1970's LODD

Officer Carl Poncho Kime Jr, 29, was a K-9 officer killed on November 5, 1979, approximately 2 :00 a.m. while on a routine patrol when he observed an open door on the Sooner Insurance Merchandise business at 5710 E. 11th Street. Officer Kime and his German Shepherd canine partner “Smokey” entered the open door to search for possible burglars. Retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Herbert Hellen was working as a security guard for the business that night and only minutes earlier had chased two burglars from the store. Apparently Hellen thought they were returning when he saw a silhouetted figure at the door of the office he was in using the telephone. Hellen fired at the figure with a .12 gauge shotgun from about 35 feet away. Most of the buckshot hit Officer Kime in the neck and left side of him. “Smokey” crawled on top of his mortally wounded handler and held police at bay until other canine officers arrived and were able to coax him away. Officer Kime was with the Tulsa Police Department in Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife Kathrine, and two daughters ages 1 and 8.

Retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper, Herbert Hellen, was not charged in the killing of Officer Kime.

The first line of duty death of a Garrett County Officer occurred at approximately 5:30 am on January 18, 1979. Deputy Sheriff David G. Livengood, 31, was approximately one mile away when a silent alarm at Davidson’s store in Oakland, Maryland was tripped at 5:25 a.m. The first officer arrived at the scene at approximately 5:27 a.m. and found the padlock and chains broken off the front door. At approximately 5:26 a.m. Livengood arrived on scene at the back of the store. At approximately 5:30 he radioed the officer at the front of the store that he was going to check a suspicious vehicle in the back. That was the last they heard from Livengood. Deputy Livengood had confronted the suspects near the back entrance carrying stolen property. While in the process of apprehending the two men, Livengood was shot 7 times with a 9 mm, once to the back of the head by Richard Danny Tichnell. The other intruder, Roberto Recek used a samurai sword to then kill Deputy Livengood’s K-9 “Sarge” who was found by the other officer lying up against a barbwire fence still alive but lifted his head and then died. Deputy Livengood was killed by two perpetrators who fled and then a short time later accosted a family, tied them up and stole their vehicle. Later that day both suspects, Roberto Rezek and Richard Danny Tichnell were apprehended and taken into custody by the Virginia State Police. Deputy Livengood had been with the Garrett County agency in Maryland for eight years and was a Marine Corps veteran. Deputy Livengood is survived by his wife Geni, his daughter Shannon and his son David.

Rezek was tried and convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Tichnell was convicted and sentenced to death which was later commuted to life in prison.

K-9 Officer Hess, 35, and Officer David Friederichsen were shot and killed on June 12, 1978 after responding to a domestic disturbance call. Two minutes after arriving on the scene the suspect opened fire, striking them both. Officer Hess was killed at the scene and Officer Friederichsen was succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital three days later. Officer Hess had been with the Chattanooga Police Department in Tennessee for six years. He is survived by his wife and son.

Officer Pena , 41, was shot in the neck and killed on April 2, 1978 when he stopped Manual Valle for a traffic violation at Le Jeune Road and Miracle Mile for running a red light. The events that followed were witnessed by Officer Gary Spell also of Coral Gables Police Department. Officer Spell testified that when he arrived at the scene Manual Valle was sitting in the patrol car with Officer Pena. Spell heard Pena use his radio to run a license check on the car Valle was driving. Officer Spell said Valle then walked back to his car and reached into it, approached Officer Pena and fired a single shot hitting Officer Pena in the neck which resulted in his death. Valle also fired two shots at Officer Spell hitting him in the back and Valle then fled. Valle was picked up 2 days later in Deerfield Beach. He was charged with first degree murder, attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and automobile theft. During the trial, evidence was shown that Valle's fingerprints were on both vehicles. A codefendant, was also charged as an accessory after the fact and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on 6/20/78. His K-9 partner "Abraham" was with him at the time of the incident. Officer Pena was the father of 4 children and 11-year veteran of the force.

In Manual Valle's first trial he was found guilty of 1st degree murder, attempted 1st degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and the jury voted by majority for the death penalty on 5/10/78 . On 2/26/81 the Florida Supreme Court reversed Valle's convictions and sentence and remanded for a new trial. At the second trial Valle was convicted on all counts charged and the jury, by 9 to 3 majority voted for the death penalty on 8/1/81 and was sentenced on 8/4/81. On 1/5/87 The Florida Supreme Court remanded for resentencing before a new jury. On 2/29/88 the new jury, by an 8 to 4 majority voted for the death penalty and was sentenced on 3/16/88. On 4/27/88 an appeal was filed and a rehearing was denied on 7/5/91. Since then petitions have been filed and denied in 1991, 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004. Also an appeal filed on 4/27/88 and rehearing denied on 7/5/91. Another appeal filed on 1/25/99 and rehearing denied on 3/12/01.

On February 3, 1978, Trooper Champy, 32, heard a call for assistance of a motorist whose car had been struck by a hit and run motorist and forced a vehicle off the road. Trooper Champy, along with fellow Trooper Korbett pursued the fleeing vehicle and eventually stopped it. During a struggle to arrest the passenger of the vehicle Trooper Champy suffered a fatal heart attack. Trooper Champy was an eight-year veteran of the New Hampshire State Police and was stationed at Troop D in Bow. His K9 partner was a bloodhound named “Smokey”. Trooper Champy served in the United States Navy in the Vietnam War. He was survived by his wife and his two daughters.

Robert Gray was killed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines on January 6, 1978. Robert was killed when he had been dispatched to an intruder sighting and was searching a mile range which had scrub and elephant grass and some washouts. Robert didn’t wait for backup, he trusted his dog Casey Jones. Casey Jones was a great detector dog but not much of an attack dog. As Robert spotted and chased the intruders through the grass two of them ducked down into the high grass and waited as Bob ran by, still in pursuit of the others. Bob released Casey Jones and he actually had a bite on the foot of one of the two intruders still ahead of them. The two who had waited in the grass jumped Robert from behind after he cut Casey Jones loose. Robert was struck in the head and was stabbed in the neck and cut into his ribs and lungs from his waist to under his armpit by four intruders who got his gun and shot Robert’s loyal dog, Casey Jones as the loyal dog was returning to his stricken master. The intruders fled leaving Robert and Casey Jones lying on the ground. Casey Jones underwent surgery and survived to be assigned to another handler later. The intruders got away. On March 12, 2004, Lackland Air Force Base 341st training squadron had a kennel dedication ceremony in honor of Robert Gray which was attended by his parents and brother. Robert Gray was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, NY. on January 18, 1978.

Trooper Moller, 31, was struck and killed on February 13, 1976 (Friday the 13th ) along with the motorist he was assisting on I-84 roadway in West Hartford by a hit-and-run driver in a truck. The driver fled the scene but turned himself into a Hartford police officer who was directing traffic. Moller was assigned to Hartford following his graduation from the Academy in February 1970 and spent his entire career at Troop H. Trooper Moller’s partner was K-9 Thor. Trooper Moller had served with the Connecticut State Police for 6 years.

Ptl. Armstrong, 28, was killed on April 15, 1975. in Bensalem PA. Ptl. Armstrong was shot while on a felony traffic stop of armed robbery suspect at Woodhaven Mall and his K-9 dog was also killed by the suspect. At approximately 11:00 a.m. Officer Armstrong approached Joseph Hennessey in a parking lot on route 13 in Bensalem Township to question him about a gas station robbery fifteen minutes earlier. Hennessey was driving a Chevrolet station wagon that fit the general description of the robbery suspect. During the interaction with Officer Armstrong, Hennessey disarmed him and chased him through a parking lot and shot him five times, three times in the chest, once in the mouth & once in the head. Hennessey fled jurisdiction to Philadelphia with a female and admitted to her he committed the robbery and murdered Officer Armstrong and was arrested. The female with him witnessed Hennessey heavily intoxicated from drugs and/ or alcohol in the days before and after the murder. Officer Armstrong’s tie tack was found under Hennessey’s car seat. At the time of his death, he left behind his wife and one year old daughter Sandra and Patti.

On September 30, 1975, following a trial, a jury found Hennessey guilty of 1^st degree murder of Bensalem Township Police Officer James Armstrong. The following day the jury sentenced Hennessey to life in prison.

Cpl Brian Criddle, 34, and his dog Jason were critically injured when a landmine exploded near Clogher on July 18th 1973. Brian died in hospital four days later on July 22, 1973 in Belfast. He was married with 3 children. Brian was with C Sqn doing road clearance almost on the border. Only part of the bomb exploded, if it had 15 - 20 soldiers would have died. Brian had been awarded the British Empire Medal for his brave and gallant services.

Sergeant Hosli, 31, succumbed to wounds on March 5, 1973, 58 days after he was shot by a sniper who was also responsible for the murders of Cadet Alfred Harrell on December 31, 1972, and Deputy Superintendent Louis Sirgo & Patrolman Paul Persigo, and Patrolman Philip Coleman on January 7, 1973. Minutes after the murder of Patrolman Harrell, Sergeant Hosli and his canine partner responded to nearby warehouses after an alarm went off. He was ambushed and shot in the back with a 44 magnum rifle by the sniper as he entered one of the warehouses. After Sgt Hosli was shot, police chased Mark Essex in a stolen car to a Howard Johnson’s. The sniper then set diversionary fires throughout the 300 room hotel and shot at hundreds of police surrounding the burning building. Sgt. Hosli was one of nine people killed and 10 seriously wounded by self-styled black extremist Mark James Robert Essex, age 23 from Emporia Kansas, who held hundreds of cops at bay for 10 hours, paralyzing the Central Business District. Sgt. Hosli served the New Orleans Police Department in Louisiana. Other police officers killed by sniper Mark Essex. Sergeant Edwin C. Hosli Sr., age 31, was shot on January 7, 1973 and succumbed to his wound on March 5, 1973, 58 days after he was shot by a sniper. Sergeant Hosli and his canine partner responded to nearby warehouses after an alarm went off. He was ambushed and shot in the back with a 44 magnum rifle by the sniper as he entered one of the warehouses. Cadet Alfred E. Harrell, age 19, was shot and killed instantly on December 31, 1972 by a sniper at 2255 hours while working the gate at the Central Lockup. The sniper fired a .44 caliber carbine from a field 280 feet away. Cadet Harrell was scheduled to end his shift only five minutes later. Cadet Harrell had been with the agency for less then one year, He is survived by his wife and 9-month-old son. Patrolman Paul A. Persigo was shot and killed with a 44 magnum rifle on January 7, 1973 as he attempted to clear civilians from the front of the hotel. Officer Persigo had planned to celebrate his wife’s birthday that night. Patrolman Philip Coleman Sr., age 26, had driven his patrol car to a location to assist another wounded policeman who had been shot and and trying to rescue him. He was shot and killed January 7, 1973 with a 44 magnum rifle as he stepped from his patrol car. Patrolman Coleman had been with the agency for five years. Deputy Superintendent Louis Joseph Sirgo was shot and killed January 7, 1973 with a 44-magnum rifle as he led a team of officers up a dark stairwell to try to rescue two other officers who were trapped in an elevator. The suspect was hiding in the stairwell and opened fire on the officers. Others killed by sniper Mark Essex. Dr. Robert & Elizabeth Steagall who were honeymooning from Virginia. Sherwood Collins & Frank Schneider, Two hotel employees.

Essex, 23, was killed during a rooftop gun battle with police sharpshooters who fired from a marine assault helicopter.

K-9 Officer John "Sonny" Burke, 26, was shot and killed October 1, 1970, just minutes away from the end of his shift, after being flagged down by a business owner regarding two suspicious males at 2345 hours. As he approached the men one of them opened fire with a sawed-off shotgun, fatally wounding him. One suspect was immediately arrested and ultimately acquitted. The second suspect was identified as James Cherry of Atlanta City who fled to Cuba. Officer Burke had been with the Atlantic City Police Department in New Jersey for 15 months. His K-9 partner "Thor" witnessed the killing from the inside the patrol car. Officer Burke was survived by his wife Marie.

The first suspect was acquitted. The second suspect, James Cherry, was apprehended in 1990 and sentenced to 15-20 prison for the murder of Ptl. John "Sunny" Burke and four years for unlawful flight when he returned to the U.S. after twenty years in Cuba. James Cherry was up for parole in 2005.