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.

From his earliest days, Curl knew that he wanted to do something good with his life. He was inspired by his love for America and for the American heroes that made a difference. Even as a grown man, his walls were filled with photos of John Wayne. Special Agent Curl probably never knew that he would lose his life playing the role of true hero.

Special Agent Curl graduated from Arizona State University in 1980, receiving a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Before coming to DEA, he worked for the Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. He continued his career with the county Adult Probation Department where he helped create the intensive adult probation program.

He joined the Drug Enforcement Administration in March 1987 and was assigned to the Phoenix, Arizona Field Division. In July 1994, Special Agent Curl was transferred to the Nassau, Bahamas Country Office. His Bahamas assignment gave him access to adventures he had only dreamed about. As a member of the Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos team, he received endless hours of training in helicopters and island survival. His family says that those were some of the happiest days of his life.

Special Agent Curl returned to the Miami Field Division in March 1996 and was assigned to a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area drug enforcement group. On the night of his death, Special Agent Curl offered a fellow agent a ride home from a Christmas party and was killed.

Special Agent Curl was survived by his wife Kathleen; their two children, Kelsey and Sam; and his two sisters, Sandy and Rebecca. Special Agent Curl was posthumously awarded the DEA Administrator's Award of Honor on May 13, 1998.