Quilts were sent in July 2019 to the following first responders injured on duty.
| First Responder, Date, & Location | Quilt | Story |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County Deputy Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office May 16, 2019 – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |  | About 8 p.m. near the Turnbury apartments and the Abbey Road shopping plaza on the northbound side of Military Trail, south of PGA Boulevard and just north of the city’s municipal complex members of a Palm Beach County narcotics task force were attempting to serve warrants to search a house and a car. They were looking for person known to be affiliated with the MS-13 gang. The officers tried to arrange a drug buy that would result in the suspect being arrested and questioned. When the suspect arrived in his car at the agreed-upon meeting location, tactical officers tried to make an arrest. As one deputy approached the driver’s side, the suspect fired, striking the deputy once in the cheek area. We thankful to hear this deputy will recover but has a road to recovery ahead. We hope this quilt will provide the deputy comfort during this time. |
| Sedgwick County Deputy Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office June 23, 2019 – Wichita, Kansas |  | The deputy had pulled over a suspect around 3:30 p.m. on 21st Street North near I-135 to arrest her on outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants. The deputy went up the driver’s window and asked the woman inside to get out of the vehicle and this is when the suspect drove off. As the suspect sped off, some of the deputy’s equipment became caught on the SUV and the deputy was dragged about 100 feet and the vehicle ran over the deputy’s foot. The deputy was taken to a hospital and suffered a broken ankle. We hope this quilt will provide comfort during the healing process. |
| Riverside County Deputy Riverside County Sheriff’s Office June 11, 2019 – Lake Hills, California |  | Deputies responded to a home in the 17700 block of Cedarwood Drive in unincorporated Lake Hills, north of Lake Mathews and south of Riverside, about 7:10 p.m. Deputies from the Jurupa Valley station, as well as a Cal Fire police officer, went to the scene on a report an armed suspect inside a home with a woman. When officers arrived, the woman came out of the house, followed shortly by the suspect, who began firing at the deputies, wounding a Deputy. The suspect died at the scene. A Riverside County sheriff’s helicopter was overhead to help on the call and landed in a nearby field to take the wounded deputy to a hospital. We send this quilt to help this deputy recover. |
| Officer Paul Christensen Appleton Police Department May 16, 2019 – Appleton, Wisconsin  |  | Police and fire personnel were responding at around 5:30 p.m. to a medical call at Appleton's downtown transit center involving a man, who was arriving on a bus from out of the area. Emergency responders at the scene provided the man with initial medical care on the bus, but he was also encouraged to seek additional medical care. The man started to walk toward the library and the incident escalated to shots being fired. The man displayed a handgun and exchanged shots with officers. He was deceased at the scene. -A bystander was also hit by gunfire and is recovering from the injuries. -Appleton Firefigher Mitchell Lundgaard was also struck by gunfire and later died at a local hospital. -Officer Paul Christensen was struck by gunfire during the incident and is now recovering. We are saddened to hear a first responder lost his life during this incident. We are sending this quilt to Officer Christensen to provide comfort while he heals. |
| Zion Police Department Officer April 25, 2019- Wadsworth, Illinois |  | The anhydrous ammonia leaking from one or both of two 2-ton tanks being transported on a trailer by a farm tractor in Beach Park injured at least 37 people. Among the 37 people transported to area hospitals, seven people were listed in critical condition. The leak occurred near Green Bay Road and Clarendon Road about 4:25 a.m. Emergency personnel responding to the scene were among those injured. A total of 11 firefighters and 3 police officers were transported for medical treatment. |
| Sgt Kyle Brown Lake County Sheriff’s Office April 25, 2019- Wadsworth, Illinois  |  | The anhydrous ammonia leaking from one or both of two 2-ton tanks being transported on a trailer by a farm tractor in Beach Park injured at least 37 people. Among the 37 people transported to area hospitals, seven people were listed in critical condition. The leak occurred near Green Bay Road and Clarendon Road about 4:25 a.m. Emergency personnel responding to the scene were among those injured. A total of 11 firefighters and 3 police officers were transported for medical treatment. |
| Deputy Marcus Bernardy Lake County Sheriff’s Office April 25, 2019- Wadsworth, Illinois  |  | The anhydrous ammonia leaking from one or both of two 2-ton tanks being transported on a trailer by a farm tractor in Beach Park injured at least 37 people. Among the 37 people transported to area hospitals, seven people were listed in critical condition. The leak occurred near Green Bay Road and Clarendon Road about 4:25 a.m. Emergency personnel responding to the scene were among those injured. A total of 11 firefighters and 3 police officers were transported for medical treatment. |
| Officer Seth Thompson Lufkin Police Department May 4, 2019 – Lufkin, Texas  |  | Officer Seth Thompson was working a minor accident on Timberland Drive that occurred around 12:30 p.m. The vehicles involved pulled into the Cox Muffler parking lot, where a secondary accident which injured Thompson occurred around 12:52 p.m. Officer Thompson was out of his marked patrol unit (with emergency lights activated) investigating a crash in the parking lot of a local business when a northbound vehicle, drove off the roadway to the left and struck the rear of the police vehicle. The collision caused the police vehicle to strike the Officer Thompson. Officer Thompson was conscious and alert following the crash but had to be flown to an out of town hospital. |
| Officer Jasmine Selle Houston Police Department June 29, 2019 – Houston, Texas |  | The shooting occurred after a suspect fled a traffic stop just before midnight. The suspect at one point was able to evade officers but police quickly found him after a tow truck driver called in a tip. The suspect emerged from the vehicle with a revolver and ignored commands to drop the gun and fired at Officer Jasmine Selle, striking her twice in the right arm. Selle was able to return fire, along with officers Kevin Smith and Israel Maldonado. The shooter died at the scene. |
| Trooper Jeremy Medastin Flower Highway Patrol – troop L May 13, 2019 – Boynton Beach, Florida  |  | Trooper Jeremy Medastin was working in the rain at the scene of a three-vehicle crash south of Woolbright Road in Palm Beach County shortly before 6 p.m. Trooper Medastin headed back to his patrol vehicle in the median, a driver, lost control of his 2011 Toyota Prius when the car hydroplaned. The vehicle spun across all southbound lanes, hitting another car before continuing its spin toward the trooper. Trooper Medastin, seeing the car approaching him, jumped onto the barrier wall. Dash cam video shows he wasn't fast enough or high enough to avoid being hit. Trooper Medastin was unable to walk and clung to the wall until emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene. Trooper Medastin was transported to the hospital. We are thankful Trooper Medastin survived with his quick reaction and send this quilt to aid in his recovery. |
| Sheriff Bryant Evans Rice County Sheriff’s Office April 29, 2019 – Sterling, Kansas  |  | Rice County Sheriff Bryant Evans and Undersheriff Chad Murphy were shot at separate locations in Rice County. At approximately 5:10 p.m. Monday, April 29, the Rice County Undersheriff attempted a to stop a vehicle near the Sonic Restaurant, just north of the Sterling city limits. The car stop was related to a warrant for the vehicle’s occupant. After initiating the stop, Undersheriff Murphy radioed to dispatch that he had been shot. EMS responded, and he was flown to a Wichita hospital. Following the shooting, the Rice County Sheriff learned information that the suspect likely fled to a residence in rural Rice County, southeast of Raymond. Sheriff Evans and another sheriff’s deputy arrived at the residence and encountered the suspect. Gunshots were exchanged, and one round struck the Sheriff in the leg. The Sheriff and deputy called for assistance and additional law enforcement agencies responded. Authorities were able to surround the home and establish a perimeter. The Sheriff was taken to a hospital in Lyons, Kan., and was then transported to a Wichita hospital. The standoff at the residence in Rice County ended when they found the suspect and suspect’s father deceased inside the residence. We send this quilt to help give him comfort during his recovery. |
| Undersheriff Chad Murphy Rice County Sheriff’s Office April 29, 2019 – Sterling, Kansas   |  | Rice County Sheriff Bryant Evans and Undersheriff Chad Murphy were shot at separate locations in Rice County. At approximately 5:10 p.m. Monday, April 29, the Rice County Undersheriff attempted a to stop a vehicle near the Sonic Restaurant, just north of the Sterling city limits. The car stop was related to a warrant for the vehicle’s occupant. After initiating the stop, Undersheriff Murphy radioed to dispatch that he had been shot. EMS responded, and he was flown to a Wichita hospital. Following the shooting, the Rice County Sheriff learned information that the suspect likely fled to a residence in rural Rice County, southeast of Raymond. Sheriff Evans and another sheriff’s deputy arrived at the residence and encountered the suspect. Gunshots were exchanged, and one round struck the Sheriff in the leg. The Sheriff and deputy called for assistance and additional law enforcement agencies responded. Authorities were able to surround the home and establish a perimeter. The Sheriff was taken to a hospital in Lyons, Kan., and was then transported to a Wichita hospital. The standoff at the residence in Rice County ended when they found the suspect and suspect’s father deceased inside the residence. We send this quilt to help give him comfort during his recovery. |
| Firefighter Matt Cottini Peoria Fire Department April 20, 2019 – Peoria, Arizona  |  | Four Peoria firefighters who were seriously injured from an explosion at an Arizona Public Service facility in Surprise. The Peoria firefighters were joined by four firefighters from the Surprise Fire Department after responding to a call about 6 p.m. about smoke rising from the APS McMicken Energy Storage facility near Grand Avenue and Deer Valley Road. Captain Hunter Clare - was seriously injured Engineer Justin Lopez – was the most severely injured firefighter and was in critical condition and had surgery before becoming stable Firefighter Matt Cottini - was seriously injured Firefighter Jake Ciulla - was discharged from the hospital Three of the firefighters were flown to Maricopa Medical Center's burn unit in Phoenix while another was taken to a West Valley hospital. We are very thankful that these firefighters were not injured further and survived this explosion. We send these quilts to comfort them during their recovery. |
| Captain Hunter Clare Peoria Fire Department April 20, 2019 – Peoria, Arizona  |  | Four Peoria firefighters who were seriously injured from an explosion at an Arizona Public Service facility in Surprise. The Peoria firefighters were joined by four firefighters from the Surprise Fire Department after responding to a call about 6 p.m. about smoke rising from the APS McMicken Energy Storage facility near Grand Avenue and Deer Valley Road. Captain Hunter Clare - was seriously injured Engineer Justin Lopez – was the most severely injured firefighter and was in critical condition and had surgery before becoming stable Firefighter Matt Cottini - was seriously injured Firefighter Jake Ciulla - was discharged from the hospital Three of the firefighters were flown to Maricopa Medical Center's burn unit in Phoenix while another was taken to a West Valley hospital. We are very thankful that these firefighters were not injured further and survived this explosion. We send these quilts to comfort them during their recovery. |
| Firefighter Jake Ciulla Peoria Fire Department April 20, 2019 – Peoria, Arizona  |  | Four Peoria firefighters who were seriously injured from an explosion at an Arizona Public Service facility in Surprise. The Peoria firefighters were joined by four firefighters from the Surprise Fire Department after responding to a call about 6 p.m. about smoke rising from the APS McMicken Energy Storage facility near Grand Avenue and Deer Valley Road. Captain Hunter Clare - was seriously injured Engineer Justin Lopez – was the most severely injured firefighter and was in critical condition and had surgery before becoming stable Firefighter Matt Cottini - was seriously injured Firefighter Jake Ciulla - was discharged from the hospital Three of the firefighters were flown to Maricopa Medical Center's burn unit in Phoenix while another was taken to a West Valley hospital. We are very thankful that these firefighters were not injured further and survived this explosion. We send these quilts to comfort them during their recovery. |
| Engineer Justin Lopez Peoria Fire Department April 20, 2019 – Peoria, Arizona  |  | Four Peoria firefighters who were seriously injured from an explosion at an Arizona Public Service facility in Surprise. The Peoria firefighters were joined by four firefighters from the Surprise Fire Department after responding to a call about 6 p.m. about smoke rising from the APS McMicken Energy Storage facility near Grand Avenue and Deer Valley Road. Captain Hunter Clare - was seriously injured Engineer Justin Lopez – was the most severely injured firefighter and was in critical condition and had surgery before becoming stable Firefighter Matt Cottini - was seriously injured Firefighter Jake Ciulla - was discharged from the hospital Three of the firefighters were flown to Maricopa Medical Center's burn unit in Phoenix while another was taken to a West Valley hospital. We are very thankful that these firefighters were not injured further and survived this explosion. We send these quilts to comfort them during their recovery. |
| Officer Ryan Leabo Davenport Police Department April 25, 2019 – Davenport, Iowa |  | Officer Ryan Leabo made contact with two men at 4:25 pm. These two men were acting suspicious in the area of West 17th and Sturtevant streets. The officer was in full uniform and told them to stop several times, but they refused. One suspect was taken into custody nearby by another officer, while the other suspect ran and Officer Leabo chased. Officer Leabo caught up to him, and the two had a physical struggle in a yard in the 1600 block of West 17th Street, during which the suspect shot Officer Leabo twice. The suspect was also shot in the leg by the officer. The suspect did break free and continued to flee. He was taken into custody nearby around 4:45 pm. Officer Leabo was shot in the chest and leg. The bullet to his chest was stopped by his bullet proof vest. The outcome could have been far worse, so we are happy to hear he is alive and recovering. We send this quilt to aid in his recovery. |
| K9 Mick Murrieta Police Department June 6, 2019 – Murrieta, California  |  | Authorities believe a series of events involving the suspect began when he brandished a weapon and tried to forcibly take a person’s vehicle near the intersection of Scott Road and Haun Road in Menifee at about 3 am. He was unsuccessful but he fired at least one shot at his intended victim, who drove away and was being treated at a hospital for his injuries. The armed man stayed in the area and went on to carjack a white BMW sedan from another person at about 4:48 am. Deputies later located that car in Lake Elsinore where they attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the suspect took off. Sheriff’s deputies and Murrieta Police officers, who assisted in the pursuit, chased him to the 32000 block of Garland Lane in Menifee where he produced a firearm and shooting began. The suspect died at the scene of the shooting, which happened at about 6:30 am. No other injuries to people were reported. K9 Mick suffered non-life-threatening gunshots in the incident. Murrieta Police Department said the K9 Mick, was shot by the suspect in his lower jaw and neck. K9 Mick was treated for his injuries, was released from veterinary care and was resting at home with his handler Officer Hayes. “We are very proud of K9 Mick’s performance. The fact that no officers or deputies sustained any injuries were in large part because of K9 Mick’s involvement,” the Murrieta Police post said. We are so proud of K9 Mick for his good work and glad he will recover. We hope this quilt will make a nice place to relax on while he recovers. |
| Officer Joseph Mair Camden County Police Department April 26, 2019 – Camden City, New Jersey  |  | Officer Joseph Mair was checking out another car wreck in Camden City when a taxi, which had been involved in the crash Mair was investigating, accelerated into him after he stepped from his patrol car at Mount Ephraim Avenue and Thurman Street around 10:40 pm. Officer Mair went under the vehicle and the wheels went over the top of Officer Mair. He was in intensive care at a nearby hospital with extensive injuries to his hip and legs. The reports indicate, at this time, this was not an intentional hit-and-run. Unfortunately, there are many hazards in police work. Officer Mair and three fellow officers, along with some bystanders, were heroes the week before after they helped save the lives of 4 men during a fiery wreck. We hope this quilt will provide Officer Mair with continued comfort during his recovery. |
| Deputy Kirk Carter Jackson County Sheriff’s Office April 18, 2019 – Summit Township, Mississippi |  | Around 9 p.m. a woman called 911 from a home in the 1300 block of Westlane Street in Summit Township. When police arrived at the home, just west of Ella Sharp Park Golf Course, a man opened fire at police. Deputy Kirk Carter was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect took off to another home. He was found dead several hours later inside from his injuries after being shot by deputies. We send this quilt to give comfort to Deputy Carter during his recovery. |
| Officer Justin Vartanian NYPD 34th Precinct April 18, 2019 – Washington Heights, New York |  | About 4:30 p.m. in Washington Heights officers were responding to a 911 call of shots fired. Officer Justin Vartanian had spotted a suspect with a handgun run into a parking lot. As Officer Vartanian pursues him on foot, the suspect takes cover behind a car and fires three rounds. Officer Vartanian fires back before being struck in the armpit. He was wounded in the broad daylight gun battle in upper Manhattan. At the same time, the officer’s partner drives an unmarked patrol car into the parking lot and engages fire with the suspect, fatally striking him once in the chest. This quilt is sent to Officer Vartanian to let him know we care and provide comfort during his recovery. |