In Memoriam: A Tribute to PSP Site Heroes
National Police Week, held May 12–18, 2024, pays special tribute to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. The National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) offers a heartfelt tribute to officers from our current sites who made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities in the last year.
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Sergeant Richard Carrero Mendez, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Police Department; End of Watch:
October 12, 2023; Cause: Gunfire
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Sergeant James Michael Russ, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Police Department; End of Watch:
December 2, 2023; Cause: Heart attack
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Sergeant Philip Dale Nix, Greensboro, North Carolina, Police Department; End of Watch:
December 30, 2023; Cause: Gunfire
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Police Officer Wisbens Antoine, Knoxville, Tennessee, Police Department; End of Watch:
February 2, 2024; Cause: Duty-related illness
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Lead Officer Adam Buckner, Tucson, Arizona, Police Department; End of Watch: March 31, 2024;
Cause: Automobile crash
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Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Joshua Eyer, and
Investigators Samuel Poloche and William Alden Elliott of the North Carolina Department of
Adult Correction
, Charlotte, North Carolina; End of Watch: April 29, 2024; Cause: Gunfire
Sergeant Mendez worked for the Philadelphia Police Department for nearly 23 year and was assigned to
the Airport Unit. Then-Acting Police Commissioner John Stanford described him as “the fixer” for anyone
he came across and said he was a hero not because he died in the line of duty but because he served as a
Philadelphia police officer for more than two decades. Sergeant Mendez was awarded over 76
certifications and commendations during his law enforcement career. He was one of the first officers to be
assigned to the Real Time Crime Unit as well as the Major Incidents Response Team. His colleagues said
he was a computer whiz, having earned his master’s degree in business. He was posthumously promoted
to sergeant and was awarded the Purple Heart and Medal of Honor. He is survived by his wife, daughter,
mother, brothers, sister, nieces, and nephews.
Sergeant Russ served the Chattanooga Police Department for 16 years after serving in the United States
Navy for 20 years, retiring as a petty officer first class. At the police department, he was the supervisor of
the court liaison officers and previously was a Neighborhood Police Patrol supervisor, a traffic investigator,
and the neighborhood policing officer. He was a member of the Hostage Negotiations Team, the Crisis
Intervention Team, the Incident Management Team, the Critical Incident Debriefing Team, and Peer
Support. He was a member of Law Enforcement United—Team Chattanooga and participated in the Road
to Hope, which honors fallen officers and support survivors. He also previously served on the department’s
Honor Guard. He will be remembered for his kindness, integrity, and commitment to serving others. He
was survived by his wife, mother, brother, nieces, and nephew.
Sergeant Nix began his public service career as a 9-1-1 telecommunicator, joining the Greensboro Police
Department in 2001. During his 22 years with the department, he served as a police training officer, patrol
sergeant, patrol corporal, financial crimes detective, and detective sergeant of the Family Victims Unit,
which investigates child abuse, domestic and sexual violence, and elder abuse. He had a passion for serving
victims of abuse, and with his exceptional collaborative skills, he impacted the lives of thousands of people
in his community. He was a nationally recognized leader with the National Family Justice Center Alliance
and Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention and was invited to present on homicide prevention and
intervention. He was a member of the department’s Honor Guard and was a Peer Support member. He
received several department awards and was the department representative on several local committees
and events. He is survived by his wife, children, and parents.
Officer Antoine enrolled in the Knoxville Police Academy in September 2023 and was sworn in a week
before his graduation after collapsing during a routine physical training session. His dedication,
determination, and character were evident from the start, creating connections and earning the
admiration of his peers and instructors. Officer Antoine cherished his law enforcement friendships,
particularly a close group of friends he called “The Boys.” His peers and instructors described Officer
Antoine as dedicated, determined, and having a strong character. His friend called him a “big teddy bear,”
a compassionate and giving person who helped drive friends across the county or offered sage advice. He
is survived by his wife, children, parents, and brother.
Lead Officer Buckner was a 2-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department and previously served for 4
years in the New Orleans, Louisiana, Police Department, where he was a detective. In June 2023, he was
recognized as Midtown Officer of the Month in Tucson for his leadership and excellence, noting his work
on a domestic violence and homicide case. He was assigned as lead investigator for Squad Nine. Tucson
Police Chief Chad Kasmar described Officer Bucker as a “brave guardian” and an “an outstanding police
officer and a hero among heroes.” “People loved his enthusiasm, his passion for the profession, and his
desire to serve the community,” Chief Kasmar said. He is survived by his wife, mother, brothers, and sisters.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Weeks, Officer Eyer, and Investigators Poloche and Elliott were killed when trying to
serve warrants in Charlotte as part of a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Marshal Weeks was a 13-year
veteran of the Marshals Service and previously worked for 8 years with U.S. Customs and Border
Protection. He began his Marshals career in Washington, DC, in superior court, transferring to Charlotte in
2014. He was “a deputy’s deputy” and always did his job with a smile, said Chief Judge Robert Conrad of
the Western District of North Carolina. He is survived by his wife and children. Investigator Poloche, who
worked in corrections for 14 years, most recently in the Special Operations and Intelligence Unit, was
remembered as a family man who loved the outdoors and often traveled to Orlando, Florida, to take his
family to Disney. He is survived by a wife and children. Investigator Elliott had been in law enforcement for
15 years, beginning his career with the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department and serving in adult
corrections for 14 years, also in the Special Operations and Intelligence Unit. He is survived by his wife and
child. Officer Eyer joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in 2017 after serving as a military
officer in the national guard, including a tour in Afghanistan. He was named officer of the month in April.
He is survived by his wife and son.
In addition to fallen officers, PSP sites lost K-9 members of the force in the line of duty this year. Among
them are:
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K-9 Harrie, Shreveport, Louisiana, Police Department; End of Watch: June 24, 2023; Cause:
Heatstroke. K-9 Harrie served the department for 6 years.
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K-9 Falco, Gary, Indiana, Police Department; End of Watch: July 13, 2023; Cause: Gunfire. K-9 Falco
served the department for 8 years.