Chelsea's Fallen Heroes

To remember Chelsea Michigan's Fallen Heroes, Chief of Police Riley S. Sumner and Fire Captain Matt Tuttle and all law enforcement officers and firefighters worldwide who have died in the line-of-duty. If you have a story and/or photo of a police officer or firefighter who has died in the line-of-duty, please write about it in the log.

On April 13, 2006, Riley S. Sumner, Chief of Police for the City of Chelsea, Michigan (pictured below at left) and Reserve Police Officer Matt Tuttle (pictured below at right) were killed in the line of duty. The Michigan State Police initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle at a rest stop on I-94 about 10 miles east of Chelsea. The Michigan State Police trooper discovered that one of the vehicle's occupants was wanted and had escaped into the nearby woods shortly after the stop was made.

The Michigan State Police requested the assistance of Chelsea's canine unit to help in the search for the fugitive. In addition to directing the canine unit to respond, Chief Sumner contacted Reserve Officer Tuttle who was off duty from his full-time job as a fire captain for the Chelsea Area Fire Authority. Reserve Officer Tuttle owned a helicopter and he was requested by Chief Sumner to help with the fugitive search from the air.

Reserve Officer Tuttle picked up Chief Sumner and responded to the scene. While searching for the fugitive, the helicopter's engine failed. The helicopter crashed, killing Chief Sumner and Officer Tuttle.

Chief Sumner is survived by his wife and two sons. Fire Captain Matt Tuttle is survived by his wife. Chief Sumner and Officer Tuttle were the 43rd and 44th law enforcement line-of-duty deaths in the United States in 2006. In 2006, there were 146 law enforcement line-of-duty deaths nationwide. Since 2001, when 241 law enforcement officers died in the line-of-duty including 72 officers who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, between 146 and 162 law enforcement officers have died each year. According to The Officer Down Memorial Page, 18,655 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in America's history as of the date when this TB was launched. 2007 saw 186 law enforcement officers die in the line-of-duty, which except for 2001, is the worst year in nearly 20 years.

Chelsea, Michigan is a small community of 4,500 citizens located in the southeast part of the state. Chelsea has experienced many tragedies that have affected this small community including these deaths on April 13, 2006.

This travel bug is a challenge coin for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC. Geocachers are invited to find or discover this travel bug in honor and memory of Chief Sumner and Fire Captain Tuttle as well as all law enforcement officers worldwide who gave their lives to keep the peace and protect us from harm.

UPDATE: (July 5, 2008) After disappearing for nearly a year this travel bug was found in a cache in the Grand Rapids area by the Last don. The travel bug is now back in circulation. I will also have the "Discover Only" version available at events that I attend.