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
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has lost 28 officers; 1 of them lost to cardiac events.
Gary is one of 11 officers lost to cardiac events in AZ, 3.3% of the 330 remembered there.
Gary is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Gary is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.9% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2005, 2 officers in AZ were lost to cardiac events, more than in any other year.
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.
In 2005, 21 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 7th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Gary was 50. Of the 10 lost to cardiac events in AZ whose age is recorded, half were between 45.3 and 54; the middle age was 48. Gary had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 14 years.
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.
Gary was 50. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Gary had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
October holds 18.2% of these deaths in AZ; December holds the most, 45.5%. Mondays: 18.2%.
October holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Mondays: 12.9%.
October holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 3.6% of all 28 deaths at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.3% of all 330 deaths in AZ, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.9% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has 28 officers remembered here, Gary 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 the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-W
What is kept
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