Page 37 - September Issue

Cops come from across the country to honor Goforth
Darren H.
Goforth
Deputy Sheriff Harris County Sheriff's Office, Texas End of Watch: Aug. 28, 2015
Flags across Texas were at half-staff on Friday, Sept. 4 to honor Harris County Deputy Sheriff Darren H. Goforth who was gunned down on Aug. 28 in what officials described as an “execution-style” attack.
Law enforcement brothers and sisters from as far away as California, New York City and Chicago attended the funeral on Sept. 4 in Houston. Thousands of mourners gathered for a final salute to the 10-year veteran who was shot to death while fueling his patrol car in Cypress, Texas, near Houston.
Goforth’s murder made national news and has been the subject of conversations in FOP Lodges across the country regarding how to help members guard against such hostile incidents. A 21-gun salute and a helicopter flyover concluded services for the slain officer as his coffin was carried by the Harris County Sheriff's honor guard out of the church.
Deputy Goforth was on patrol and had completed an assignment at the scene of a vehicle collision. As he stood next to his patrol car filling it with fuel, a male subject walked up behind him and fired multiple shots. After Deputy Goforth fell to the ground, the subject shot him several more times before fleeing the scene in a pickup truck.
The subject was apprehended the next day following a massive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies from around the Harris County and Houston area. He was charged with capital murder.
Deputy Goforth had served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and two children, ages 5 and 12.
A leader, mentor and hero
Sergeant
Peggy Vassallo
Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department, Missouri End of Watch: Aug. 24, 2015
Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Sergeant Peggy Vassallo was in full uniform en route to work when she was involved in a two vehicle crash shortly before 8:00 a.m. on Aug. 24.
While assessing the accident, the other driver was complaining of neck pain, prompting Vassallo to contact dispatch to request medical assistance.
As she was on the radio and rendering aid to the driver, another vehicle entered the area at a high rate of speed. The vehicle swerved around Vassallo’s car and struck her, causing critical injuries. The 29-year veteran was trans- ported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries several hours later.
Vassallo, 53, had served with the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department for 15 years and had previously served with the St. Louis County Police Department for more than 13 years. She is survived by her husband, son and two grandchildren.
Sergeant Vassallo was a member of the Police Unity Tour.
Hundreds of first responders attended Vassallo’s funeral, and many commented on how her last action was helping an accident victim; a fitting end for an officer who gained a reputation for leading, mentoring and coun- seling children as a DARE officer.
‘He arrested you with a smile’
Officer Henry Nelson
Sunset Police Department, Louisiana End of Watch:
Aug. 26, 2015
Louisiana’s Sunset Police Department was in mourning following the death of Officer Henry Nelson, who was shot and killed at approximately 3 p.m. on Aug. 26 while responding to a domestic disturbance call where three women had been stabbed by a male subject. When Nelson arrived, the subject opened fire and fatally wounded him. Nelson was airlifted to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
The subject fled the scene and crashed his vehicle into a nearby gas station where he barricaded himself for several hours. He was apprehended after a SWAT team made entry into the gas station.
Officer Nelson had served with the six-person Sunset Police Department for 13 years, where he earned around $1,200 per month.
“We don’t get paid enough, but we’re out there because we love the public,” affirmed Sunset Police Chief Luis Padilla. “(Nelson was) a big, heavyset teddy bear with a smile. When he arrested you, he arrested you with a smile.” The 52-year-old officer had a high school-age daughter, but didn’t appear to have a wife or girlfriend, said
neighbor and childhood friend Shirley Angelle. “There was never a dull moment with him,” she said.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2015 37