During the month of May, ten American Police Officers and one K9 sacrificed their lives in service to their communities and fellow citizens.  Below is a list of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in May 2017.

Deputy Sheriff Mark Burbridge, 43, of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, lost his life on May 1.  Deputy Burbridge and another officer were transporting an inmate when he disarmed both officers and shot them.  Deputy Burbridge later died, and the suspect was arrested.  Mark Burbridge had served the people of Pottawattamie, Iowa for twelve years.  He is survived by his family.

Deputy Sheriff Jimmy Tennyson, 64, of the Maury County Sheriff’s Department, lost his life on May 6.  Deputy Tennyson was traveling when his vehicle left the road, killing him.  Jimmy Tennyson had served the people of Maury County, Tennessee for thirty years.  He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Police Officer Jonathon Ginka, 34, of the Norton Shores Police Department, lost his life on May 10.  Officer Ginka was on patrol when his vehicle left the roadway, killing him.  Jonathon Ginka had served the people of Norton Shores, Michigan for ten years.  He is survived by his wife and two children.

Lieutenant Kevin Mainhart of the Yell County Sheriff’s Department lost his life on May 11.  Lieutenant Mainhart was conducting a traffic stop when he was shot and killed.  The suspects were later arrested.  Kevin Mainhart was a U.S. Air Force veteran who had served the people of Arkansas in several law enforcement positions.  He is survived by his family.

Chief of Police Steven Eric DiSario, 36, of the Kirkersville Police Department, lost his life on May 12.  Chief DiSario was responding to a report of an armed suspect outside of a nursing home when he was shot and killed.  The suspect then killed two other people and then himself.  Steven Eric DiSario had served the people of Kirkersville, Ohio for three weeks.  He is survived by his wife and two children.

Deputy Sheriff Jason Garner, 41, of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, lost his life on May 13.  Deputy Garner was responding to a burglary when his vehicle left the roadway, killing him.  Jason Garner had served the people of Stanislaus County, California for nine years.  He is survived by his wife and four children.

Deputy Sheriff Mason Moore, 42, of the Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office, lost his life on May 16.  Deputy Moore was pursuing two suspects in a vehicle when they opened fire, causing his patrol car to go off the roadway.  The suspects made a U-turn and returned to the crash.  They then executed Deputy Moore.  One suspect was later killed by Police, and the other was arrested.  Mason Moore had served the people of Montana in several law enforcement positions for fifteen years.  He is survived by his wife and three children.

Special Agent Isaac Morales, 30, of the United States Border Patrol, lost his life on May 24.  Agent Morales was off duty in El Paso, Texas when he and friends were approached.  After he identified himself as a federal agent, Agent Morales was fatally stabbed.  The suspect was later arrested.  Isaac Morales had served the people of the United States for eight years.  He is survived by his family.

Deputy Sheriff William Durr, 36, of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, lost his life on May 27.  Deputy Durr was responding to a domestic disturbance when he was shot and killed by a man who went on to murder seven civilians.  The suspect was later killed by Police.  William Durr had prior law enforcement experience and had served the people of Lincoln County, Mississippi for two years.  He is survived by his family.

Special Agent Michael T. Walker, 45, of the Virginia State Police, lost his life on May 27.  Agent Walker was investigating a suspicious vehicle when the passenger opened fire, killing him.  The shooter was later arrested.  Michael T. Walker was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who had served the people of Virginia for eighteen years.  He is survived by his wife and three children.

*K9 Diesel, of the Sebastian Police Department, lost his life on April 28.  The German Shepherd was left in his handler’s car and died of heat exhaustion.  Diesel had served the people of Sebastian, Florida.

K9 Freckles, 11, of the Florida Department of Corrections, lost her life on May 10.  The Beagle was assisting her human counterparts in tracking a fugitive through a wooded area when she died from heat exhaustion.  Freckles had served the people of Florida for many.

Whenever a law enforcement officer dies, the American people must take a moment to appreciate the conclusion of a life that was spent serving others.  As we remember the sacrifices made by countless men and women to protect the basic freedoms that we cherish, it is necessary to consider the magnitude of devotion that American Police Officers have to our country.  Our Police Officers are sons and daughters and moms and dads who have volunteered to put the safety of their neighbors above their own.  The sentinels of the thin blue line always stand ready to plunge into danger in service to their community and their country.  As Harry S. Truman once said, “America was not built on fear.  America was built on courage, on imagination, and on an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”

*K9 Diesel lost his life in April, but was inadvertently not mentioned in the End of Watch article for that month.