Local Heroes
The Southwest Illinois chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club salutes these individuals. They are our heroes.
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St. Clair County deputy dies while working at MetroLink
EAST ST. LOUIS — A 19-year veteran deputy of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department passed out while working at the Fifth & Missouri MetroLink station and was later pronounced dead at a hospital Friday.
Lamont Reid, 55, of North 33rd Street in East St. Louis, was pronounced dead on 26 March, 2010 at 3:23 p.m. at Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital in East St. Louis, St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone said.
A cause of death has yet to be determined. Stone said Reid was working his secondary job in security for MetroLink when he passed out. Sheriff Mearl Justus said Reid had worked for the Sheriff’s Department since July 1991. As an employee, Justus described Reid as “the kind of employee every employer wants.” “He was a cop’s cop. He had compassion for people,” Justus said. “Lamont Reid knew how to talk to people, especially victims. If there was a death notification, whenever he left the scene, you can bet the people were well satisfied. He did it in a professional way. He was always a professional.”
ISP calls Deputy Reid (click for audio)
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Troy, Illinois airman dies in Afghanistan: ‘He believed it was a good cause’
BY JACQUELINE LEE – News-Democrat A Troy, IL airman was killed on Sunday, January 3, 2010 after a roadside bombing in Afghanistan, resulting in the first American combat deaths of the year. Bradley Smith, 24, of Troy, was among three airmen who were killed, according to Smith’s pastor, the Rev. Jim Wiens, a worship pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Troy.
“Brad was definitely a leader in a lot of respects,” Wiens said. “He had influence with our kids. He was faithful and he showed the way for kids to be there consistently. He would follow through: When he said he would do something, he would do it.” The incident and casualties could not immediately be confirmed with the U.S. Department of Defense.
Smith apparently was among four U.S. service members who were killed Sunday by improvised explosive devices. And a British soldier died during foot patrol in Helmand province, according to the British Ministry of Defense.A statement from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said the explosion that killed the U.S. service members took place Sunday in the south, but did not give further details on the location or the victims’ branch of service.
Smith’s family traveled to Dover Air Force Base to receive his remains Monday night.
He is survived by his parents, Gary and Paula Smith; his wife, Tiffany, and their daughter, Chloe Lynn, who was born in October; and an older brother, Ryan Smith, an airman based in Texas who was scheduled to be deployed to Iraq this month.
“He believed it was a good cause and worthwhile to do,” Wiens said. “Both of those guys are solid supporters of the need to fight these wars. In spite of the risk, he was willing to be involved in that.”
Smith followed in his brother’s footsteps, and joined the Air Force in November 2006, Wiens said.
He was deployed to Afghanistan last month. He served as a tactical air command and control journeyman.
“Brad was just this real likable, friendly, respectable kid,” Wiens said. “He liked to have fun, but he took his responsibilities very seriously. He grew up really hard, strong: When he grew into a man, he was a man.”
Triad High School Principal Robert Sudhoff said Smith, who graduated in 2004, played football all four years and was active with the school newspaper, The Knightwriter.
“He was a very outgoing, good kid,” Sudhoff said. “He was an easy kid to talk to. Some were pretty quiet, he was not. I talked to a number of faculty members today who remember him.”
Smith’s former football coach, Paul Bassler, said Smith thrived in the team atmosphere.
“He wasn’t the star on our football team, but he loved to be on our football team and he brought that joy to practice every day,” Bassler said. “He was just the ultimate team player. I expect he was an outstanding comrade, if he treated them the same way he treated his teammates here in Troy.”
“It’s a good thing to be part of something like that, but you’ve got to understand that in the military, the ultimate sacrifice is your life,” Bassler said. “The community’s going to miss him. We’ve lost not only a fine soldier, but a fine citizen to this community.”
Funeral arrangements are pending at Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporter Jacqueline Lee at jlee@bnd.com or 239
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Missouri State Trooper Dies in Storm-related Accident
The Associated Press
EUREKA, Mo. | A Missouri state trooper has died after being struck while working an accident on icy Interstate 44 southwest of St. Louis.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the trooper as 49-year-old Patrolman Dennis Engelhard, a 10-year veteran from Wildwood.
Patrol spokesman Sgt. Al Nothum told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Engelhard was struck Friday by a sport utility vehicle that lost control on westbound I-44 near Eureka.
Nothum says Engelhard had been working a minor accident and was hit while walking back to his patrol car to retrieve something.
Icy conditions led to dozens of accidents in eastern Missouri on Friday. Nothum says the SUV driver’s loss of control appears to have been weather-related and is being treated as an accident.
Posted on Fri, Dec. 25, 2009 05:43 PM
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Scott Air Force Base Airman Killed in Afghanistan
A Scott Air Force Base Air Force reservist was killed Tuesday, December 15, 2009 in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr., of Florence, Ky., died from injuries following the detonation of an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province.
He was assigned to the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron at Scott Air Force Base.
Campbellalso was a Cincinnati Police Officer. According to a story in the Cincinnati Enquirer, he was married to Emily and had two children, 7-year-old Jordan and 2-year-old Ryker and a stepson, 11-year-old Devin Ruberg.
The newspaper also reported that he went straight to Air Force active duty after graduating from Kentucky’s Boone County High School in 1992; that he briefly joined the Air National Guard in Louisville before returning to the reserves; and that his unit deployed in October.
The Enquirer also reported that Campbell was a bomb technician who disarmed explosive devices found by troops and locals. The paper said he joined the police department in June 2008 and worked there until he deployed.
The Associated Press contributed information for this story. Contact reporter Laura Girresch at lgirresch@bnd.com or 239-2507.
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St. Louis Police Officer Isabella Lovadina Shot During Robbery
ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) – A St. Louis police officer, shot repeatedly while trying to save the lives of her friends during a deadly South St. Louis home invasion, October 5th, granted her first interview Monday night. Officer Isabella Lovadina, 28, said she’d been making a remarkable recovery; she looked forward to returning to work after surviving 4-5 gunshots.
She wasn’t working the night of the shootings. She and her boyfriend were visiting her friend Gina Stallis, 34, who was ill. “I knew her enough to tell you she was a very beautiful person,” Lovadina said.
Stallis was with her two boys, 9 and 7, her mother, Rose Whitrock, and grandmother. Police said Mario Coleman, 22, and his alleged 16-year-old accomplice were robbing them at gunpoint at Whitrock’s home. When it appeared the suspects would kill them all, Lovadina resisted and fought back. She somehow survived the shooting. Stallis did not.
”I feel like a survivor,” Lovadina said. “It’s really difficult for me to say I’m a hero.”
”There are so many of us who are alive. I really do believe its because of her,” Whitrock said. “She’s very brave.”
Lovadina said Whitrock’s support meant more to her than anything. It was part of the reason she was fighting so hard not just to recover, but to return to police work; payback to all those there donating to her cause at Keeton’s.
Her return to work was also payback to those two young men allegedly behind those triggers that night.
”I feel this person has taken a lot from me already,” Lovadina said. “I don’t wont him to take [my job] away from me, too. I think everything I’ve been through is going to make me an even better police officer.”
Lovadina said she still needed additional surgery and therapy. She hoped to get back to work during the first part of next year.
Coleman remained jailed on multiple charges, including first degree murder. The 16 year old suspect had yet to be certified to stand trial as an adult.
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Officer Leonard Riggins Honored As St. Louis Employee of the Year
On November 5, 2008, at approximately 5 p.m., while driving home in his Fire Department vehicle and in uniform, Firefighter Leonard Riggins came across a single motor vehicle accident on the side of the road.
Like most firefighters, Leonard stopped to check on the condition of the person driving the vehicle and offer assistance. As Firefighter Riggins approached the vehicle, the driver exited the wrecked automobile, pointed a gun at him, and fired one shot.
Firefighter Riggins was transported to an area hospital where he late succumbed to his injury. Firefighter Leonard Riggins gave his life for others – on and off the job. “I thank Firefighter Leonard Riggins for his dedication and commitment to the City and for providing outstanding service to the citizens,” Mayor Francis Slay said. “The City is proud to have had Leonard on our team. He was a true professional and a prime example of the kind of City employee that is recognized by the Service Awards program.” Mrs. Darnita Riggins accepted the award on behalf of her late husband.
Mayor Francis G. Slay presents Darnita Riggins with the Employee of the Year Award honoring her late husband, Firefighter Leonard Riggins.
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Hundreds gather for funeral of slain Centreville officer
CENTREVILLE – — A gunmen took from the communities of Centreville and Alorton a man residents remembered Saturday as a legend.
Lt. Greg Jonas was called a legend by many of his fellow law enforcement comrades, hundreds of whom gathered Saturday for funeral services of the officer who was shot to death while on duty early Tuesday.
Throughout the celebration, words like respectful, dedicated, committed, loving and caring were used to describe Jonas.
Though many had obvious looks of pain and some cried, the common thread that they expressed was love the way Jonas showed.
After the funeral, a long procession headed to Sunset Gardens in Millstadt where Jonas will be buried.
”Any time a law enforcement official falls in the line of duty this is an occasion that directly affects us and causes us to reflect on how dangerous a police officer’s job is,” said St. Clair County State’s Attorney Robert Haida. At the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Centreville, Haida was among hundreds who attended a visitation Saturday morning for Jonas. Residents, active and retired police officers and dignitaries attended the visitation for Jonas, who was highly regarded in the community as an officer who would go out of his way to help and protect residents. Numerous motorcycles of officers and of supporters were parked outside. “There has been a lot said about Lt. Jonas, and I agree as well that he was a fine officer who was committed to his community,” Haida said, “It was a tragedy his life was taken in this way.” Centreville resident Janet Staten-Henderson said of Jonas, “He was really well-loved. I had an occasion where I had to call him. I told him I wanted to know his name. His family is sad and our hearts are saddened as well.”
Sen. James Clayborne, D-Belleville, was among the dignitaries who attended. Major John Lakin of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, head of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, was also in attendance. The squad was assigned to the homicide and quickly came up with a suspect.
Lemuel A. Houston, 22, of Alorton, who is in the St. Clair County Jail on $10 million bail, has been charged with first-degree murder in Jonas’ death. Houston was told Thursday by a judge at his arraignment that if convicted, he faces a penalty from 20 years in prison to death. He pleaded not guilty.
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Metro-east soldier killed in Afghanistan was due home in September
Illinois Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Joshua Melton, killed by a roadside bomb Friday in Afghanistan, planned to be home in September, according to his only brother. The 26-year-old Germantown resident’s tour would have ended then, and he would finally have had time to spend with his wife, Larissa, and 16-month-old daughter, Aubrey.
Dustin Melton, 27, of Aviston, said his brother knew from the time he was a boy that he wanted to be a soldier. He enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard before graduating from Central Community High School in Breese.
“He did live for the Army,” Dustin Melton said. “Until his little girl was born, then he lived for her.”
The staff sergeant was killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when a bomb exploded into his vehicle, the Illinois Army National Guard announced Saturday. Sgt. Paul Smith, a 43-year-old from East Peoria, also died in the blast, and two other soldiers in the vehicle were injured.
This was Joshua Melton’s second deployment; his first was to Iraq, from December 2004 to March 2006. Serving with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Marion, he had been in Afghanistan since October. His unit worked to protect training teams.
Dustin Melton said his brother was last home for Mother’s Day and Memorial Day and spent the two-week break with his family.
“He was proud of serving with the men he was serving with over there, and he wouldn’t change any of that for the world. … He was a good person. We all loved him. We’re all very proud of him,” Dustin Melton said.
In a statement through her brother-in-law, Larissa Melton said of her husband: “Josh’s dream was to be a hero. And that is what he is, a hero.”
