New Milford Remembers Officer Killed in the Line of Duty

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.