Two great men, one gone long before this time.

Two of the greatest flag officers the American Army has every produced. First, George Patton. You could call him a soldier's soldier, but more than that, he was a warrior. He was not a man of peace, and in the immediate aftermath of the end of World War II, there was a great question. What would Patton do? That question was unfortunalety answered way too soon. Patton's neck was broken in a car crash, and he died just before Christmas 1945. He was buried near his troops in Hamm, Luxembourg.  

 One of my bucket list items is to visit Patton's grave, but I can say I have visited Ike's. In the summer of 1986, I was marooned at Fort Riley KS (stay there for two months and you will understand), but towards the end I was able to get out. And I drove to Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, and I was very impressed. And I paid my respects to the 34th President and General of the Army.  

In recent discussions with friends, a point I've made is how lucky we were. For the Normandy invasion and the liberation of Europe, in Ike, Patton, and Bradley, we had the right men, at the right place, at the right time. Ike was not an army or corp commander. His skill set was for something much larger, and he handled the intense duties of leading, coordinating, and planning the greatest armed invasion well.

The thought of Patton in charge of SHAEF puts shivers in the back of any same man. As much as I admire him, he needed to be in the field, not working with friends and allies, or allies (i.e. the Russians). If Patton was in Ike's spot, we might still be fighting WWII (yes, slight exaggeration). And in the middle, commanding 12th Army Group, Omar Bradley handled four armies and 1.3 soldiers masterfully. 

I don't see another World War II sized conflict in the nuclear age. But if it does occur, we can only hope we get leaders like this again. 

Christmas 2020...a bit late.

UPDATE: Yes, I know this is late. My postings have been sporadic at best. I've been tasked with starting a new job, and starting some other writings. But I want to dust off ACW, and with that in mind, I've been trying to get more time for reading, especially my periodicals. So, I'm off to a lousy start on my New Years Resolutions. But I gotta start somewhere. Here is the post that should have been published right after Christmas. 

This year has been rough by any account, and I am not exempt. But I must say I did well in presents. The wife gave me a cigar holder, Sherlock Holmes pipe, and pipe lighter. Can't wait to season the pipe, as soon as I get over a really bad cold.

Officer Down

Sergeant Dale Multer
Travis County Constable's Office - Precinct 5, Texas
End of Watch Saturday, June 27, 2020
Age 61
Tour 24 years
Cause COVID19

Sergeant Dale Multer died after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty while serving civil papers.

Sergeant Multer served 24 years in law enforcement and was planning to retire next year. He is survived by his wife, two children, and his grandchildren.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Correctional Officer Richard Bianchi
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California
End of Watch Thursday, June 25, 2020
Age 53
Tour 10 years
Cause Automobile crash

Correctional Officer Richard Bianchi was killed in a vehicle crash on Highway 44 four miles east of Old Station Road near Redding.

He was en route from the High Desert State Prison to Redding Hospital to perform guard duty for an inmate at the hospital. His department vehicle left the roadway and overturned, causing him to suffer fatal injuries.

Officer Bianchi had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and two adult children.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Woke Naval reading...

 I am a prolific reader, if I say so myself. My goal for 2021 is 36 books, and according to my spot on Goodreads, I'm two books ahead. And I subscribe to eight magazines. In both my professions, I believed reading was essential. Two of the best books on the subject was The Leader's Bookshelf by Admiral James Stavridis, and Call Sign Chaos: Leading to Lead by General, and former Secretary of Defense James Mattis. 

One thing I do love is all four of the services have professional reading lists, organized by ranks and area. But today I read an article from National Review which should scare any military professional. 

Woke Books Have No Place in U.S. Navy Training

Roger J. Maxwell

How will reading Ibram X. Kendi help us fight our enemies better?

...Over the past several weeks, it has become quite apparent that the United States Navy is no exception to the relentless onslaught of “woke” politicking.

On February 23, the chief of naval operations Admiral Michael Gilday released an updated version of the Navy’s Professional Reading Program. The program, a long-standing tradition that curates suggested readings for all members of the Navy, has a stated aim of educating and training the sailors that compose this branch of the Armed Forces. According to the Navy’s official website on this program, Admiral Gilday believes that in order to “outthink our competitors, we must study and apply lessons we’ve learned from the past.” He further holds that “one of the very best ways to do that is to foster an environment where every Sailor deepens their level of understanding and learning...” Many of the 48 books listed in the newly released reading checklist cover topics relevant to the Navy’s overall mission of becoming a more lethal fighting force: naval strategy, deep-dives into future world superpowers, leadership development, technology changes in the domain of warfighting, etc.

Very good point Admiral Gilday. However, do you really want a 19 year old reading this propaganda.

...However, the checklist also included several books that are overtly political in nature, threatening what should be the apolitical nature of our nation’s fighting forces. As just one example, Ibram X. Kendi’s overly wrought screed How to Be an Antiracist somehow landed on the admiral’s book list. Writings in a similar vein appear on the list as well, including Jason Pierceson’s Sexual Minorities and Politics, as well as Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow. The inclusion of these books, especially given the hot-button topics they cover (and the controversial takes they provide) seems to place the Navy squarely into the realm of politics, which it has stridently attempted to avoid in the 200-plus years of its existence.

The inclusion of these books on an official DoD website is an embrace of partisan politics by a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. One need only look at the contents of these pieces of literature (“literature” being used loosely) to understand just how true this statement is. Kendi’s book argues that capitalism is a racist construct. Alexander’s obfuscates real issues of violent crime in order to argue that incarceration rates for minorities are predominately, if not exclusively, based on race. Perhaps most egregious of the three, the openly partisan nature of Pierceson’s “textbook” practically hits the reader over the head with its agenda. Each piece of writing offers its own particular viewpoint; it just so happens that each is of the woke, left-leaning variety....

I would also list as another not applicable book,  No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement. When the author says there shouldn't be accommodations made for disabled people (e.g. Special Olympics), he's lost it. Sorry, but a man in a wheelchair cannot move as fast as man on the Olympic track team. 

As the woke books are on the lower "Foundation" section of the list, I have to believe there is an intention of political indoctrination of young minds. Getting memories of the political officers in the Soviet Army and Navy, or the current political officers of North Korea or Cuba. Admiral Gilday, I would respectfully suggest sir you (actually your staff weenie who got tasked with this undertaking) review the Marine Commandant's Professional Reading List or the Army's Chief of Staff Professional Reading List. The list being a lot more reading focused on military operations, strategic vision, history, logistics, leadership and statesmanship for younger developing minds. We are dealing with enough political issues in the service right now (The Commander in Chief stating we must pay for sex change surgery, allowing male soldiers to wear nail polish, lowering standards to attend elite schools). We don't need anything else to weaken the force. 

Officer Down

Deputy Sheriff Steven Allen Minor
Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
End of Watch Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Age 54
Tour 19 years
Badge 2222
Cause COVID19

Deputy Sheriff Steven Minor died after contracting COVID-19 while on duty.

Deputy Minor had served with the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office for 19 years. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, three grandchildren, twin brother, and two sisters.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Master Detention Deputy Lynn Jones
Lake County Sheriff's Office, Florida
End of Watch Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Age 52
Tour 13 years
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Saturday, June 13, 2020

Master Detention Deputy Lynn Jones died after contracting COVID-19 in a presumed exposure during an outbreak at the Lake County Jail at 441 W Main Street in Tavares. At the time of Deputy Jones' exposure, 18 staff members and over 100 inmates had tested positive.

Deputy Jones had served with the Lake County Sheriff's Office for 13 years. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Good news on the future of nuclear energy

A major hindrance in the generation of electricity in the US has been the hampering of nuclear power. In the time after the oil shock of 1973, France invested heavily in nuclear reactors, and today 75% of it's power comes from nuclear. The US has not brought a reactor online in over 20 years, largely due to the misinformation of a movie, The China Syndrome.  

The good news is we have hope for multiple smaller reactors to be fielded in the next decade. Again, the free market saves the day.

The Nuclear Energy Advancements Of The Past Four Years Will Blow Your Mind

Fission energy can change America's power for the better -- and we’re finally seeing progress in revitalizing the field across the country...

...Miniaturized fission plants are smaller, safer, cheaper, and now far closer to being a reality.

This September the design for a Small Modular Reactor (SMR), designed by NuScale Power, gained approval from the federal government. It’s the first such reactor to be approved, ever. Small reactors like NuScale’s offer the possibility of fundamentally changing the economics of nuclear power.

While fission plants pay off in the long run, they have immense upfront costs that other energy sources just don’t experience on the same scale. Today, starting a commercial fission plant is something of an Odyssean task requiring decades of paperwork, miles of land, and billions in investment. These smaller reactors could change all of that.

“They can be factory-built and assembled on site much faster than these larger gigawatt-scale reactors. And so part of what we have seen with the cost overrun and the schedule delays… will not be experienced with SMR or microreactor deployment,” Baranwal said.

The mass-produced nature of these small reactors creates a wallet of benefits. The plants can be built far more cheaply while retaining the same safety guardrails of a larger plant. Once installed, each 100-megawatt plant would cost around $500 million to construct but generate $1.3 billion in sales and require 7,000 jobs, according to a study on the design...

Much like factory manufactured housing, you can build the sections, and assemble on site. Reduces weather delays, site theft, and other issues on the construction site. 

Hopefully the Biden regime will not screw this up.

CORRECTION: The newest reactor is only five years old. The next youngest is 25. From NRC,gov:

Tennessee’s Watts Bar Unit 2, which began operation in June 2016. The next-youngest operating reactor is Watts Bar Unit 1, also in Tennessee, which entered service in May 1996.

Officer Down

Assistant Chief Gail Green-Gilliam
Phenix City Police Department, Alabama
End of Watch Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Age 56
Tour 33 years
Badge PD2
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Thursday, May 28, 2020

Assistant Chief Gail Green-Gilliam died after contracting COVID-19 as the result of a presumed exposure during an outbreak within the Phenix City Police Department.

She was taken to a hospital in Columbus, Georgia, where she remained on a ventilator for several weeks.

Assistant Chief Green-Gilliam had served with the Phenix City Police Department for 33 years. She is survived by her husband, son, two daughters, grandchildren, and siblings. Assistant Chief Green-Gilliam had also been the foster parent for special needs children and adults.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Sis…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Michael Lee
Navajo Division of Public Safety, Tribal Police
End of Watch Friday, June 19, 2020
Tour 29 years
Cause COVID19
Location Arizona

Police Officer Michael Lee died after contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure while on duty.

Officer Lee had served with the Navajo Division of Public Safety for 29 years and was assigned to the Chinle Police District. He is survived by his wife and children.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Destin Legieza
Brentwood Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Thursday, June 18, 2020
Age 30
Tour 5 years
Cause Vehicular assault

Police Officer Destin Legieza was killed in a vehicle crash on Franklin Road between Murray Lane to Concord Road shortly before 6:00 am.

A drunk driver traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center line and struck Officer Legieza's patrol SUV head-on. The other driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication.

Officer Legieza had served with the Brentwood Police Department for five years and was a third-generation law enforcement officer. He is survived by his wife.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Wildlife Officer Julian Keen, Jr.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida
End of Watch Sunday, June 14, 2020
Age 30
Tour 6 years

Wildlife Officer Julian Keen was shot and killed in Labelle when he attempted to stop a hit-and-run suspect while off duty.

Hendry County deputies located Officer Keen's body after responding to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Nobles Road and Apache Circle. Three subjects were taken into custody.

Officer Keen had served with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for six years.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Dale Thomas Provins, Jr.
Jefferson Hills Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch Saturday, June 13, 2020
Age 50
Tour 15 years
Badge 23
Cause Automobile crash
Incident Date Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Police Officer Dale Provins succumbed to injuries sustained in a vehicle crash 10 days earlier in the 200 block of Old Clairton Road.

An oncoming vehicle crossed the center line and struck Officer Provins' patrol car head-on. Officer Provins was flown to a hospital in Pittsburgh where he succumbed to his injuries on June 13th, 2020.

Officer Provins was a U.S. Marine Corps and Pennsylvania Army National Guard veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. He had served with the Jefferson Hills Borough Police Department for 15 years and was a third-generation police officer. He is survived by his daughter, fiancée, parents, and siblings.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Deputy Sheriff James H. Blair
Simpson County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi
End of Watch Friday, June 12, 2020
Age 77
Tour 50 years
Badge 25

Deputy Sheriff James Blair was shot and killed while transporting a subject from an involuntary psychiatric evaluation at a mental health facility at 3087 Mississippi 13 in Mendenhall.

The evaluation had just completed, and Deputy Blair was placing the man back into the patrol car when he was attacked. The subject was able to gain control of Deputy Blair's service weapon and fatally shot him before fleeing on foot.

The man was apprehended the following day.

Deputy Blair had served in law enforcement for over 50 years. He is survived by his wife and grandsons, whom they are raising. He was predeceased by his daughter.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Corrections Officer V Thomas Adedayo Ogungbire
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division, Texas
End of Watch Thursday, June 11, 2020
Age 54
Tour 10 years
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Corrections Officer V Thomas Ogungbire died after contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak at the Hutchins State Jail in Dallas County.

Officer Ogungbire had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Border Patrol Agent Johan Mordan
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
End of Watch Thursday, June 11, 2020
Age 26
Tour 11 months
Cause Duty related illness
Location New Mexico

Border Patrol Agent Johan Mordan died while conducting a foot patrol in a remote area of desert in the Bootheel section of New Mexico.

Other agents began searching for him after losing radio contact. They located him unresponsive on a rugged trail and immediately began CPR as they waited for a helicopter to transport him from the scene.

Border Patrol Agent Mordan had only served with the United States Border Patrol for 11 months and was assigned to the Lordsburg Station.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller
Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, California
End of Watch Saturday, June 6, 2020
Age 38
Tour 14 years

Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller was shot and killed as he and other deputies investigated reports of a suspicious vehicle.

Deputies had originally responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle that contained guns and bomb-making materials in the area of Jamison Creek in Boulder Creek. As they arrived at the scene, they observed the van driving away and followed it to a home on Waldeberg Drive in the Ben Lomond area. The vehicle pulled into the driveway and the occupant immediately ambushed the deputies with firearms and improvised explosive devices.

Sergeant Gutzwiller was killed and the other deputy was wounded. The subject then carjacked a vehicle and fled the area. He was located a short time later and engaged officers in another shootout. A California Highway Patrol officer and the subject were both wounded before the man was taken into custody.

Sergeant Gutzwiller had served with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office for 14 years. He is survived by his expectant wife and young child.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Sheriff Andy Deric Clark
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, Missouri
End of Watch Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Age 43
Tour 22 years
Badge 718

Sheriff Andy Clark was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 36 and M Highway, near Osborn, while responding to assist a deputy in an emergency situation.

His patrol car collided with another vehicle at the intersection at 11:30 am.

Sheriff Clark had served in law enforcement for 22 years with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and the Cameron Police Department. He is survived by his wife, four children, parents, and brother.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Efren Coronel
El Centro Police Department, California
End of Watch Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Age 51
Tour 24 years
Badge 354
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Police Officer Efren Coronel died after contracting COVID-19 as the result of a confirmed exposure at the intersection of 8th Street and Main Street during the arrest of an offender who was positive with COVID-19.

Officer Coronel had served with the El Centro Police Department for 24 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Lieutenant Stephen P. Williams
Moody Police Department, Alabama
End of Watch Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Age 50
Tour 23 years

Lieutenant Stephen Williams was shot and killed while responding to a call for service at the Motel 8 at 2451 Moody Parkway.

While on scene at least one suspect opened fire on him, fatally wounding him. Two subjects were taken into custody several hours later after barricading themselves inside a hotel room.

Lieutenant Williams was a U.S Air Force veteran and had served with the Moody Police Department for three years and had 23 years of law enforcement service. He previously served with the Calera Police Department for 2-1/2 years, the Alabaster Police Department for 15 years, and the Bessemer Police Department for 2-1/2 years. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Lieutenant Williams was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Waldis "Jay" Johnson
Detroit Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch Sunday, May 31, 2020
Age 48
Tour 17 years
Badge 2591
Cause Gunfire
Incident Date Sunday, April 30, 2017

Police Officer Jay Johnson succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on April 30th, 2017, while responding to a domestic violence call at 10075 Joy Road.

He and fellow officer Darren Maurice Weathers approached a common front door to the apartment complex, which was locked. After several minutes of knocking on the door, a man unrelated to the call for service came downstairs, opened the door, and pointed a semi-automatic handgun at Officer Johnson.

Officer Johnson immediately grabbed the firearm and began to struggle with the subject. Officer Johnson let go of the firearm to draw his service weapon. They both fired simultaneously. Officer Johnson was struck once in the head and the subject was struck twice by Officer Johnson. Officer Weathers also returned fire before pulling Officer Johnson from the entryway. The subject died at the scene.

Officer Johnson suffered a traumatic brain injury and remained in a rehabilitation facility until his death.

Officer Johnson had served with the Detroit Police Department for 17 years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

Police Officer Weathers, who pulled him to safety, was killed in the line of duty in a vehicle crash on Feb. 13, 2018.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Deputy Constable Caleb Daniel Rule
Fort Bend County Constable's Office - Precinct 4, Texas
End of Watch Friday, May 29, 2020
Age 37
Tour 15 years
Badge 14C12/594

Deputy Constable Caleb Rule was inadvertently shot and killed by a Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office while responding to a suspicious person call in the 3900 block of Chestnut Bend in Sienna Plantation at 1:40 am.

A citizen had reported seeing a man running from a home in the area. Deputy Constable Rule responded to the scene along with three sheriff's deputies and located a home with an open door. Deputy Constable Rule was clearing the home with the sheriff's deputies when he was mistaken for a suspect inside of the home. Deputy Constable Rule was struck in the chest in an area not protected by his vest.

He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

Deputy Constable Rule had served with the Fort Bend County Constable's Office - Precinct 4 for nine months and had previously served with the Missouri City Police Department for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Detective John D. Songy
Rutland Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch Friday, May 29, 2020
Age 48
Tour 14 years
Badge 205
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Thursday, April 23, 2020

Detective John Songy died after contracting COVID-19 as the result of a presumed exposure while on duty.

Detective Songy had served with the Rutland Police Department for eight years and had previously served with the Oakham Police Department for six years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two stepchildren.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Nathan James Lyday
Ogden Police Department, Utah
End of Watch Thursday, May 28, 2020
Age 24
Tour 1 year, 3 months

Police Officer Nate Lyday was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call at a home in the 300 block of Jackson Avenue.

A woman had called 911 and reported that a male subject was threatening to kill her. When Officer Lyday and other officers arrived at the home was located on the front porch. He was uncooperative with officers before running inside the home. As officers approached the front door, he opened fire, shooting through the door and fatally wounding Officer Lyday. A Utah Adult Probation and Parole agent was also struck and suffered non-life-threatening wounds.

Members of the Ogden-Metro SWAT team located the subject deceased inside the home a short time later.

Officer Lyday had served with the Ogden Police Department for only 15 months. He is survived by his wife.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Cody N. Holte
Grand Forks Police Department, North Dakota
End of Watch Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Age 29
Tour 3 years, 3 months
Badge 639
Cause Gunfire

Police Officer Cody Holte was shot and killed after responding to assist deputies from the Grand Forks County Sheriff's Office who were fired upon as they served an eviction notice at an apartment at 2627 South 17th Street.

When deputies made contact with the subject he fled into a bedroom and began firing at them with a semi-automatic rifle. Officer Holte and another officer from the Grand Forks Police Department responded to the deputies' call for assistance. When they arrived, the suspect again opened fire, killing Officer Holte and wounding one of the deputies.

Officer returned fire and wounded the subject. A woman inside of the apartment was found deceased from a gunshot wound. The subject was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with two counts of murder.

Officer Holte was a member of the North Dakota National Guard and had served with the Grand Forks Police Department for three years, assigned to the Uniform Patrol Bureau. Officer Holte was also a member of the Grand Forks Police Department's Honor Guard and was a member of the Northeast Regional Water Rescue Team.

He is survived by his wife, 10-month-old son, and twin brother. His brother also serves as a police officer in North Dakota.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.