Biographical Info
Age: 67
Tour of Duty: 24 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: Friday, June 8, 2007
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Not available

Chief Jailer David Gwin died as the result of a heart attack he suffered following a struggle with a prisoner.

The inmate had been arrested for drunk driving by members of the Macon Police Department and became extremely combative and belligerent with the Macon officers. He was transported to the Macon County Jail for processing and continued refusing the officers' orders. Chief Jailer Gwin instructed the inmate to remove his necklace, but the man refused. As Chief Jailer Gwin attempted to remove the necklace, the prisoner struggled with him. The prisoner was subdued with the assistance of the Macon officers.

After the prisoner was moved to a holding cell, Chief Jailer Gwin returned downstairs and began having trouble breathing while talking with the other officers. When the chief was transported to a hospital he stopped breathing. Officers and ER staff performed CPR and were able to stabilize his condition. He was flown to another hospital where he remained until passing away two weeks later.

Chief Jailer Gwin had served with the Macon County Sheriff's Department for 24 years.

Biographical Info
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: 319

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: Saturday, June 23, 2007
Weapon Used: Automobile; Motorcycle
Suspect Info: At large

Deputy Charles Cook succumbed to injuries sustained 5 days earlier while pursuing a motorcycle on the Belt Highway.

The motorcycle had been observed harassing a St. Joseph police officer by continuously driving past the officer and doing wheelies while the officer was conducting a traffic stop.

The officer radioed the situation in to dispatch and Deputy Cook responded to the scene. As the motorcycle fled northbound on the highway Deputy Cook attempted to catch up to it. As he crested a small hill he encountered a semi truck turning left across the highway. Deputy Cook swerved to avoid striking the truck but his patrol SUV left the roadway and struck a traffic control box.

He was transported to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition until succumbing to his injuries. The motorcyclist who caused the incident was not captured.

Deputy Cook had served with the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department for 3 years. He is survived by his wife and 2-year-old son.

Biographical Info
Age: 22
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: 828

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Charged with murder

Police Officer Norvelle Brown was shot and killed in an ambush on Semple Avenue by a 15-year-old suspect who had intended to kill a police officer.

Officer Brown was wearing a bullet resistant vest, but the bullet entered through the arm opening, and caused a fatal wound.

The officer was able to radio that he needed assistance. An undercover officer who quickly arrived at the scene, performed CPR and transported Officer Brown to Barnes Jewish Hospital in the back of a squad car. Officer Brown later died from his wounds.

On August 17th, 2007, the 15-year-old male and an 18-year-old accomplice were arrested and charged with the murder of Officer Brown.

Officer Brown had served with the St. Louis Police Department for one year.

Biographical Info
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 7 years, 4 months
Badge Number: 637

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Saturday, October 6, 2007
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Deputy Gary McCormack was killed in an automobile accident at the intersection of Farm Road 145 and Highway WW, while responding to the scene of another accident.

His patrol car collided with a pickup truck being driven by a volunteer firefighter, who was also responding to the same accident.

The volunteer firefighter was critically injured in the crash.

Deputy McCormack had served with the Greene County Sheriff's Department for only 4 months, and had previously served as a police officer with the Republic Police Department for 7 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Biographical Info
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: 271

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Thursday, November 29, 2007
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Deputy Michael Triplett was killed in an automobile accident while responding to a domestic disturbance call at approximately 12:00 pm. He was flown to St. Louis University Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Deputy Triplett had served for two years as a part-time deputy for the department, and also served as a security officer for Mineral Area College. He is survived by his wife and three children.