Line of Duty Death (LODD)

[melody1181]

Just adding this from a few months ago.

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<DIV>04/25/2005 AMARILLO </DIV>
<DIV>Amarillo Firefighters Mourn Death of Comrade

PHILLIP YATES
Courtesy of Amarillo Globe-News


Amarillo firefighters striped their badges with black mourning ribbons, and flags at city fire stations flew at half-staff in tribute to a fallen comrade who died Monday after suffering critical injuries in the line of duty Saturday.

With wreaths of flowers hanging underneath the low-flying American flag at the Amarillo Fire Department's Central Fire Station, firefighters remained in a state of shock and grief after learning the news that firefighter Christopher Brian Hunton, 27, died Monday morning at Northwest Texas Hospital, said Amarillo Fire Chief Steve Ross.

"They are just devastated," Ross said. "He (Hunton) has his own family, but he was also a part of our family."

Hunton, who was an AFD firefighter since March 6, 2003, died at Northwest Texas Hospital at 9:53 a.m. after suffering serious injuries when he fell from a firetruck Saturday night, Ross said.

Hunton had surgery soon after the accident and was placed in the intensive care unit at the hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries early Monday, Ross said.

According to an Amarillo Police Department report of the accident, a defective door handle may have been a contributing factor in Hunton's fall from the firetruck.

The department's fire marshal, Terry McKinney, said officials are waiting on the arrival of the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office, which will begin its own investigation into the accident.

"I am just convinced that once the investigation is completed, we will have a very clear picture," McKinney said. "Right now, all we have are assumptions."

McKinney said the department is also expecting an autopsy.

Hunton is the first Amarillo firefighter to die in the line of duty since Kenneth Albert Caldwell, 29, died Aug. 16, 1982, while searching for residents inside a burning Amarillo apartment building. Two other Amarillo firefighters have died in the line of duty since 1936.

The accident occurred about 10 p.m. when Ladder Truck No. 3 was responding to a fire in the 2600 block of South Polk Street. The firetruck, a 1998 Freightliner, left the Central Fire Station at Fourth Avenue and Van Buren Street and went north before turning right on Southwest Third Avenue.

While the truck was turning, Hunton, who was in the left-rear passenger side of the truck, fell out after the passenger side door came open, according to an Amarillo Police Department accident report.

The truck was traveling at a relatively slow speed at the time of the accident, according to police reports.

The fire department has set up a fund in Hunton's name at Amarillo National Bank, and fire officials are in contact with Hunton's family to plan his funeral service, Ross said.

Hunton, who was not married and had no children, will be buried in Lubbock, where his parents live, but a funeral date had not been set late Monday, said AFD Capt. Bob Johnson.

Ross said members of the department will continue to wear the mourning badges and keep their flags at half-staff for the next 30 days to honor Hunton.

"It is out of respect for a fallen brother," Ross said.</DIV>

[catman]

Delaware Firefighter Dies After Heart Attack During Call

cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=39&id=43251
A Delaware firefighter died in the line of duty Sunday, July 10 after suffering an apparent heart attack while investigating a possible structure fire.

Firefighter Joe Evans, 61, had served the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company since 1964.


Full Story Updates:
www.firehouse.com

[catman]

Michigan Firefighter Dies After 2004 Vehicle Collision

cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=39&id=44021
The United States Fire Administration has announced the line of duty death of Michigan firefighter Thomas L. Ivey, who died in July 2005 as a result of a vehicle collision in December 2004.

Ivey, 48, was a volunteer firefighter with the West Iron County Fire Department in Iron River, Michigan.


Full Story Updates:
www.firehouse.com

[catman]

Detroit Firefighter Dies of Heart Attack While On Duty

cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=39&id=44081
A 21-year veteran of the Detroit Fire Department died of a heart attack while on duty Sunday.

Sgt. Rodney N. English, 48, collapsed while doing administrative work at Detroit's Engine 1 station house, 111 W. Montcalm St.


Full Story Updates:
www.firehouse.com

[catman]

New Jersey Firefighter Killed by Drunk Driver

cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=39&id=44114
A Keansburg, New Jersey firefighter was struck and killed Wednesday by a suspected drunk driver while directing traffic at the scene of a hazardous materials incident.

Joseph F. Walsh, age 76, served the Keansburg Fire Department for 54 years, said Capt. Albert Scott.


Full Story Updates:
www.firehouse.com

[catman]

Kansas Fire Trucks Collide, Killing Chief

cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=39&id=44794
Two firetrucks responding to a brush fire in south-central Kansas collided head-on Wednesday, killing the district's fire chief.

The accident occurred about 4 p.m. southwest of Hutchinson as the two trucks from Reno County Fire District No. 7 responded to a controlled field burn that had gotten out of hand, the Reno County Sheriff's Office said. The office said smoke from the blaze had reduced visibility over the roadway, contributing to the crash.


Full Story Updates:
www.firehouse.com

[BLUEHAWK]

Question...

Is there anyone place/agency whatever whose job it is to collect and make available history of ALL such losses in America, or is it done just locally, or what?

When I got hired by the City of Oakland (Calif.) it was necessary to go to the OPD to get fingerprinted... just when you walk in the main entrance they have a huge marble wall with large bronze stars on it for each peace officer LODD... quite impressive.

I was just wondering if there is some sort of national museum or archives on this, of some kind.

[catman]

I am sure there is, but do not know where it is, or what it is called.

Trav

[BLUEHAWK]

Cat -

Here are a few leads... in that direction, just came across them.

Former NYC cop pushes for police museum

"HILTON HEAD ISLAND: He also wants to establish a Hall of Fame dedicated to officers who died at World Trade Center and elsewhere.

By Stephanie Broadbent
Carolina Morning News

A former New York City police officer who retired to Hilton Head Island is gathering support for creating the first national police museum and hall of fame for law enforcement officers.

He doesn't want it located in Washington, D.C., or even New York City. He hopes to have it built on Hilton Head.

Roger Valente, who founded Our Nation's Police Heroes Foundation earlier this year, has talked for years of wanting to do something for police officers and their families to honor their work and show his appreciation.

"My wife got tired of me yelling at the television every time the police were knocked for doing something wrong and never given credit for doing something right," Valente said. "I'd get furious. So she says, 'Get up off your fat butt and do something.' "

And he did. In January, he created the police heroes foundation and since then the group has honored two Georgia police officers and one from Beaufort.

After the events of Sept. 11, they decided to "think bigger," Valente said.

Valente still carries the New York City badge he earned the week of his 21st birthday. Now, it's cloaked in a black band, in memory of more than 30 New York police officers who died in the rubble of the World Trade Center. He doubts he'll ever take the black band off.

He wants to build a hall of fame to memorialize those police officers first, and then add to it each year the names of officers who deserve to be honored.

He also hopes to gather memorabilia from around the country to illustrate the early days of police work and its progress since. Both would be housed in one building.

It will be no easy task. Valente and his supporters are starting from scratch, with no money.

What they do have is vocal support and encouragement from a number of local and state leaders.

Valente addressed the Hilton Head Town Council last week about his ideas and Hilton Head Mayor Tom Peeples wrote him a letter of support. He wasn't asking for money.

Valente said he also has support of a number of state lawmakers in Columbia and Washington. He believes the S.C. House of Representatives will pass a resolution in January directing his organization to move forward on his plans to open a museum and hall of fame on Hilton Head.

After that, he hopes to get financial backing, possibly from the federal government. He wants to buy an old movie theater on Main Street for $1.4 million to remodel into the museum and hall of fame.

He estimates the entire project would cost about $3 million. He wants to model it after the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Pa.

That's not a high price to pay for a place that would likely attract more tourists and give police the attention they deserve, he said.

"This could be a real boom for the town," he said.

Valente doesn't think his dream is a long shot. There is a national firefighters museum in Baltimore, but no national museum for law enforcement officers. Hilton Head would be a good place because it already attracts tourists and would be a good place for those who want to visit the museum to vacation, he said.

"The project is very viable," he said. "We think we have to raise public awareness first and when we raise public awareness, the money will follow."

Valente said he would also like to host national or even international seminars for police agencies at the museum and provide public education about law enforcement."

Reporter Stephanie Broadbent can be reached at 837-5255, ext. 110, or at stephanie@lowcountrynow.com

[BLUEHAWK]

The only "national" Firefighters museum I could locate for sure...

"Oklahoma Firefighters Museum
Children find it fun, interesting and exciting. Adults say they've never seen anything like it. Attractions outside allow unlimited imaginations but once the museum doors swing wide, their attention is directed to the remarkable collection of antique fire apparatus, tools and machinery used since 1736.

The Firefighters Museum houses the large, colorful Ben Dancy shoulder patch collection, over 4,500. Exhibits offer a spectrum of educational and historic memorabilia. Some permanent, some on loan from Ben Franklin's company, they range from a 1736 massive section of hand-carved wooden water main to a rotating exhibit of the largest privately-owned fire alarm box collection.

Real firefighting afficianados will recognize the many classic fire engines housed at the museum. The Ahrens-Fox Front-Mount Piston Pumper. The 1917 REO Hose and Chemical Truck. The 1870 Hunneman Hand Pumper. The Amoskeag 1861 Steamer, capable of pumping 600 gallons per minute. And the beautiful 1910 American LaFrance Type 5 chemical and hose truck.

The Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum is located at 2716 NE 50th in Oklahoma City, easily accessible from I-35. It is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, except holidays. Admission is $3 for adults, $1.50 for children, and preschoolers are free with parents. Tour groups at half price. Call 405-424-3440 for more information.


Oklahoma Firefighter Museum official website


At left, the first fire station in Oklahoma, built at Fort Supply Indian Territory by U.S. soldiers in 1869. The orginal crude log structure, moved and reassembled in the Museum, housed a hand-drawn hose cart and was used before Oklahoma became a state."
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Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau
189 W. Sheridan
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405-297-8912 .. 800-225-5652
email: okccvb@okccvb.org