Officer Down Memorial

“All Gave Some, Some Gave All”
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Photo of Deputy Kevin Douglas Mathew

Deputy Kevin Douglas Mathew

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Kevin Mathews was killed when his police motorcycle was struck by a limousine in the motorcade for presidential candidate Paul Tsongas.

He was attempting to block traffic at an intersection when he was struck.

Deputy Mathews is survived by his wife.

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EOW Friday, March 6, 1992 Cause Struck by vehicle Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Deputy Kevin Mathews was killed when his police motorcycle was struck by a limousine in the motorcade for presidential candidate Paul Tsongas.

He was attempting to block traffic at an intersection when he was struck.

Deputy Mathews is survived by his wife.

Photo of Deputy James Rondeau Dickinson

Deputy James Rondeau Dickinson

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Dickinson was shot and killed while attempting to serve a court order on a disturbed Vietnam War veteran. The suspect was barricaded in his home and opened fire on Deputy Dickinson with high-powered rifle.

The suspect was eventually taken into custody.…

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EOW Tuesday, August 22, 1989 Cause Gunfire Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Deputy Dickinson was shot and killed while attempting to serve a court order on a disturbed Vietnam War veteran. The suspect was barricaded in his home and opened fire on Deputy Dickinson with high-powered rifle.

The suspect was eventually taken into custody. He was convicted of second degree murder but released after only 12 years. The man died in 2003.

Deputy Dickinson had served with the agency for 9 years.

Photo of Police Officer Brian Heywood Chappell

Police Officer Brian Heywood Chappell

West Palm Beach Police Department

Officer Chappell was shot and killed during a traffic stop during a speed enforcement assignment. As Officer Chappell approached the vehicle the driver leaned out and fired a single shot which struck Officer Chappell in the heart. He was able to call for assistance before succumbing to his injuries.…

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EOW Monday, August 22, 1988 Cause Gunfire Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Officer Chappell was shot and killed during a traffic stop during a speed enforcement assignment. As Officer Chappell approached the vehicle the driver leaned out and fired a single shot which struck Officer Chappell in the heart. He was able to call for assistance before succumbing to his injuries. The suspect was apprehended two days later and sentenced to death. Officer Chappell had left his vest in his locker due to the excessive heat.

Officer Chappell had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his parents, three brothers, and sister.

Photo of Trooper Frederick J. Groves Jr.

Trooper Frederick J. Groves , Jr.

Florida Highway Patrol

Trooper Frederick Groves was shot and killed after making a traffic stop in Palm Beach County. The stop occurred along the southbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike two miles north of Okeechobee Road in West Palm Beach. As Trooper Frederick searched the trunk of the car, he was shot by a passenger when he discovered a suitcase full of marijuana.…Read More
EOW Tuesday, September 18, 1984 Cause Gunfire Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Trooper Frederick Groves was shot and killed after making a traffic stop in Palm Beach County. The stop occurred along the southbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike two miles north of Okeechobee Road in West Palm Beach.

As Trooper Frederick searched the trunk of the car, he was shot by a passenger when he discovered a suitcase full of marijuana. The suspect and the driver were arrested the next day.

The 21-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on March 27, 1987. His accomplice was convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to seven years.

Trooper Groves had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 14 years.

Photo of Police Officer Robert Dennis Edwards

Police Officer Robert Dennis Edwards

West Palm Beach Police Department

Officer Edwards was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a local hospital to assist his partner with a prisoner. The two had arrested a woman at a disturbance and placed her in the back of a patrol car.…

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EOW Saturday, January 21, 1984 Cause Automobile accident Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Officer Edwards was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a local hospital to assist his partner with a prisoner. The two had arrested a woman at a disturbance and placed her in the back of a patrol car. The woman started banging her head on the inside of the car causing injuries to herself. Officer Edwards’ partner transported her to the hospital as Officer Edwards waited for a tow truck for the suspect’s car.

When another officer arrived to take over Officer Edwards responded to the hospital to assist his partner. As he entered an intersection another car turned left, causing a collision which knocked Officer Edwards’ patrol car into a concrete light pole.

Officer Edwards had served with the agency for 4 years. He was survived by his wife, four children, brother, and mother.

Photo of Deputy Frank Dean Genovese

Deputy Frank Dean Genovese

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Genovese was shot and killed while participating in a SWAT team operation during a standoff with an armed suspect. The suspect, who had set his furniture on fire and was threatening to blow up his townhouse, surrendered to police after a four hour siege.…

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EOW Thursday, June 3, 1982 Cause Gunfire Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Deputy Genovese was shot and killed while participating in a SWAT team operation during a standoff with an armed suspect. The suspect, who had set his furniture on fire and was threatening to blow up his townhouse, surrendered to police after a four hour siege.

Although the suspect had fired at officers he was acquitted December 14, 1984, after his attorney convinced a jury that an officer’s return fire may have killed Deputy Genovese.

Six months later the suspect was charged with the attempted murder of a Miami police officer during a wild chase. The pursuit ended when he plowed his corvette into four police cars at a road block, injuring one officer. On March 18, 1988, he was charged with numerous firearms violations including sell and possession of machine guns after his arrest by ATF agents and Miami Police.

Deputy Genovese had served with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department for 16 months. Before that he served with the Datona Beach Police Department for three years.

Photo of Deputy Richard John Landes

Deputy Richard John Landes

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Landes was struck and killed by a passing vehicle while he was assisting others in removing a vehicle from a canal.

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EOW Saturday, April 18, 1981 Cause Struck by vehicle Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Deputy Landes was struck and killed by a passing vehicle while he was assisting others in removing a vehicle from a canal.

Photo of Patrolman William Steven Mathews

Patrolman William Steven Mathews

Palm Beach Gardens Police Department

Patrolman Mathews was killed in an automobile accident while attempting to stop a drunk driver.

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EOW Friday, July 13, 1979 Cause Automobile accident Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Patrolman Mathews was killed in an automobile accident while attempting to stop a drunk driver.

Photo of Officer John Daniel Kennedy

Officer John Daniel Kennedy

Delray Beach Police Department

Officer John Kennedy was shot and killed when he was ambushed as he sat in his patrol car. He was writing a report while parked a gas station. His body was located after he failed to respond to radio transmissions. One of the suspect was arrested and convicted of second degree murder.…Read More
EOW Saturday, August 10, 1974 Cause Gunfire Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Officer John Kennedy was shot and killed when he was ambushed as he sat in his patrol car. He was writing a report while parked a gas station. His body was located after he failed to respond to radio transmissions.

One of the suspect was arrested and convicted of second degree murder.

Officer Kennedy had served with the department for 13 years. He was survived by his expectant wife and five children.

Photo of Officer Meredith Stanley Runck Jr.

Officer Meredith Stanley Runck , Jr.

Riviera Beach Police Department

Officer Skip Runck was shot and killed with his own weapon after responding to a domestic disturbance call. Upon arrival, he was told by a female victim that the man had threatened to murder her. Officer Runck ordered the man to go home, but he refused.…Read More
EOW Friday, April 5, 1974 Cause Gunfire Website: Officer Down Memorial Page

Officer Skip Runck was shot and killed with his own weapon after responding to a domestic disturbance call.

Upon arrival, he was told by a female victim that the man had threatened to murder her. Officer Runck ordered the man to go home, but he refused. As it began to rain, Officer Runck stepped into the house and told the man not to enter it. The suspect continued to disobey the orders and was then advised that he was under arrest. Officer Runck took him by the arm and began to lead him towards the police car when a struggle ensued, and Officer Runck hit the suspect with his baton. Both men fell to the ground, and the suspect gained control of Officer Runck’s .357 caliber revolver and pointed it at his chest. Officer Runck shouted, “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” but the suspect shot him four times and then started yelling, “I done shot the law.”

The suspect was apprehended and sentenced to 55 years in prison but was later murdered while incarcerated.

Officer Runck had been with the Riviera Beach Police Department for 15 months. He was survived by his wife, parents, and two brothers.