been shot. He had served with EBRSO for 24 years. He is survived by his wife and four children. Deputy Garafola was 45 years old.

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Nick Tullier was initially shot multiple times and wounded by the suspect. Sadly on May 5, 2022, he succumbed to his injuries after a six year battle. He leaves behind his parents and two sons. Sergeant Tullier was 46 years old.

Baton Rouge Police Department Corporal Chad Montgomery was wounded when his head was grazed by a bullet from the gunman. He was later awarded the Medal of Valor.

East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Bruce Simmons was shot and wounded in the left arm while assisting Sergeant Tullier. Sergeant Simmons returned to work in 2017 after many surgeries.

I will never forget these brave heroes.”

Baton Rouge Police Department
East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office"

07/17/2026

On Monday, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, along with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, were serving an arrest warrant at a residence in Alexandria, Louisiana. The suspect inside was a fugitive wanted for failing to appear in state court on sexual battery charges on a person with infirmities. The law enforcement officers announced their presence, made entry and located the male inside his bedroom. After barricading himself inside, he opened fire on the officers. Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael Andrew Hanson was fatally wounded in the exchange. Following an hours long standoff, the gunman was eventually taken into custody and his since been charged with murder.

36-year old Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Hanson joined the U.S. Marshals Service in 2020, with assignments in the Southern District of Alabama and the Western District of Louisiana. Prior to his time with the USMS, he proudly served several law enforcement agencies in the Gulf Coast region. Drew leaves behind a loving wife and two children, and will be laid to rest this weekend.

07/09/2026

On Sunday, officers from multiple agencies responded to a call for a violent home invasion with shots fired in Rittman, Ohio. As soon as they arrived on location, the officers were immediately met with gunfire. Rittman Police Sergeant Scott Ries was fatally shot in the attack. Four Medina Co. deputies and Wayne Co. K9 Vick were also wounded. Two civilians, 44-year old Christine McWilliams and her 13-year old daughter McKinley McWilliams were killed by the gunman before he took his own life.

54-year old Sergeant Scott Ries dedicated nearly three decades to law enforcement. He began serving with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office in 1996 until 2015, when he joined Rittman PD. Throughout his career, he was known for his professionalism, integrity, and commitment to protecting others. He served on local SWAT teams and assisted with special investigations, earning the respect of colleagues and the gratitude of the community. His courage, compassion, and quiet leadership left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of serving alongside him.

Scott was also deeply involved in his community. He was a member of the Doylestown Lions Club, the Chippewa High School Athletic Booster Club, and FOP Lodge 94. He found joy in fishing, especially recent trips to Lake Erie, hunting, walking his beloved dog, and spending time outdoors.

One of Scott’s greatest passions was coaching young athletes. Whether on the football field at Chippewa Middle School, the softball diamond, or with the Ohio Stampede travel softball organization, he invested countless hours mentoring, encouraging, and developing young people.

Above all else, Scott was a devoted husband, an exceptional father, and a dedicated family man. His wife and daughters were the center of his world, and he took immense pride in supporting, encouraging, and loving them in everything they pursued. He believed in doing things the right way, never settling for less than his best. Dependable, knowledgeable, and always willing to lend a helping hand, Scott became a trusted resource and mentor to many. Through his generosity, wisdom, and example, he made a meaningful difference in countless lives.

07/08/2026

On Wednesday morning, Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira was conducting a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspection along Southbound Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County, PA. The truck was pulled over on the shoulder of the highway with the trooper’s marked patrol unit positioned directly behind it with the emergency lights activated.

Trooper Pahira was standing near the cab of the tractor trailer, actively engaged in the inspection when a second tractor trailer, also traveling south on I-81, veered off the roadway into the shoulder lane and collided into both vehicles. Trooper Pahira was struck and pinned him underneath. Nearby construction workers who witnessed the crash, heroically pulled the trooper from beneath the fiery wreckage. Despite lifesaving measures by first responders on scene and the medical staff at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Trooper Pahira succumbed to his injuries a short time later. The driver of the tractor trailer that struck the trooper has since been charged with homicide by vehicle and several other offenses.

44-year old Trooper Michael Pahira leaves behind his loving parents and sister. Mike had recently moved back in with his mom to help take care of her during her fight with cancer. Trooper Pahira enlisted in the PSP in January of 2007 and was assigned to Troop L in Frackville as a Motor Carrier Inspector. Mike was remembered as a kind, funny and gentle man who enjoyed working on cars, watching documentaries and cooking for his family. He was a star wrestler at North Schuylkill High School who carried that same passion and determination into competing in college at East Stroudsburg University through to his nearly two decades of service with the Pennsylvania State Police.

07/08/2026

On July 4th, Fresno County Sheriff K9 Santi and his assigned handler were off-duty, spending the holiday at their home in Clovis, California. Santi had been kept inside that evening as the dog wasn’t responding well to the fireworks. When Santi was briefly let outside in the fenced in backyard to use the bathroom, aerial fireworks were fired off close by. The explosions frightened Santi, causing him to jump the fence and take off running.

The off-duty deputy chased after the dog on foot giving commands for him to stop, but the continued sound of fireworks caused Santi to keep sprinting away. The deputy eventually located Santi, who had been struck by a passing vehicle. The badly injured K9 was rushed to an animal hospital but was unable to be saved. The driver who hit Santi never stopped.

K9 Santi was a beloved 5-year old Belgian Malinois who served the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office for four years, specializing in suspect apprehension and searches.

07/08/2026

Never forgotten. 🐾

07/07/2026

We will never forget.