Western NY Deputy

[Stump]

A sheriff's deputy was killed in the line of duty after helping a motorist who was stuck in a highway median.

Onondaga County sheriff's Deputy Glenn M. Searles stopped on I-481 in the Syracuse suburb of DeWitt to help a driver who had gone off the road.

Soon after, the driver of a minivan who experienced chest pains, swerved out of control and struck the deputy's patrol car and the deputy, said Sheriff Kevin Walsh.

Searles, who was pinned between the minivan and his patrol car, died from his injuries.

"I think everybody is in shock," Walsh said. "We are all just trying to deal with our feelings and our emotions and continue to do our jobs despite the dangers."

A motorcade of more than 15 cars snaked along downtown Syracuse Saturday night with an ambulance carrying Searles' body. City police officers, with black tape across their badges, saluted Searles at every intersecting street.

Searles, 31, had been with the sheriff's department for two years. Before that, he was an investigator with the medical examiner's office. Searles was single and had no children.

[rdp]

The Officer Down Memorial Page remembers...

Deputy Sheriff Glenn M. Searles
Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, NY
End of Watch: Saturday, November 29, 2003



Biographical Info
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 2 yr
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: Saturday, November 29, 2003
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Deputy Searles was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while assisting a stranded motorist on I-481 in the Syracuse suburb of DeWitt. Deputy Searles was returning to his patrol car to retrieve flares, when the driver of a minivan who was experiencing chest pains, swerved out of control and struck the Deputy Searles and his patrol car.

Deputy Searles was pinned between the minivan and his patrol car and died from his injuries.

Deputy Searles had served with the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department for two years and had previously served as an investigator with the medical examiner's office.
Agency Contact Information
Onondaga County Sheriff's Department
407 South State Street
Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 435-1767

Please contact the agency for funeral information
or to send condolences.