Prev
Incident
Sergeant Hector Ayala was killed in an automobile crash while responding to backup another officer at the scene of a fight in Wheaton.
He was driving on Randolph Road, near Denley Road in Wheaton, when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree, causing fatal injuries.
Sergeant Ayala had served with the Montgomery County Police Department for seven years and was assigned to the Fourth District.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and triplet daughters born after Officer Ayala's death.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpav8g9aexvnf579xd9p- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Hector. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Ayala gave the Montgomery County Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gaithersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Ayala.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Montgomery County Police Department has lost 21 officers; 9 of them lost to accidents.
Hector is one of 141 officers lost to accidents in MD, 37.3% of the 378 remembered there.
Hector is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Hector is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2010, 1 officer at Montgomery County Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2010, 4 officers in MD were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 88 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 6.
In 2010, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2010, 79 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 60th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Hector was 31. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Montgomery County Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 43; the middle age was 31. Hector had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Hector was 31. Of the 133 lost to accidents in MD whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 42; the middle age was 33. Hector had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Hector was 31. 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. Hector had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Hector was 31. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Hector had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 22.2% of these deaths at Montgomery County Police Department; December holds the most, 22.2%. Sundays: 22.2%.
April holds 8.5% of these deaths in MD; October holds the most, 15.6%. Sundays: 17.7%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 42.9% of all 21 deaths at Montgomery County Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 37.3% of all 378 deaths in MD, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Montgomery County Police Department has 21 officers remembered here, Hector among them.
-
Joseph Asbury Case Dec 17, 1928
-
Webb Sellman Hersperger
Jun 18, 1933
-
James E. Shoemaker
Feb 4, 1938
-
David G. Bissett
Oct 1, 1952
-
Robert L. McAllister
Nov 23, 1952
-
William H. Jessie
Dec 30, 1964
-
Donald A. Robertson
Mar 9, 1972
-
William Patrick Conboy, Jr.
Dec 29, 1973
-
James Edward Daly, Jr.
Mar 28, 1976
-
John Michael Frontczak
Mar 29, 1976
-
Philip Carl Metz
Mar 27, 1981
-
Mark M. Filer
Aug 24, 1993
-
James E. Walch
Jan 25, 1994
-
Joseph Aloysius Mattingly, Jr.
Sep 13, 2003
-
Luke Timothy Hoffman
Apr 25, 2007
-
Hector Ismael Ayala
Apr 4, 2010
-
William Dewitt Talbert
Jan 27, 2012
-
Christina Lee Splaine
Sep 24, 2015
-
Noah Aaron Leotta
Dec 10, 2015
-
Kyle David Olinger
Apr 18, 2019
-
Thomas Bomba
Oct 14, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Montgomery County Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
