Protecting The Palm Beaches – January 24th, 2025
Bottom Line: This weekly feature is designed to recognize those who've paid the ultimate price in service and to serve as a reminder of what our police risk to keep us safe. Unfortunately, after progress was made in reducing line of duty deaths in 2023 – we weren’t able to sustain that progress last year. LODs rose by 17% nationally in 2024, with five additional LODs within the state of Florida. A total of 342 officers were shot in the line of duty resulting in 50 deaths – an 8% increase year over year.
- We lost 144 heroes in the line of duty in 2024 including 8 in Florida
- We’ve lost 5 heroes in the line of duty thus far this year.
We’ve lost this hero since the previous update.
- In Vermont, Border Patrol Agent Chris Maland (pictured) was murdered during a traffic stop near the Canadian Border. While approaching a suspicious vehicle, two suspects in the vehicle opened fire striking and killing Chris. One suspect was killed with return fire and a second suspect was captured by responding agents. In addition to having served with Border Patrol for nine years, Chris was an Air Force veteran.
As we reflect on those we’ve lost, please remember the families of our fallen as well. The average age of the fallen is 46, the average tour-of-duty is 14 years. In addition to losing 5 law enforcement professionals in the line-of-duty in 2025, there are 3 widows and 8 children who lost a parent. Remember to back the badge and spread the word. They need us just as much as we need them.