In a heartfelt tribute to fallen officers, FBI Director Kash Patel took part in an annual hockey tournament organized by the Chicago field office.
The event, which took place over the weekend, honored the memory of officers from New York, Boston, Chicago, and Detroit who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
As reported by the Daily Caller, which exclusively obtained photographs of the event, the tournament paid homage to Jeremy Cole of the Endicott College Police Department, Clay Matthew Carns of the Illinois State Police, Brad Reckling of the Oakland County Sheriffs Office, and Jonathan Diller of the New York Police Department. Patel played on the Chicago field office team, which emerged victorious in the championship against the New York field office with a 3-1 win.
Patel expressed his deep respect for the fallen officers, stating, Being a part of an event like this is an honor and a humbling reminder of just how much the men and women on the front lines risk for their neighbors every day. Jeremy Cole, Clay Matthews Carns, Brad Reckling, and Jonathan Diller will never be forgotten and this FBI will always have the backs of law enforcement across the country.
Following the Chicago team's victory, Clay Carns' parents, Dan and Patti Carns, joined the team on the ice to receive the championship trophy. Clay Carns, a 35-year-old Illinois State Trooper, tragically lost his life in December 2024 while on duty, after being hit by a vehicle as he was removing debris from the freeway.
In a poignant statement following his death, Carns's family wrote, To the public, Clay became a hero on December 23, 2024, when he was killed in the line of duty. To his family, he has always been a hero. Our world has been shattered, and we will never be the same. But we take comfort in knowing that he lived his life with such purpose, he loved his family and friends fiercely, and he took great pride in his work.
Jeremy Cole, a 15-year veteran of the Endicott College Police Department, was killed in a head-on collision by a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction after completing his shift at the school. Endicott College President Steven R. DiSalvo remembered Cole as a beloved figure on campus, stating, J. Cole was the consummate student-focused representative of the Endicott community... He was loved and respected by all at the Nest. Eileen and I will miss his genuine kindness and his warm sense of humor.
Brad Reckling, a deputy of the Oakland County Sheriffs Office, was hailed as a hero by Detroit Police Department Chief James White. Deputy Reckling was a hero. He was an absolute hero. He did what we all love doing and that is keeping our respective communities safe, White said. He laid his life on the line. He was in our city pursuing someone for auto theft, stumbled on to something much bigger than he even thought.
The tournament also honored Jonathan Diller of the New York Police Department, whose wake was attended by President Donald Trump last year. Trump, after visiting the funeral home with Dillers family, emphasized the need for law and order, stating, We have to get back to law and order. We have to do a lot of things differently. This is not working. This is happening too often.
The annual hockey tournament serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers in the line of duty. It underscores the importance of honoring their memory and supporting the law enforcement community in their ongoing commitment to maintaining law and order.
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