Police Officer Scott Richard Rakow
Miami Beach Police Department
Florida
End of Watch: Thursday, June 30, 1988

Biographical Info
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Thursday, June 30, 1988
Weapon Used: Handgun; .25 caliber
Suspect Info: Apprehended

Officer Rakow was shot and killed during a pursuit of a suspect following a major undercover drug sting. During the sting the drug dealers had spotters in high rise buildings who observed the police sting and alerted the men. The suspect was later apprehended.

Officer Rakow was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and siblings.

Officer David C. Bearden
Miami Beach Police Department
Florida
End of Watch: Tuesday, March 20, 1928

Biographical Info
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Tuesday, March 20, 1928
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: One shot and killed

Officer Bearden was shot and killed in a shootout with two auto theft suspects. Before succumbing to his injuries Officer Bearden was able to return fire and strike both suspects, fatally wounding one of them. The other suspect was convicted and released from jail in 1960.

Officer Bearden had been with the agency for four years and was survived by his parents, two brothers, and five sisters.

Sergeant Robert Boyle
Miami Beach Police Department
Florida
End of Watch: Monday, August 31, 1936

Biographical Info
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident
Date of Incident: Monday, August 31, 1936
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Sergeant Boyle was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol. The impact hurled Sergeant Boyle 33 feet from the motorcycle.

Sergeant Boyle had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife.

Police Officer Donald Bernard Kramer
Miami Beach Police Department
Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, February 25, 1984

Biographical Info
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: 34

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Thursday, February 23, 1984
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Apprehended

Officer Kramer was shot and killed following a foot pursuit. He was on patrol when a homeless man spotted him and began to run. Officer Kramer chased him and caught him. The man suddenly swung around and shot Officer Kramer in the head, then twice more after he fell to the ground. The suspect was later arrested.

Officer William Lawrence Nichols
Miami Beach Police Department
Florida
End of Watch: Tuesday, February 4, 1936

Biographical Info
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: Saturday, February 1, 1936
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Officer Nichols succumbed to injuries sustained three days earlier while directing traffic at an accident scene. While on the scene he was crushed between an ambulance and an automobile.

Officer Nichols had been with the agency for 11 years and was survived by his wife, daughter, son, sister, two brothers, and three grandchildren.

Officer John Koppin
Miami Beach Police Department
Florida
End of Watch: Wednesday, December 26, 1984

Biographical Info
Age: 22
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Date of Incident: Wednesday, December 26, 1984
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available

Officer Koppin was accidentally shot and killed when his service weapon discharged while he was cleaning it. The round struck him in his leg, severing his femoral artery, causing him to bleed to death.

Officer Koppin was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had been with the agency for only two years.

Officer Robert E. Fitzpatrick
Miami Beach Police Department
Florida
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 3, 1985

Biographical Info
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Duty related illness
Date of Incident: Wednesday, April 3, 1985
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Officer Fitzpatrick died after getting a blood clot as a result of a training accident in which he hurt his knee. The blood clot traveled from his knee to his heart.

Officer Fitzpatrick was a Vietnam US Army veteran. He was survived by his wife and son.