In Memor iam
Thousands of offi cers come to New England
to honor fallen brother
■ BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
The highest praise possible for anybody in New England
came for Yarmouth, Massachusetts K9 Officer Sean McNamee
Gannon, who was killed by gunfire when assisting with a war-
rant service to a career criminal on April 12.
Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Fredickson called Gannon the
“Tom Brady of the department.”
An estimated 10,000 law enforcement police officers from
across the country, including a contingent from the NJ State
PBA with President Pat Colligan and Executive Vice President
Marc Kovar, attended the funeral. The PBA Special Services trail-
er was also on scene to support officers, who came from as far
away as Texas and California.
The life of the 32-year-old Yarmouth officer was celebrated
with a Mass at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church in South Yar-
mouth on April 18. Before the service, a line of blue created by
uniformed officers marched from the local high school to the
church.
Gannon, who had worked for the Yarmouth Police Depart-
ment for eight years, was fatally shot while he tried to arrest
Thomas M. Latanowich on a probation violation warrant in
nearby Barnstable. Gannon’s partner, Nero, was also wounded
but is recovering and getting stronger by the day, according to a
department Facebook post on May 9.
Latanowich is a career criminal who spent four years in state
prison after pleading guilty to drug and gun charges. On social
media, Yarmouth police have identified Latanowich only as
“125,” the total number of entries on his criminal history.
Gannon was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant
by his department. He leaves behind his wife, Dara, and many
other family members, including his parents, Denise and Pat-
rick.
In honor of Gannon being a K9 officer, 400 K9 officers and
their dogs attended the funeral as well.
“We have a fallen brother, but we have a fallen animal that
has to recover that everyone has to remember, too,” said Sussex
County Sheriff’s Office Detective Justin McCann, a member of
Sussex County Local 138, who came to the funeral with his de-
partment.
48
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ MAY 2018
In Memor iam
Sergeant Sean McNamee Gannon
K9 Officer
Yarmouth Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch: April 12, 2018
The NJ State PBA Special Services trailer was on scene to support offi cers at-
tending the funeral for Yarmouth, Massachusetts Sergeant Sean Gannon on
April 18.