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New Milford Remembers Officer Killed in the Line of Duty

May 15 is Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of federal, state and local police officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. New Milford Police Officer Raymond Woods was killed rescuing people from a fire.

 

Tuesday was Peace Officers Memorial Day. In memory of all fallen officers, flags across the country were flown at half-staff to honor all the law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day to honor law enforcement officers, and the calendar week in which that day falls (May 13 to 19 this year) as National Police Week.

On November 26, 1972, New Milford Patrolman Raymond Woods died as a result of injuries sustained in a house fire on Rhein Court. When he arrived at the scene the house was fully engulfed in flames and several people were unaccounted for inside. Woods and another officer entered the home with air tanks to search for the residents. A backdraft occurred and Woods' partner was knocked down. 

Woods removed his partner from the house but re-entered in search of one resident who was still missing. He was found by New Milford firefighters on the second floor -- his air tank was empty. Woods was taken to a local hospital where he died two days later. Woods, who was only 26 years old, was survived by his wife. 

Related Topics: New Milford Police, Peace Officers Day, and Raymond Woods

Big Ben

5:52 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

You get a real appreciation for the police when you consider not what they're doing but rather what they may have to do.

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Richard Logan

9:11 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

I knew Ray Woods back then, he was a personal friend of my sister in high school. He was a good cop, model train enthusiast. I was 23 when he passed. What a loss to our community.

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Dianne Logan Bellamore

12:27 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Broke my heart back then, brings tears to my eyes today.

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