Gary Frederick Labenz
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Gary Frederick Labenz

Cardiac
End of Watch October 10, 2005
Age 50
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
The Vigil Panel 153 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Gary Labenz suffered a fatal heart attack in San Antonio, Texas, while returning to Arizona after participating in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The relief team Deputy Labenz was assigned to rescued more than 100 citizens and recovered more than 50 bodies while conducting recovery efforts.

After their assignment was over, the team stopped in San Antonio for the night on their return trip home. Deputy Labenz suffered a heart attack in his hotel room that evening. His body was found by other deputies the following morning.

Deputy Labenz had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for 19 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Labenz gave the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Labenz.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ
Platform Identity mcso.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 10, 2005
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Gary is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2005, 21 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 7th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Gary was 50. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Gary had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Mondays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has 28 officers remembered here, Gary among them.

Deputy Sheriff Gary Frederick Labenz

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch October 10, 2005

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-W

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