Richmond Police Department officer Seara Burton taken off life support
Richmond #Richmond
RICHMOND, Ind. — Richmond Police officers lined a Miami Valley Hospital corridor Thursday to honor Officer Seara Burton as she was wheeled to an operating room.
Burton, 28, has been in the Dayton, Ohio, hospital since she was shot in the head Aug. 10. In the operating room, she was to be taken off life support.
RPD administration released a statement Wednesday indicating that Burton’s doctors had decided she would be unable to recover from her injuries and that life support would be stopped. It also said Burton is an organ donor.
“Seara will live on and continue to be a hero with her selfless gift of organ donation,” the statement said. “Officer Burton will continue to serve others long after her passing.”
Candles and flowers were placed in front of a sign Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, at a vigil for wounded Officer Seara Burton.
When he and other officers left the hospital Thursday, Chief Mike Britt said hospital staff lined the hallway in their honor. He called it a touching act.
A convoy of RPD officers drove Thursday morning from the Richmond Municipal Building to Miami Valley so they could pay Burton their respects. The day Burton was shot, Chief Mike Britt said four RPD officers en route to a motorcycle event diverted to Miami Valley to be there when Burton arrived by medical helicopter.
Supportive messages from law enforcement agencies, first responders and residents flooded Facebook and RPD’s posted announcement Wednesday. On Thursday, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 800 N. A St., posted that it would be open until 6 p.m. Thursday for residents to pray for Burton and her family. Prayer services were scheduled for noon and 5:30 p.m.
More:Man found with 28 grams of heroin receives 9-year prison sentence
Burton, a 2012 Northeastern High School graduate, was a four-year RPD officer who in April became a K-9 officer after she and her partner, Brev, completed training at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana. Brev was not injured in the shooting and is being cared for by an RPD investigator who formerly was a K-9 handler.
Burton was shot Aug. 10 during a traffic stop associated with a narcotics investigation. Phillip Matthew Lee, 47, is accused of shooting Burton and firing at two other RPD officers after he was stopped on his moped in the 200 block of North 12th Street.
Story continues
The shooting occurred less than two weeks before Burton was scheduled to marry her fiancée, Sierra Neal. On the Aug. 19 wedding day, Neal posted a TikTok video of herself wearing her wedding gown as she’s escorted to Burton’s hospital bedside.
That same day, Lee, who was wounded by police officers returning fire, appeared by Zoom during an initial court hearing from a hospital bed. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged Lee with three Level 1 felony attempted murder counts and four other felonies: Level 4 felony possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and three Level 5 felony possession counts, one each for methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.
According to the online Officer Down Memorial Page, 169 officers in the United States have died in the line of duty this year, including 44 who were shot. Elwood Police Department Officer Noah Shahnavaz was shot and killed July 31 during a traffic stop.
Burton’s mother, Jennifer Miller, and stepmother, Ami Miller, a longtime RPD officer, updated their Facebook profile pictures Wednesday to an image including photos of both Burton and Shahnavaz.
Five RPD officers and have previously died in the line of duty. They are among 15 officers from Wayne County law enforcement agencies to die in the line of duty.
Officer Kenneth Lester, who like Burton was a K-9 officer, was the most recent RPD officer to die in the line of duty. Lester’s Feb. 10, 2020, death was caused by complications from debilitating injuries he sustained in an on-duty crash Feb. 17, 1995, while he responded to a call. His K-9, Cheri, sustained only minor injuries.
The other RPD officers to die in the line of duty are:
Patrolman John Hennigar, who died Oct. 22, 1924, from a motorcycle accident during a pursuit;
Patrolman George Little, who died July 8, 1916, from gunfire;
Patrolman Elmer Stephenson, who died July 8, 1916, from gunfire; and
Patrolman Amos Markle, who died March 5, 1884, from an assault.
After Burton was injured, the community rallied around her, her family and the police department. Signs supporting Burton immediately began appearing outside homes, businesses and the Richmond Municipal Building. Hundreds attended an Aug. 12 prayer vigil, and more than $100,000 has been raised for a special Blue Angels fund established for Burton.
About an hour after RPD’s announcement Wednesday, Lori Branum-Troutwine, owner of Luxe Lizzie’s Boutique and daughter of former RPD Chief Jim Branum, hosted an previously scheduled online auction. She reported on social media Thursday that the auction had raised more than $42,000 and was still receiving payments.
Smiley’s Pub and Beer Garden had previously raised about $50,000 through a golf tournament and auction. Many others also contributed through outright donations or with proceeds from sales of items such as T-shirts.
RPD’s Blue Angels fund is usually used to assist children with needs, especially around Christmas. It accepts donations at the Richmond City Employees Federal Credit Union on the second floor of the city building, 50 N. Fifth St.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Richmond Police Department officer Seara Burton taken off life support