Department Of Veterans Affairs Police

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Department Of Veterans Affairs Police

• VA Police Officers
• Fallen in the Line of Duty

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FINAL ROLL CALL
Officer Leonard B. Wilcox
Officer Marvin C. Bland
Officer Ronald Hearn
Officer Mark S. Decker
Officer Horst Harold Woods
Officer Garry A. Ross
Officer Jose Oscar Rodriguez-Reyes
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Police Officer Jose Oscar Rodriguez-Reyes United
States Department of Veterans Affairs PoliceU.S.
GovernmentEnd of Watch Wednesday, April 24,
2002 Biographical InfoAge 53Tour of Duty 18
yearsIncident DetailsCause of Death
GunfireDate of Incident Wednesday, April 24,
2002Incident Location Puerto RicoWeapon Used
GunSuspect Info Convicted of murder Officer
Jose Rodriguez-Reyes was shot and killed while
stationed at a gate at the Veterans Hospital in
San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was attacked by two
suspects for an unknown reason and shot in the
head and chest. After shooting Officer
Rodriguez-Reyes, the suspects attempted to steal
his service weapon but were unable to remove it
from its holster. Officer Rodriguez-Reyes was the
first armed Veterans Affairs officer to be killed
in the line of duty.Two suspects were arrested
by the FBI and charged with murder. The suspect
who shot Officer Rodriguez-Reyes was convicted of
murder in July 2006 and was sentenced to life in
prison.Officer Rodriguez-Reyes had been
employed with the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs Police for 18 years, and is
survived by his wife and six children.
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Police Officer Horst Harold Woods United States
Department of Veterans Affairs PoliceU.S.
GovernmentEnd of Watch Wednesday, January 10,
1996 Biographical InfoAge 46Tour of Duty 8
monthsIncident DetailsCause of Death
GunfireDate of Incident Wednesday, January 10,
1996Incident Location New MexicoWeapon Used
HandgunSuspect Info Arrested later in
day Officer Woods was shot and killed while
approaching a man who was kneeling down beside
his patrol car in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As
Officer Woods approached the man from the
opposite side of the cruiser, the man stood up.
The two exchanged words. The man then raised his
left arm and shot at Officer Woods. As Officer
Woods turned away, he was struck once in the back
of the head.He was survived by his wife and two
children. The suspect was arrested a short time
later by members of United States Air Force
Security Police at Kirtland AFB. The suspect was
found with two extra fully loaded clips, an 18
inch bowie knife and a long barreled Derringer
loaded with two shotgun shells.
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Patrol Officer Garry A. Ross United States
Department of Veterans Affairs PoliceU.S.
GovernmentEnd of Watch Monday, December 24,
1990 Biographical InfoAge 41Tour of Duty 7
yearsIncident DetailsCause of Death Heart
attackDate of Incident Monday, December 24,
1990Incident Location District of
ColumbiaWeapon Used PersonSuspect Info Not
available Officer Ross suffered a fatal heart
attack while responding to a call of a mentally
deranged patient at the VA Medical Center in
Washington, DC. During the incident Officer Ross
had to physically restrain the patient and was
assaulted by the patient several times. After he
secured the patient Officer Ross suffered a
massive heart attack.Officer Ross had served
with the Department of Veterans Affairs Police
for 7 years. He was survived by his wife and two
children.
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Police Officer Ronald Hearn United States
Department of Veterans Affairs PoliceU.S.
GovernmentEnd of Watch Monday, July 25,
1988 Biographical InfoAge 49Tour of Duty Not
availableBadge Number 4268 Incident
DetailsCause of Death GunfireDate of Incident
Monday, July 25, 1988Incident Location New
YorkWeapon Used Gun Unknown typeSuspect Info
Not available Officer Hearn was shot and killed
while working the metal detector at the Bronx VA
Hospital in New York City, New York. As a man
walked through the metal detector the alarm was
set off. As Officer Hearn approached the subject
the man pulled out a gun and shot Officer Hearn.
Although he was wearing a vest the shot entered
his side between the two panels.At the time of
the shooting Veterans Affairs Police officers
were unarmed. Officer Hearns brother-in-law, New
York City Police Officer Charles Davis, was shot
and killed in the line of duty in 1996.
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Police Officer Leonard B. Wilcox United States
Department of Veterans Affairs PoliceU.S.
GovernmentEnd of Watch Friday, January 31,
1986 Biographical InfoAge 37Tour of Duty 2
yearsIncident DetailsCause of Death
GunfireDate of Incident Friday, January 31,
1986Incident Location OhioWeapon Used
Handgun .45 caliberSuspect Info Sentenced to
two life terms Officer Wilcox and Officer Mark
Decker were shot and killed while attempting to
question a suspicious man at the Brecksville VA
Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Both officers were
armed only with mace due to administrative
guidelines. While the officers were talking with
the man he pulled out a .45 caliber handgun and
shot Officer Decker, killing him instantly.
Officer Wilcox attempted to run for cover, but
the suspect chased him before shooting him as
well.Officer Wilcox had served with the agency
for 2 years. He was survived by his wife and
three children.
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Police Officer Mark S. Decker United States
Department of Veterans Affairs PoliceU.S.
GovernmentEnd of Watch Friday, January 31,
1986 Biographical InfoAge 31Tour of Duty 11
yearsIncident DetailsCause of Death
GunfireDate of Incident Friday, January 31,
1986Incident Location OhioWeapon Used
Handgun .45 caliberSuspect Info Sentenced to
two life terms Officer Decker and Officer Leonard
Wilcox were shot and killed while attempting to
question a suspicious man at the Brecksville VA
Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Both officers were
armed only with mace due to administrative
guidelines. While the officers were talking with
the man he pulled out a .45 caliber handgun and
shot Officer Decker, killing him instantly.
Officer Wilcox attempted to run for cover, but
the suspect chased him before shooting him as
well.Officer Decker was single and had served
in law enforcement for 11 years.
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Police Officer Marvin C. Bland United States
Department of Veterans Affairs PoliceU.S.
GovernmentEnd of Watch Friday, September 6,
1985 Biographical InfoAge 34Tour of Duty 4
yearsIncident DetailsCause of Death Automobile
accidentDate of Incident Friday, September 6,
1985Incident Location MassachusettsWeapon
Used Not availableSuspect Info Not
available Officer Bland was killed in an
automobile accident while responding to a fire
alarm at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in
Bedford, Massachusetts.Officer Bland had served
with the agency for 4 years. He was survived by
his wife and child.
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(No Transcript)