February/March 2025 | Page 23

Fallen Heroes

PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS FALLEN IN THE LINE OF DUTY
COMMANDER GREG SCOTT CARNICLE EOW : MARCH 29 , 2020
Commander Greg Carnicle was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call . He and two other officers were inside of the home when the man suddenly drew a weapon and opened fire , wounding all three officers . Commander Carnicle was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds . Commander Carnicle had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 31 years and was scheduled to retire in two months .
OFFICER PAUL THOMAS RUTHERFORD EOW : MARCH 21 , 2019
DETECTIVE JOHN THOMAS HOBBS EOW : MARCH 3 , 2014
OFFICER MARC TODD ATKINSON EOW : MARCH 26 . 1999
OFFICER ROBERT T FIKE EOW : JANUARY 8 , 1986
Police Officer Paul Rutherford was struck and killed by a vehicle near the intersection of 75th Avenue and Indian School Road at 8:30 am . He was at the scene of an earlier accident when a call involving an armed subject was dispatched across the street . He was attempting to cross the street to respond to the call when he was struck by a vehicle . Officer Rutherford was a U . S . Air Force veteran and had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 23 years .
Detective John Hobbs was shot and killed as he and others attempted to serve a felony warrant . The subject opened fire on the detectives , striking Detective Hobbs and a second detective . Despite being mortally wounded , Detective Hobbs was able to return fire and fatally shot the subject . Detective Hobbs had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 21 years .
Police Officer Marc Atkinson was shot after being ambushed by suspected drug traffickers . Officer Atkinson was driving a marked patrol car while following the suspects , who turned a corner , stopped their vehicle , and waited for him . As he turned the corner , the three suspects opened fire , striking him twice in the head , killing him . Officer Atkinson was a United States Marine Corps veteran who served as an officer for five years .
Officer Robert Fike was shot and killed by a suspect while standing next to his patrol car at 1111 East Indian School Road . The suspect had just committed an armed robbery . Two citizens found him after the shooting and used his radio to call for help . Officer Fike was a former Officer of the Year and had been employed with the Phoenix Police Department for ten years .
OFFICER KENNETH E CAMPBELL EOW : JANUARY 29 , 1984
POLICE GUARD JOHN FRANKLIN MACINNIS EOW : FEBRUARY 22 , 1976
OFFICER WALTER H STEWART EOW : FEBRUARY 19 , 1952
OFFICER HAZE BURCH EOW : FEBRUARY 5 , 1925
Officer Campbell was killed in an automobile accident while pursuing a speeding motorcycle . During the pursuit , his patrol car collided with a sports car driven by a newlywed couple , who were unharmed . The motorcyclist , one of several being pursued , was never caught . Officer Campbell had been with the agency for three years .
Police Guard MacInnis died of a heart attack while in foot pursuit of a suspect at the Sky Harbor International Airport . A passerby stopped to assist him . He was driven to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival . Police Guard MacInnis had been with the agency for nine years .
Officer Walter Stewart was killed when he was thrown from his police motorcycle at Washington Street and 20th Street . He lost control of his motorcycle when he swerved to avoid the driver of a pickup truck who pulled out in front of him . He served as an officer for 6 years and was a military veteran .
Police Officer Haze Burch was shot and killed when he attempted to stop two men from siphoning gasoline from a car at the intersection of 8th Street and Jefferson Street . Officer Burch was the first PPD officer killed in the line of duty .
K-9 YEAGER EOW : JANUARY 1 , 1986
K-9 Yeager died when he jumped off a second floor landing during a training exercise and fractured his spine .
K-9 TOP EOW : MARCH 13 , 2007
K9 Top died of heat exhaustion when he was left in his crate inside the cab of an unmarked patrol pickup truck as his handler went inside of the police station . K9 Top was a certified narcotics detector .