Oregon, New York – AFSCME Mourns Four Tragic Deaths

Buddy Ray Herron, 42, was a corrections officer at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (Local 3361). He is one of four members killed. (Photo by Herron Family)

Oregon

Buddy Ray Herron, 42, a corrections officer at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution and a member of Local 3361 (Council 75), was killed in November while trying to help an apparent stranded motorist. While driving to work shortly before midnight, he stopped to help Charles Weeks of Portland, 22, a drifter with a long criminal history. Weeks allegedly stabbed the father of four and stole his pickup truck. Herron managed to call 911 but died later at the hospital. More than 700 mourners attended his memorial service, including corrections officers, fire and law enforcement officers, paramedics and public safety workers from throughout the Northwest.

Stanley James McCall, 63, an equipment operator with the Umatilla County Road Department and a member of Local 1393 (Council 75), died in December while working with a grader spreading gravel on a road along a railroad track. An oncoming train hit the grader and the grader subsequently hit McCall. He was killed instantly.

New York

Robert DelVecchio Jr., 35, a highway worker for the town of Mamaroneck, was killed in November after he was struck by a recycling truck at the town’s sanitation and recycling center. Results of a Public Employee Safety and Health review of the incident are pending.

John Lattimore, 62, a state bridge maintenance worker, was killed in October during an inspection of the Glen Bridge at the Warrensburg/Thurman town line. Lattimore was a state Department of Transportation employee and member of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000.  Results of a Public Employee Safety and Health review of the incident are pending.