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WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 24, 2026) – The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) today announced Deputy Lorne Juday of the Osceola County (MI) Sheriff’s Office as the Officer of the Month for July 2026. The deputy was selected for his actions on July 4, when he rescued a man trapped inside a burning vehicle following a crash.

The deputy was responding to the crash when he arrived to find a vehicle with significant damage to its front end and flames spreading near the driver’s compartment. After learning that someone remained trapped inside, the deputy immediately moved toward the vehicle, retrieved a fire extinguisher from his patrol vehicle and began working to keep the flames away from the driver.

The driver’s door had been damaged in the crash and could not be opened. As the fire continued to grow, the deputy directed bystanders to retrieve a pry bar from his patrol vehicle and began working to force the door open. He also called for additional fire extinguishers as the flames moved closer to the trapped driver.

With the fire continuing to spread, the deputy and a bystander ultimately pulled the driver from the vehicle and moved him away from the flames. The driver, who suffered an arm injury, was later evaluated by responding law enforcement and emergency personnel.

“The circumstances facing this deputy changed in a matter of seconds, but he did not hesitate to move toward the danger,” said Bill Alexander, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “He used the resources available to him, worked alongside members of the public and remained focused on getting a trapped driver to safety as the fire continued to grow. We are proud to recognize his actions with our Officer of the Month Award for July 2026.”

The Officer of the Month Award Program is sponsored by the Police Unity Tour and recognizes federal, state, tribal, and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.

— www.NLEOMF.org —

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The first pillar of this mission, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the names of all the 24,775 officers who have died in the line of duty to date throughout U.S. history. Additionally, NLEOMF maintains and publishes comprehensive details on the circumstances surrounding official line-of-duty deaths. The Officer Safety and Wellness pillar uses that data, coupled with best-practice program models, to produce programming directed at solutions to improve survivability and enhance wellness. NLEOMF’s third pillar, the National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org) is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.

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