Wall of Honor

Employees of DEA and its predecessor agencies killed in the line of duty.

Thomas J. Byrne

Thomas J. Byrne

Special Agent

January 5, 1968 - August 30, 2008

On August 28, 2008, while attending the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, Special Agent Thomas J. Byrne was severely beaten and mugged while walking to his hotel. After multiple surgeries, he succumbed to his injuries on August 30, 2008. Read more >

Jay Balchunas

Jay Balchunas

Narcotics Bureau Special Agent

January 18, 1970 - November 5, 2004

On October 29, 2004, Task Force Officer John “Jay” Balchunas was fatally wounded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He died from his injuries on November 5, 2004. Officer Balchunas was conducting surveillance as part of the Department of Justice/FBI Fall Threat Initiative prior to the national elections. Read more >

Donald C. Ware

Don C. Ware

Special Agent

June 11, 1940 - October 12, 2004

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Don C. Ware died on October 12, 2004, of complications during a surgery that was directly attributed to gunshot wounds he received on June 9, 1975, while working on an undercover operation in Mexico. Read more >

Terrance Loftus

Terrance P. Loftus

Special Agent

September 1, 1959 - May 28, 2004

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Terrance P. Loftus was killed on May 28, 2004, when the plane he was piloting crashed shortly after takeoff from Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois. Agent Loftus was providing air support to the Kansas City, Kansas District Office as part of a Title III Investigation. After transporting drug evidence seized by the Kansas City District Office to the DEA Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois, he was en route to St. Louis, Missouri, to return the DEA aircraft. Read more >

Elton Lee Armstead

Elton Lee Armstead

Telecommunications Specialist

August 11, 1957 - March 18, 2003

Telecommunications Specialist Elton Lee Armstead died on March 18, 2003. His death was a result of injuries suffered from a fall while installing surveillance equipment on a grain silo in support of an ongoing narcotics investigation in Morris, Illinois. Read more >

Alice Faye Hall-Walton

Alice Faye Hall-Walton

Diversion Investigator

July 11, 1968 - March 1, 2001

Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Investigator Alice Faye Hall-Walton was killed in an automobile accident on March 1, 2001. She was 32 years of age at the time of her death. Read more >

Royce D. Tramel

Royce D. Tramel

Special Agent

June 5, 1964 - August 28, 2000

On August 28, 2000, Special Agent Royce D. “Doug” Tramel was struck and killed by a vehicle. He was 36 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Larry Steilen

Larry Steilen

Pilot Instructor

February 4, 1947 - September 25, 1998

On September 25, 1998, Lawrence Steilen was killed in a helicopter accident while performing a training mission in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 51 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Shaun E. Curl

Shaun E. Curl

Special Agent

October 24, 1958 - December 12, 1997

On December 12, 1997, Special Agent Shaun E. Curl was killed while assigned to the Miami Field Division. He was 39 years of age at the time of his death. Read more >

Shelly D. Bland

Shelly D. Bland

Legal Technician

December 19, 1969 - April 19, 1995

DynCorp Legal Technician Shelly D. Bland, working under contract to the Drug Enforcement Administration, was killed on April 19, 1995, when a car bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was 25 years of age at the time of her death. Read more >