(May 13, 2008)—Temple police officer David Camden, who died in a motorcycle accident while escorting a funeral procession in September, was among 25 fallen law enforcement officers honored Tuesday at the annual Department of Public Safety Memorial Service in Austin.
Camden was escorting a funeral in the 700 block of North 8th Street in Temple when one of the drivers in the procession made a left turn, attempting to get onto another street, and turned directly into Camden’s path.
Camden’s motorcycle struck the driver’s side of the vehicle and the officer was thrown from the bike.
Camden was taken by Scott & White Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Camden joined the Temple Police Department in 1996 after serving as a reserve officer in Belton from 1991 to 1994 and serving in the Texas National Guard from 1989 to 1993.
He was commissioned as a Temple officer in 1997.
He received 28 awards and commendations including a Unit Citation in 2000, Commendation Letter in 2001, a Life Saving Award in 2002 and 2003, and Mayor’s Award in 2001.
He was nominated for Officer of the Quarter in 2005 and 2006, and nominated for Officer of the Year in 2006.
He earned the life-saving award in 2003 for joining two other officers to rescue three children and their mother from a burning apartment in August 2003.
The officers stood at the base of the burning apartment building and caught each of the three children as their mother dropped them from an upper floor window, and then they caught the woman as he jumped just before flames shot from the window.
The memorial service Tuesday was less than two weeks after DPS Trooper James Scott Burns was shot to death on April 29 after making a traffic stop in East Texas.
"Our most recent loss at DPS underscores how dangerous law enforcement can be as a profession. However, our officers are proud to serve the people of the state of Texas,” said Col. Thomas A. Davis Jr., director of the DPS.
Texas Officers Killed In 2008
Corporal Harry Thielepape, Harris County Constable's Office-Pct. 6, injured during a felony arrest on Jan. 26, died Feb. 20.
Trooper James Scott Burns, Texas Dept. of Public Safety-Jefferson, shot and killed on April 29 during a traffic stop.
Texas Officers Who Died In The Line Of Duty In 2008
Deputy Constable David Joubert, Harris Co. Constable's Office-Pct. 7, died in a traffic crash Jan. 13
Officer Matthew B. Thebeau, Corpus Christi PD, died in a traffic crash Jan. 20
Senior Corporal Victor Lozada-Tirado, Dallas PD, died in a traffic crash Feb. 22.
Texas Peace Officers Killed In 2007
Game Warden Justin Hurst, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.-Wharton County, was shot and killed March 17 while attempting to apprehend an illegal hunting suspect
Senior Corporal Mark Timothy Nix, Dallas PD, shot and killed on March 23 while attempting to apprehend a murder suspect
Deputy Sheriff Tony Price Ogburn, Henderson Co SO, shot and killed on May 17 while attempting to break up a domestic disturbance
Deputy Sheriff Paul Steven Habelt, Henderson Co SO, shot and killed on May 17 while attempting to break up a domestic disturbance
Deputy Sheriff Michael Page, Bowie Co SO, killed on June 30 while attempting to apprehend hit and run suspect
Corporal Arlie Jones, Odessa PD, shot and killed Sept. 8 while responding to a domestic disturbance
Corporal John "Scott" Gardner, Odessa PD, shot and killed Sept. 8 while responding to a domestic disturbance
Corporal Abel Marquez, Odessa PD, shot Sept. 8 while responding to a domestic disturbance, died on Sept. 12
Detective Mario Moreno, San Antonio PD, killed Sept. 21 while attempting to serve arrest warrant.
Texas Peace Officers Who Died In The Line Of Duty In 2007
Deputy Sheriff Rahamy Mitchell, Fannin Co SO, killed Jan. 7 in a traffic crash
Trooper Todd Dylan Holmes, Texas Dept. of Public Safety-Gilmer, killed March 14 in traffic crash
Officer Andrew Esparza, Irving PD, killed April 13 in a traffic crash
Officer Lisa Beaulieu, Beaumont PD, killed April 27 in a traffic crash
Game Warden Teyran (Ty) Patterson, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.-Johnson County, drowned May 30 while trying to save a drowning victim
Officer Jeff McCoy, Abilene PD, died June 5 in a traffic crash
Officer Dayle Weston (Wes) Hardy, Plano PD, died July 7 in a traffic crash
Officer David Camden, Temple PD, died Sept. 14 in a traffic crash
Deputy Constable Jason Norling, Harris Co Constable's Office-Pct. 5, died Oct. 1 when he was struck by a vehicle
Investigator Dale Clint Sherrill, Marion Co SO, injured Oct. 17 in a traffic crash and died on Oct. 19
Officer James Saavedra, Port of Corpus Christi PD, died Dec. 19 in an accidental shooting.
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