This afternoon at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Baltimore County, the 30th annual Fallen Heroes Day ceremony will honor police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, emergency medical, and rescue personnel who have died in the line of duty during the last year. The ceremony begins at 1:00 at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.
This year, there are six people being honored: Robert Fogle, III, a driver in the Baltimore County Fire Department, Lt. James Bethea of the Baltimore City Fire Department, Corporal Jamel Clagett from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, Erik Steciak, a paramedic in the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, Officer Craig Chandler from the Baltimore Police Department, and Officer First Class Brennan Rabain from the Prince George’s County Police Department.
Robert Fogle, III of the Baltimore County Fire Department died on May 30, 2014 of cardiac arrest during a training exercise at the Baltimore County Fire Rescue Academy in Sparrows Point. A Fire Apparatus Driver Operator (FADO) the 27-year veteran of the fire department was stationed at Pikesville Station 2. FADO Fogle, age 58, was participating in an exercise simulating navigation through an unfamiliar house when he collapsed. During his career he volunteered for more than 30 years at Pleasant Valley Community Fire Company and was a past member of Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Lt. James Bethea of the Baltimore City Fire Department died November 12, 2014 of smoke inhalation after falling through a floor in a vacant rowhouse adjacent to the dwelling that was burning. He was discovered several hours after the fire had been extinguished. Lt. Bethea, a 62-year-old Fire Safety Officer was responsible for making sure his fellow firefighters were following proper safety procedures and alerting firefighters to potential hazards. The 40-year-veteran of the Department, who was seen as a mentor and fatherly figure by those who worked with him, is survived by his wife and a son.
Corporal JamelClagett of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office died on December 21, 2014 in a single car accident that occurred at the end of his overnight shift. Corporal Clagett, a 10-year veteran of the force, was assigned to Patrol Operations at the District IV Waldorf Station. The 30-year-old decorated veteran was well known for his random acts of kindness often helping his fellow officers and the citizens he served. He is survived by his mother and three siblings.
Paramedic Erik Steciak of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company died on January 6, 2015 after being struck by a department utility vehicle that slid on the ice at the scene of an accident. Paramedic Steciak was a paid EMS employee who worked for the BAVFC since December 2011. The 29-year-old was also an active member of the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Company in Howard County, where he served as Captain and paramedic. He is survived by his parents and twin brother, Daniel.
Officer Craig Chandler of the Baltimore Police Department died January 9, 2015 of injuries sustained in a crash on November 23. Officer Chandler and another officer were attempting to detain a group people riding illegal dirt bikes when the crash occurred. The six-year veteran of the force, assigned to the Northern District, fought for his life for more than six weeks at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he died at the age of 27. He is survived by his wife and two young children.
Officer First Class Brennan Rabain of the Prince George’s County Police Department on March 7, 2015 in a single vehicle crash that occurred as he was attempting to make a traffic stop in early hours of the morning. It is believed his cruiser hit a patch of black ice causing it to leave the road. The 26-year-old POFCRabain had been a member of the department for one year and was posthumously promoted to the rank of police officer first class. He is survived by his parents and young son.
