August/September 2024 | Page 23

Fallen Heroes

PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS FALLEN IN THE LINE OF DUTY
OFFICER PHILLIP VAVRINEC JR EOW SEPTEMBER 22,2021
Police Officer Phillip Vavrinec died as a result of contracting COVID-19 while serving as a School Resource Officer at Charles W . Harris Elementary School at 2252 N . 55th Avenue in Phoenix . Officer Vavrinec had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 19 years . He is survived by his mother , father , brother , and fiancee .
SERGEANT THOMAS CRAIG
EOW : SEPTEMBER 3 , 2021
OFFICER MATHEW HEFTER
EOW : AUGUST 7 , 2021
OFFICER NICKI JAMES “ NICK ” ERFLE
EOW : SEPTEMBER 18 , 2007
OFFICER ERIC JAMES WHITE
EOW : AUGUST 28 , 2004
Sergeant Tom Craig died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 while assigned to the Property Management Bureau at 100 E . Elwood Street in Phoenix .
Sergeant Craig had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 25 years . He is survived by his wife , five daughters , son , father , stepmother , sister , and brother .
Police Officer Matt Hefter died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty .
Officer Hefter had served with the Phoenix Police Department for over 24 years . He is survived by his son , sister , aunts , nieces , and nephews .
Officer Nick Erfle was shot after he and his partner approached three people for jaywalking and obstructing traffic on 24th Street , north of Thomas Road . One man gave a fictitious name that had a misdemeanor warrant and as they attempted to take him into custody , the suspect drew a weapon and shot Officer Erfle twice in the back of the head . He was rushed to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center where he died from his injuries an hour later . He served PPD for 8 years .
Officer Wolfe and Officer White were shot and killed while investigating a shooting call on West Las Palmaritas Drive . The suspect was in an apartment and several officers converged on that location . Fearing the gunman was holding a hostage , Officer White , Officer Wolfe , and a third officer attempted to enter the apartment . The gunman opened fire , striking all three officers . Officer White and Officer Wolfe were killed . Officer White served for four years .
OFFICER JASAN ALAN WOLFE
EOW : AUGUST 28 , 2004 Officer Wolfe and Officer White were shot and killed while investigating a shooting call on West Las Palmaritas Drive . The suspect was in an apartment and several officers converged on that location . Fearing the gunman was holding a hostage , Officer White , Officer Wolfe , and a third officer attempted to enter the apartment . The gunman opened fire , striking all three officers . Officer White and Officer Wolfe were killed . Officer Wolfe served for 4 years .
OFFICER BERY WAYNE SCOTT JR
EOW : SEPTEMBER 10 , 2002
Officer Beryl Scott was killed in a motorcycle accident at 3:10 p . m . near N . Seventh Street and Thunderbird Road , shortly after starting his shift . He was en route to a local hospital to assist with a fatal DUI investigation . Officer Scott served the Phoenix Police Department for 10 years .
OFFICER LEONARD LEON KOLODZIEJ
EOW : SEPTEMBER 4 , 1991
Officer Kolodziej . 43 , was shot and killed by a man who sprayed a residential street with gunfire from a high-powered weapon at 4300 N . 20th Street . He was the first on the scene . The suspect then held police at bay for more than five hours before they stormed the house and found the suspect dead . Officer Kolodziej had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 19 years and was ten months from retirement .
OFFICER KEVIN W FORSYTHE
EOW : SEPTEMBER 7 , 1984
Officer Forsythe was struck and killed by a 2-ton gravel truck while directing traffic at N . 7th Ave and W . Maryland Street at 2:15 p . m . He had been working off duty for a road chip-sealing crew when the accident occurred . Officer Forsythe had been with the agency for seven years .
OFFICER JOHN R DAVIS , SR , EOW : AUGUST 6 , 1982
Police Officer Nacho Conchos and Police Officer John Davis were shot and killed when they entered the Valley Squire Cocktail Lounge at 44 East Southern in Phoenix , searching for a bank robbery suspect . Officer Davis was transported to Good Samaritan Medical Center , where he succumbed to his wounds one month later . Officer Davis was a United States Army veteran and served with the Phoenix Police Department for 12 years .
K9 R . J . EOW : AUGUST 13 , 2005
K9 R . J . was intentionally struck and killed by a subject who was fleeing officers . The suspect had fled from officers on foot , but was able to return to his car and flee down an alley . The man intentionally struck R . J . before fleeing the scene . He was eventually apprehended .
R . J . was taken to an emergency animal hospital but had to be euthanized as a result of his injuries . K9 R . J . had served with the Phoenix Police Department for only 18 months . He had been deployed over 300 times .