Officer Hemschmeyer was killed in a traffic accident while responding to another officer’s call. A sedan that had pulled over for the officer’s emergency lights was struck from behind by a five-ton city garbage truck. The force of the collision threw the vehicle into the path of the approaching patrol car, killing officer Hemschmeyer. He served as an officer for four years.

Officer Gilbert Chavez was shot and killed and his partner was wounded by one of two juveniles during a burglary. Officer Chavez and his partner had entered the business after an anonymous tip. The officer located one of two suspects and a struggle ensued. Officer Chavez was shot near the heart and critically wounded but managed to radio for help before dying. Officer Chavez had served with the agency for one year.

Police Guard MacInnis died of a heart attack while in foot pursuit of a suspect at the Sky Harbor International Airport. A passerby stopped to assist him. He was driven to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police Guard MacInnis had been with the agency for nine years.

Officer Arthur Del Gaudio was killed while in pursuit of an intoxicated and reckless driver who had been drag racing. The officer collided with another police car and then careened into the wall of a home at 10th Street and Rose Lane. Officer Del Gaudio was a United States Navy Vietnam veteran and served with the Phoenix Police Department for at least a year.

Police Officer Nacho Conchos and Police Officer John Davis were shot and killed when they entered the Valley Squire Cocktail Lounge at 44 East Southern in Phoenix, searching for a bank robbery suspect. Officer Conchos had served with the Phoenix Police Department for seven years and was assigned to the South Mountain crime-resistance unit.

Police Officer Nacho Conchos and Police Officer John Davis were shot and killed when they entered the Valley Squire Cocktail Lounge at 44 East Southern in Phoenix, searching for a bank robbery suspect. Officer Davis was transported to Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wounds one month later. Officer Davis was a United States Army veteran and served with the Phoenix Police Department for 12 years.

Officer Campbell was killed in an automobile accident while pursuing a speeding motorcycle. During the pursuit, his patrol car collided with a sports car driven by a newlywed couple, who were unharmed. The motorcyclist, one of several being pursued, was never caught.
Officer Campbell had been with the agency for three years.

Officer Hawkins was struck and killed by a pickup truck. He was on a nighttime undercover assignment attempting to cross a freeway along Frontage Road when the accident occurred. During his time with the agency, Officer Hawkins helped establish a hostage/barricade negotiations unit and was a negotiator in hostage situations. Officer Hawkins had been with the agency for 12 years.

Officer Polmanteer was killed in a head-on collision with a van that turned in front of his motorcycle at N. 37th Street and Thomas Rd. Officer Polmanteer had been a law enforcement officer for 15 years.

Officer Forsythe was struck and killed by a 2-ton gravel truck while directing traffic at N. 7th Ave and W. Maryland Street at 2:15 p.m. He had been working off duty for a road chip-sealing crew when the accident occurred. Officer Forsythe had been with the agency for seven years.

Officer John Robertson was shot and killed while working a uniformed off-duty security job at a local hotel. He was questioning a suspect behind the hotel at 1624 N. Black Canyon Highway about the robbery of two truck drivers when the suspect opened fire. Officer Robertson was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries two days later. Officer Robertson had been with the agency for eight years.

Officer Robert Fike was shot and killed by a suspect while standing next to his patrol car at 1111 East Indian School Road. The suspect had just committed an armed robbery. Two citizens found him after the shooting and used his radio to call for help. Officer Fike was a former Officer of the Year and had been employed with the Phoenix Police Department for ten years.

Police Officer Kenneth Collings was shot and killed while working a uniformed off-duty security job at a local bank at W. McDowell Road and 21rst Avenue. He was in the process of arresting two robbery suspects at a Valley National Bank branch when one of the suspects opened fire, fatally wounding him. Officer Collings was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Phoenix Police Department for eight years.

Officer Briggs, a motorcycle officer, was killed while in pursuit of a speeding motorist. Officer Briggs swerved to avoid a motorist and struck a concrete median and tree. He had recently been chosen to be a Recruit Training Officer for the Phoenix Police Training Academy. Officer Briggs had been with the agency for seven years and is survived by his parents and two siblings.

Sergeant John Domblisky and Sergeant Danny Tunney were killed when a vehicle crossed over the median and struck their vehicle head-on in the 11000 block of North Seventh Street. The driver of the other vehicle was under the influence of cocaine at the time of the incident. Sergeant Domblisky had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 17 years.

Sergeant Danny Tunney and Sergeant John Domblisky were killed when a vehicle crossed over the median and struck their vehicle head-on in the 11000 block of North Seventh Street. The 34-year-old driver of the other vehicle was under the influence of cocaine at the time of the incident. Sergeant Tunney served the department for 23 years.

Officer Kolodziej. 43, was shot and killed by a man who sprayed a residential street with gunfire from a high-powered weapon at 4300 N. 20th Street. He was the first on the scene. The suspect then held police at bay for more than five hours before they stormed the house and found the suspect dead. Officer Kolodziej had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 19 years and was ten months from retirement.

Sergeant David Kieffer died on May 21st, 1997, from injuries he had sustained on May 7th, 1977, when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at N. 16th Street and E. McDowell Road. The crash left Sergeant Kieffer as a quadriplegic, and he died as a result of complications of injuries sustained in the crash. Sergeant Kieffer had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 20 years.

Police Officer Marc Atkinson was shot after being ambushed by suspected drug traffickers. Officer Atkinson was driving a marked patrol car while following the suspects, who turned a corner, stopped their vehicle, and waited for him. As he turned the corner, the three suspects opened fire, striking him twice in the head, killing him. Officer Atkinson was a United States Marine Corps veteran who served

as an officer for five years.

Officer Beuf was killed when both he and a suspect were struck by a tractor-trailer while struggling on the side of a roadway. Officer Beuf had responded to a call and was approaching a man when the man began to run. Officer Beuf chased the suspect and caught him on the side of a roadway. As the two struggled, they fell into the path of a slow-moving tractor-trailer. Officer Beuf was a USMC veteran and had served with the Phoenix Police Department for one year.

Officer Beryl Scott was killed in a motorcycle accident at 3:10 p.m. near N. Seventh Street and Thunderbird Road, shortly after starting his shift. He was en route to a local hospital to assist with a fatal DUI investigation. Officer Scott served the Phoenix Police Department for 10 years.

Officer Schultz drowned in a canal in North Phoenix while searching for evidence in a murder case. Officer Schultz was a master diver and part of the department’s nine-member dive team. Officer Schultz had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 20 years. Officer Schultz also served full time as a helicopter pilot for the Phoenix Police Department. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and military policeman.

Officer Wolfe and Officer White were shot and killed while investigating a shooting call on West Las Palmaritas Drive. The suspect was in an apartment and several officers converged on that location. Fearing the gunman was holding a hostage, Officer White, Officer Wolfe, and a third officer attempted to enter the apartment. The gunman opened fire, striking all three officers. Officer White and Officer Wolfe were killed. Officer Wolfe served for four years.

Officer Wolfe and Officer White were shot and killed while investigating a shooting call on West Las Palmaritas Drive. The suspect was in an apartment and several officers converged on that location. Fearing the gunman was holding a hostage, Officer White, Officer Wolfe, and a third officer attempted to enter the apartment. The gunman opened fire, striking all three officers. Officer White and Officer Wolfe were killed. Officer White served for four years.

Officer David Uribe was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop near the 3400 block of West Cactus Road at approximately 11:10 a.m. Officer Uribe called in a license plate check and approached the vehicle. As he walked to the driver’s door, one of two men opened fire, striking him in the head and neck. Officer Uribe had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 22 years.

Officer Paul Salmon died from injuries received in an automobile accident. Officer Salmon was responding to a domestic violence call in south Phoenix. His vehicle left the roadway for unknown reasons and crashed into a light pole at the intersection of Baseline Road and 31st Avenue. Officer Salmon served the Phoenix Police Department for only six months.

Officer George Cortez was shot and killed after responding to a check-cashing store to investigate reports of a forgery-in-progress.
At approximately 5:30 pm, Officer Cortez responded to a call that a man and woman were passing forged checks at a check-cashing business on 83rd Avenue, near Encanto Boulevard. Officer Cortez entered the business and was placing the male suspect in handcuffs when the man drew a stolen Glock .40 and shot Officer Cortez. Officer Cortez served PPD for 2 years.

Officer Nick Erfle was shot after he and his partner approached three people for jaywalking and obstructing traffic on 24th Street, north of Thomas Road. One man gave a fictitious name that had a misdemeanor warrant and as they attempted to take him into custody, the suspect drew a weapon and shot Officer Erfle twice in the back of the head. He was rushed to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center where he died from his injuries an hour later. He served PPD for 8 years.

Police Officer Shane Figueroa was killed when his patrol car collided with a vehicle driven by a drunk driver. Officer Figueroa was northbound on 19th Avenue near Roeser Road, responding to a shots-fired call when a truck turned in front of his patrol car. The impact spun the patrol car and sent it into a block wall. Officer Figueroa had served the Phoenix Police Department for more than two years.

Officer Travis Murphy was shot and killed when he confronted a suspect who had fled the scene of a shots fired call. Officer Murphy encountered the suspect at 1920 W. Fairmount Avenue and was shot 10 times in the legs and lower abdomen. Other officers immediately placed him in a patrol car and took him to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later. Officer Murphy had served with the Phoenix Police Department for four and a half years

Police Officer Daryl Raetz was struck and killed by an SUV while making an arrest for DUI near the intersection of 51st Avenue and Cambridge Drive. Officer Raetz, along with several other officers, was processing a DUI suspect on the side of road when a passing SUV struck Officer Raetz. He was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he died. Officer Raetz was a veteran of the Iraq war and had served with the Phoenix Police Department for six years.

Detective John Hobbs was shot and killed as he and others attempted to serve a felony warrant. The subject fled in a vehicle and was pursued by the detectives until crashing at the intersection of 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road. The subject then fled on foot. He opened fire on the detectives, striking Detective Hobbs and a second detective. Despite being mortally wounded, Detective Hobbs was able to return fire and fatally shot the subject. Detective Hobbs had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 21 years.

Police Officer David Glasser succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day after responding to a burglary in progress at a home near the intersection of 51st Avenue and Baseline Road. Officer Glasser had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the Neighborhood Enforcement Team.

Police Officer Paul Rutherford was struck and killed by a vehicle near the intersection of 75th Avenue and Indian School Road at 8:30 am. He was at the scene of an earlier accident when a call involving an armed subject was dispatched across the street. He was attempting to cross the street to respond to the call when he was struck by a vehicle. Officer Rutherford was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 23 years.

Commander Greg Carnicle was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call. He and two other officers were inside of the home when the man suddenly drew a weapon and opened fire, wounding all three officers. Commander Carnicle was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Commander Carnicle had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 31 years and was scheduled to retire in two months.

Police Officer Ginarro New was killed when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of Cave Creek Road and E Greenway Parkway at about 10:30 pm. His patrol car was struck by another vehicle that ran a red light at a high rate of speed. Responding rescue crews extricated him from the vehicle and transported him to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Officer New served the Phoenix Police Department for two years.

Police Officer Matt Hefter died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Officer Hefter had served with the Phoenix Police Department for over 24 years. He is survived by his son, sister, aunts, nieces, and nephews.

Sergeant Tom Craig died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 while assigned to the Property Managemnet Bureau at 100 E. Elwood Street in Phoenix.
Sergeant Craig had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 25 years. He is survived by his wife, five daughters, son, father, stepmother, sister, and brother.

Police Officer Phillip Vavrinec died as a result of contracting COVID-19 while serving as a School Resource Officer at Charles W. Harris Elementary School at 2252 N. 55th Avenue in Phoenix. Officer Vavrinec had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 19 years. He is survived by his mother, father, brother, and fiancée.

Police Officer Zane Coolidge succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained three days earlier while responding to reports of a theft from a motor vehicle near the intersection of 16th Street and McDowell Road. As officers arrived on scene, the suspect fled on foot. The man then opened fire on officers, striking Officer Coolidge and a second officer, he was later captured. He is survived by his wife and child.

K9 Bane was killed while attempting an apprehension following a stolen vehicle pursuit. Near 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road the two occupants fled from the vehicle. One was immediately apprehended while the other fled on foot. The SWAT team located the other suspect hiding in the attic of a nearby home. Bane was released for an apprehension but was killed. The cause of death was asphyxiation.