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Incident
Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Butch Waller were struck and killed, and Deputy Sheriff Dan Diaz was critically injured on Southern Boulevard near Seminole Pratt Whitney Road in Loxahatchee at 9:14 a.m.
One of the deputies had completed a traffic stop when his patrol motorcycle would not start. The deputy called other officers for assistance. While the three deputies were waiting for another deputy to help with the disabled motorcycle, a driver traveling east on Southern Boulevard switched lanes to pass a slower vehicle, overcompensated, and struck all three deputies. The responding deputy witnessed the collision.
Corporal Paez and Deputy Waller were life-flighted to St. Mary's Hospital, where they were pronounced deceased. Deputy Diaz died from his injuries four days later.
The driver suffered minor injuries. In 2026, she was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
36 years. You could have gone home.
Corporal Paez gave the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office 36 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the West Palm Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Paez.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has lost 23 officers; 9 of them lost to accidents.
Luis is one of 315 officers lost to accidents in FL, 31.3% of the 1,007 remembered there.
Luis is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Luis is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2024, 3 officers at Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2024, 4 officers in FL were lost to accidents, the 22nd heaviest of 95 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 9.
In 2024, 52 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 90th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2024, 54 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 99th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Luis was 58. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 53; the middle age was 35. Luis had served 36 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Luis was 58. Of the 293 lost to accidents in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 35. Luis had served 36 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Luis was 58. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Luis had served 36 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Luis was 58. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Luis had served 36 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 55.6% of these deaths at Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Thursdays: 22.2%.
November holds 9.5% of these deaths in FL; February holds the most, 10.5%. Thursdays: 11.7%.
November holds 8.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 39.1% of all 23 deaths at Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.3% of all 1,007 deaths in FL, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has 23 officers remembered here, Luis among them.
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George Clem Douglas
Aug 27, 1921
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Frederick A. Baker
Jan 9, 1924
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James Stephen Fogleman
Mar 25, 1963
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Richard John Landes
Apr 18, 1981
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Frank Dean Genovese
Jun 3, 1982
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James Rondeau Dickinson
Aug 22, 1989
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Kevin Douglas Mathews
Mar 6, 1992
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Anita Karen Pospisil
Mar 24, 1992
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James A. Hunt, III
Feb 26, 1993
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Garry Earl Hobbs
Dec 9, 2000
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Donald Lee Schavolt
Mar 31, 2002
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Donta J. Manuel
Nov 28, 2007
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Jonathan D. Wallace
Nov 28, 2007
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Clarence G. Backherms
Apr 7, 2019
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Tammy Davis-Partridge
Oct 7, 2019
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Jose Antonio Diaz-Ayala
Apr 4, 2020
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Maurice Che'valier Ford
Aug 27, 2020
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Angela Dinece Chavers
Sep 12, 2020
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Jacinto R. Navarro, Jr.
Jan 19, 2021
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Carlos Antonio Hernandez
Apr 11, 2021
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Ralph Waller, Jr.
Nov 21, 2024
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Luis Paez
Nov 21, 2024
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Ignacio Diaz
Nov 25, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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