Honoring Fallen Police Officers; Black Hawk Down Off Florida Coast Kills 11

"It's not how these officers died that made them heroes, it's how they lived."...Vivian Cross

Taps For Too Many Police Officers This March

This March has proven to be a dangerous month for police officers across the nation. Just two days ago, two more police officers were ambushed in Ferguson, MO.  Fortunately, both officers are expected to make a full recovery. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the eight police officers who have died in the line of duty in only the first two weeks of this month. We remember:

Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Wilson, III

Officer Wilson, 30, was shot and killed when he and his partner interrupted a robbery at a video game store on March 5, 2015. Officer Wilson was in the store to purchase a game for his son whose birthday was that same week. Wilson was shot three times during a barrage in which 50 shots were fired. Two subjects were later apprehended.

Officer Wilson was an 8 year veteran of the department. He is survived by his wife and two young sons.

Fulton County (Georgia) Police Officer Terence Avery Green

Officer Green, 48, was shot and killed in an ambush as he and other officers responded to reports of shots fired inside a home on March 4, 2015.

Officer Green was a 22 year veteran of the department. He is survived by his wife and four sons.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Josie Wells

Deputy Wells, 27, was shot and killed as he and other U.S. Marshals attempted to serve an arrest warrant on a double-murder suspect on March 10, 2015. Shots were fired as the team attempted to take the man into custody. During the shooting, Marshal Wells was struck. He was taken to the hospital but succumbed to his wounds.

Deputy Wells was a four year veteran of the Marshal service. He is survived by his expectant wife.

To date, there have been 23 line of duty deaths. Four died by gunfire (one accidental). Six officers succumbed to heart attacks. Eight died in automobile accidents. Two were struck by vehicles. One died during a vehicle pursuit. Two died from related illnesses.

(Officer Down Memorial Page and National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund)

Black Hawk Down Off Florida Coast Kills 11

Several days ago a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a nighttime training mission of the Gulf Coast of Florida. Seven Marines and four soldiers were killed.

The Louisiana National Guard reported yesterday that two bodies have since been recovered as well as body parts. The search and rescue operation is now a recovery operation. No one is believed to have survived the crash.

The names of the victims have not been released.

USA Today, Military.com