From D’Andre Lampkin:
It seems like just yesterday I was writing to my colleagues at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department about the importance of National Police Week. We had just completed the Police Unity Tour, the department’s Memorial Torch Relay, and other solemn observances that remind us of the sacrifice and commitment required to protect our communities.
And now, today, I find myself preparing to attend yet another memorial—this time for Officer Samuel Riveros of the Baldwin Park Police Department.
It is a heavy yet humbling experience. I say “honor and privilege” not as a cliché, but because I truly benefit from the legacy of those who laid down their lives so that others may live safely. Their bravery allows people like me, and others who continue to serve, the chance to carry out our duties with the benefit of hindsight and hard-won wisdom. I learn from their stories. I draw strength from their courage.
The heartbreak of their loss is only amplified by the pace at which these tragedies have occurred. This year has tested our resilience, as we’ve lost brave men and women in rapid and painful succession:
- Deputy Timothy Corlew, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, died tragically in a traffic collision on CA 91 east of La Sierra Avenue in Riverside on January 8, 2025.
- Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, patrol car struck a pole while attempting to pursue a stolen vehicle on March 17, 2025—his bravery and tenacity in the face of danger reflective of the very best among us.
- Officer Jeremy Labonte, Roswell Police Department, was shot and killed while responding to a suspicious person reported at a shopping center on February 7, 2025. A protector until his final breath.
- Sergeant Shiou Deng, Los Angeles Police Department, was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle while assisting at the scene of a vehicle crash on June 23, 2025. A reminder of the various ways we serve, not just protectors, but as community caretakers.
- Those who died by suicide—a painful reminder that the battles law enforcement officers face aren’t always visible.
As I reflect on these recent losses, one line I wrote for National Police Week continues to echo in my mind:
“Unlike war memorials with defined chapters of history, law enforcement memorials never stop growing. The walls of the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. will continue to grow. The need for National Police Week, and the ceremonies that close it, is heartbreakingly ongoing.”
Even though we understand the risks that come with the badge, the shock of losing another brother or sister in uniform—someone I’ve likely crossed paths with in my 20-year career—still hits like the first time.
We do not know the day, nor the hour. Matthew 24:36 reminds us, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
This verse, though referring to a different promise, carries profound truth for those of us who serve. It reminds us that every moment counts. Every day matters. And that we must be vigilant, prepared, and faithful in our service.
Even in the face of civil unrest—where officers have continued to serve amid flying bottles, rocks, accusations, and lawsuits—our peace officers never faltered. They stood their posts with integrity, often offering their protection to people who may never acknowledge their sacrifice.
They don’t do it for praise. They do it out of duty. Out of love. Out of a calling that most will never fully understand.
And so, today, I ask you to join me in prayer.
Pray for the families who now live with a missing chair at the table.
Pray for the officers silently struggling with the burdens of the job.
Pray for those still going out every day, making miracles of safety happen in neighborhoods all across this nation—despite the broken trust and bipolar relationships they sometimes must navigate.
Let us honor our fallen not just with words, but with a renewed commitment to understanding, unity, and peace.
Sincerely,
D’Andre D. Lampkin
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