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Incident
Detention Officer Gene Lee succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when he was assaulted by an inmate Lower Buckeye Jail.
The inmate attacked Officer Lee without provocation, grabbing him by the neck and sweeping his legs out from below him. Officer Lee's suffered a severe head injury when his head struck the concrete floor.
Other officers and jail medical staff provided aid until he was transported to Banner University Medical Center. He died the following day without regaining consciousness.
Officer Lee had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two 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.
Detention Officer Lee gave the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detention Officer Lee.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has lost 28 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Gene is one of 204 officers killed feloniously in AZ, 61.8% of the 330 remembered there.
Gene is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Gene is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2019, 1 officer at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1971, with 2.
In 2019, 1 officer in AZ was killed feloniously, the 57th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 6.
In 2019, 64 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2019, 66 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Gene was 64. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 47.5 and 53.5; the middle age was 51. Gene had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 10 years.
Gene was 64. Of the 186 killed feloniously in AZ whose age is recorded, half were between 31.3 and 47; the middle age was 39. Gene had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Gene was 64. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Gene had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Gene was 64. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Gene had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 18.2% of these deaths at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office; January holds the most, 36.4%. Wednesdays: 27.3%.
October holds 5.4% of these deaths in AZ; May holds the most, 13.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 39.3% of all 28 deaths at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 18.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.8% of all 330 deaths in AZ, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
His people
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has 28 officers remembered here, Gene among them.
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Kurtz Fickas
Nov 17, 1916
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Almon W. Dana Apr 9, 1922
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Robert Lee Wright Jan 29, 1930
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Edward J. Roberts
Jul 21, 1937
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Burtice W. Wickstrum
Jan 8, 1951
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Gerald Barnes
Oct 5, 1957
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Robert L. Dorn
Aug 31, 1965
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Warren LaRue
Jan 18, 1971
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Rex Atwood Stone
Jan 18, 1971
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Ralph K. Butler
Jun 12, 1972
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James L. Epp
Mar 1, 1978
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Darrell Dean McCloud
May 13, 1985
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Vernon P. Marconnet
Jun 30, 1988
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Patrick Joseph Riley
Mar 11, 1994
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Edwardo M. Gonzales
Aug 28, 1995
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Kenneth Ray Blair
Sep 28, 1995
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Gary Frederick Labenz
Oct 10, 2005
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William Hauley Coleman
Jan 8, 2012
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David William Wargo, Jr.
May 1, 2012
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Gene Wade Lee
Oct 30, 2019
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Ernest Quintero
Jul 6, 2020
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Kevin Joseph Fletcher
Jul 6, 2020
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Miroslaw Mroczkowski
Jul 15, 2020
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Alicia Dawn Carter
Aug 9, 2021
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Kendall Leroy Thomas
Sep 10, 2021
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Juan Miguel Ruiz
Oct 11, 2021
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Chad Owen Brackman
Nov 10, 2021
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Shawn A. Braaten
Dec 16, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Maricopa County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
