Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen
The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of these brave officers.
Officer Geoffrey Breitkopf, 40
Nassau County New York Police Department
March 12, 2011 – Officer Geoffrey Breitkopf, a plainclothes officer, responded to assist officers who were dealing with a man armed with several knives. A transit officer saw Officer Breitkopf approach holding a rifle and mistakenly thought that he, too, was a suspect and shot and killed him. Officer Breitkopf is survived by his wife and two children.
Officer Alain Schaberger, 42
New York City Police Department
March 13, 2011 – Officer Schaberger, along with other officers, responded to a domestic dispute involving a man who’d threatened to kill his girlfriend. While attempting to handcuff the suspect, the man pushed Officer Schaberger off the front stoop, causing him to fall nine feet onto the concrete pavement. He struck his head, fracturing his skull and neck, and died as a result of the injuries.
Deputy Sheriff Cameron Neil Justus, 41
Buchanan County Virginia Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Sheriff William Ezra Stiltner, 46
Buchanan County Virginia Sheriff’s Office
March 13, 2011 – Deputy Cameron Neil Justice and Deputy William Ezra Stilner were shot and killed by a sniper as they responded to assist other deputies at a larceny-in-progress call. The shooter had positioned himself on a ridge above the scene and used a high-powered rifle to kill the two deputies. The suspect was later killed by officers when he drew a handgun on them as they approached to make the arrest.
Deputy Stilner is survived by his wife, two children, and two grandchildren.
Officer Stephanie Brown, 27
San Antonio Texas Police Department
March 15, 2011 – Officer Stephanie Brown was killed in an automobile crash when a driver traveling in the wrong lane struck her patrol car head-on. Officer Brown was responding to a call when the crash occurred. She is survived by her 7-month-old daughter and her father, who is also a San Antonio police officer.
Deputy Sheriff Sebastian Diana, 40
Orange County Sheriff’s Office
March 12, 2011 – Deputy Sheriff Sebastian Diana responded to a child-not-breathing call and, upon arrival, found a 3-month-old infant in need of CPR. He began the procedure immediately and, unfortunately, contracted a bacterial infection from contacting the child’s body fluids. Deputy Diana eventually suffered heart failure as a result of the infection. He is survived by his wife and four children.
