2026 - On July 24th, Building Commissioner David Smerek was shot and killed North Royalton, OH - On July 24th, Building Commissioner David Smerek was shot and killed at the city's municipal building. Approximately 1,000 mourners crowded the streets on Monday to remember David and his service to the community the following Monday. 911 call: “Our Building Commissioner got shot.” Based on news reports, suspect Edward Biesiada (69 years old), just recently received a citation for

2025 - South Hanover Township's public building will be closed to the public until further notice. Author: Nate Soisson Published: 11:29 AM EDT September 24, 2025 Updated: 6:03 PM EDT September 24, 2025 HUMMELSTOWN, Pa. — South Hanover Township's municipality building is closed until further notice after a disgruntled resident allegedly sent an envelope to the office containing an unidentified white powder at 161 Patriot Way, township officials said. Authorities arrested a ma

2025 - Broward County Animal Care Animal Control officer was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was attacked by a dog. May 30, 2025 A woman who works as a Broward County Animal Care Animal Control officer was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was attacked by a dog in Fort Lauderdale Thursday night, police said. Fort Lauderdale Police said officers responded to the 700 block of Southwest 14th Terrace around 7:15 p.m. after receiving a call about a woman at

2025 - Police in Innisfil charged a man after he allegedly assaulted a bylaw officer. May 5, 2025 Police in Innisfil charged a man after he allegedly assaulted a bylaw officer on shift back in March. On March 17, just after 3 p.m., South Simcoe Police responded to reports of an alleged assault along Colborne Street in Bradford. Officials say bylaw officers were out issuing parking enforcement, when they noticed vehicles that were parked in ‘no-stopping areas’ near a school cr

2025 - Witnesses say the officer was thrown over the hood of Sullivan’s car when he was struck. March 7, 2025 A 25-year-old Island Park village code enforcement officer was allegedly run over by a driver on Thursday afternoon, all because of a parking ticket. The incident, which occurred around 3:20 p.m. on Long Beach Road, has left the community in disbelief. Police say the driver was 37-year-old Matthew Sullivan, of Island Park. Witnesses say the officer was thrown over the

2025 - An Australian man was arrested and given a $2,500 bond after allegedly threatening to shoot a Biscayne Park code enforcement officer over a $25 fine, authorities said. February 4, 2025 According to an arrest report, Jacob Andrew Murphy was arrested Monday on a charge of threatening a public servant. Police said Murphy contacted the Village of Biscayne Park Monday morning and requested the contact information for Code Enforcement Officer Rafael Gutierrez. After receivin

2024 - Boston officials are looking to better protect city workers who issue parking tickets after two recent assaults. February 26, 2024 Boston officials are looking to better protect city workers who issue parking tickets after two recent assaults, one of which left an older man hospitalized. On Feb. 2, a supervisor working an overnight shift for the Boston Transportation Department was badly beaten as he attempted to issue a parking ticket in Dorchester. The worker was r

2023 - County code enforcement employee shot, teen arrested after East Memphis gunfire. November 30, 2023 MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A 16-year-old is behind bars after two people were shot in East Memphis. One of those men is an employee of the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, according to a spokesperson for the Shelby County Mayor's Office. "Our priorities are making sure the employee and their family get the support they need and assisting Memphis Pol

2023 - The council this week unanimously approved safety standards for Seal Beach’s code enforcement officers. September 28, 2023 The council this week unanimously approved safety standards for Seal Beach’s code enforcement officers. A recent state law requires local agencies to set safety standards for the officers who enforce local codes, according to the staff report prepared by Samuel Funes. He was a code enforcement officer when he wrote the report for the Sept. 25 meeti

2023 - The Kern County Grand Jury released a report Monday for the county’s Public Works Department regarding the Code Compliance division and the need to increase safety for its officers. June 6, 2023 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The Kern County Grand Jury released a report Monday for the county’s Public Works Department regarding the Code Compliance division and the need to increase safety for its officers. The Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation indicates in the las

2023 - An Escambia County Code Enforcement officer investigating a case near Walnut Hill was met by a convicted felon with a holstered gun. April 26, 2023 Haden Brock Howard, 28, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and failure to appear for a misdemeanor offense following the incident. While investigating a complaint, a code enforcement officer spotted Howard near his residence in the 2500 block of Green Village Road with a pistol in a side holster.

2023 - When police arrived on the scene, they found a gun in Jones' waistband. April 7, 2023 SAVANNAH, Ga. — A candidate for Savannah City council is charged with chasing down a city code compliance officer to get his campaign signs back. Malik Jones is running against incumbent Alderwoman Linda Wilder-Bryan in District 3. According to Savannah Police, on March 20, Jones approached a code compliance officer about getting back campaign signs that were not placed properly. The

2023 - Columbus police arrested a man for allegedly dragging a City of Columbus code enforcement officer while holding an axe. March 3, 2023 COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Columbus police arrested a man for allegedly dragging a City of Columbus code enforcement officer while holding an ax Thursday morning. Police responded to a call for assistance near the 100 block of south Ashburton Road around 10:30 a.m. Thursday. At the scene, officers found a City of Columbus code enforcement o

2022 - “Pushed her to the ground put a gun in her mouth and took her weapon,” relayed the dispatcher. November 7, 2022 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A Louisville code inspector is back to work after being robbed last week by two kids. The kids knocked the inspector down and stole her personal handgun. Code inspectors typically work alone documenting complaints about property violations. At least for this week, the inspectors will be working in pairs. “I’m glad she survived that, n

2022 - City Councilman Ron Beane used to be the city building commissioner, and he’s seen how dangerous the job can get. July 28, 2022 EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - The people who enforce Evansville’s property codes may soon be a little safer. The city has aside money to buy them bulletproof vests. City officials care about the city’s curb appeal. “It’s the environment that people see when they drive down the street,” said city councilman Ron Beane. “The condition of the homes, t

2022 - A Daytona Beach man is facing a felony charge after police say he threatened to kill a code enforcement official during an incident that was caught on bodycam video. May 13, 2022 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A Daytona Beach man is facing a felony charge after police say he threatened to kill a code enforcement official during an incident that was caught on bodycam video. Kevin J. Sbrusch, 36, was booked into the Volusia County Jail on a charge of corruption by threat agai

2022 - After 7 years on the job, official resigns due to increase in criminal activity and stress.

2021 - A confrontation over a code enforcement issue ended with one person dead. November 15, 2021 PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) - A confrontation over a code enforcement issue ended with one person dead at a east Pueblo home. Initially, police told 11 News an officer was in stable condition following the incident, but a police spokesperson has since updated that no officers were hurt. The episode started around 9 a.m. when code enforcement went to do an abatement at a home in the are

2021 - Code enforcement personnel and Austin Police officers visited the home to serve the warrant and mow the overgrown lawn. October 28, 2021 AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin Code Department visit off Pinkney Lane in southwest Austin turned violent Wednesday when a man opened fire, but code department officials said there wasn’t a history of aggression or violence at his property. Code enforcement personnel and Austin Police officers visited the home, located in the 10600 block of

2021 - Common Council 'vehemently' denounces violent act. October 27, 2021 MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Common Council said it "vehemently (denounces)" an act of violence done to a city worker. Milwaukee police said a city housing inspector was injured in a shooting Tuesday, Oct. 26, while sitting inside her car. It happened at 10:12 a.m. near 48th and Fairmount Avenue. Officers said the 41-year-old woman was sitting in her car when an armed suspect approached with a g

2021 - The homeowner opened a window from the front of his home and starting firing shots at the lawncare workers and officers. July 16, 2021 The Fort Worth Police Department has taken a north Fort Worth homeowner into custody following a standoff at his home in the 4800 block of Cedar Springs Drive. At around 8:30am this morning, Fort Worth police officers along with City Code Compliance workers knocked on the man’s door to resolution an ongoing issue regarding his high gras

2021 - Miami Dade truck shot in neighborhood. Watch the coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qShHUyjGYPk

2021 - Multiple Montgomery County homes went up in flames Thursday afternoon in an explosive fire that happened after police responded to a homeowner threatening a code enforcement officer with a gun. June 10, 2021 Lower Providence Township Chief of Police Mike Jackson said that a little before 1 p.m., a Lower Providence code enforcement officer arrived to a home along Cardin Place in Eagleville for a follow-up inspection. The homeowner, who has yet to be identified, took out

2021 - A county code inspector was stabbed to death during an attack last week. January 21, 2021 SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) — The acting Sacramento County executive confirms a county code inspector was stabbed to death during an attack last week. Witnesses said the suspect was an employee at a restaurant the inspector had visited just minutes before the attack. Police said the attack happened in broad daylight last Thursday (1/14) in the parking lot of a shopping center off Fu

2021 - 25-year-old accused of intentionally hitting officer with his car. January 14, 2021 TRACY, Calif. — A Tracy man is behind bars after he intentionally hit a code enforcement officer with his car at a park cleanup, police said. On Monday morning, Tracy police went to El Pescadero Park after a code enforcement officer facilitating a park cleanup reported someone driving erratically. As officers were on their way to the park, police said they got another call from a city e

2020 - Augusta code officer was reportedly ambushed after posting “condemned“ sign. August 20, 2020 The Augusta community continued to reel as police arrested the man charged with homicide in the Thursday slaying of city code enforcement officer and retired Marine Charles “Chip” Case. A team of law enforcement officers located and arrested Smitty Oliver Melton, 65, in Aiken County on Thursday afternoon, and he was awaiting extradition to Richmond County on Friday. He faces ch

2020 - Fresno Police are investigating a possible assault, after a woman hit a code enforcement officer with her car. July 24, 2020 FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Fresno Police are investigating a possible assault, after a woman hit a code enforcement officer with her car. Fresno Police say a Code Enforcement Officer was headed out of the Target at Blackstone and Bullard, when the owner of a nail salon he'd cited before came out to give him a piece of her mind. Fresno Police say th

2020 - The Savannah Fire Department says that an early Sunday morning fire at the City of Savannah Code Compliance building on Drayton Street was intentionally set. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Savannah Fire Department says that an early Sunday morning fire at the City of Savannah Code Compliance building on Drayton Street was intentionally set. When crews arrived on scene, fire was coming through the roof of the building. According to Savannah Fire Department, crews knocked do

2019 - As the suspect continued to try and get to the officer, the officer was forced to deploy pepper spray to prevent a further attack. April 3, 2019 - Law enforcement tends to throw the book at criminals, but sometimes criminals throw things back: like backpacks and hammers. According to the Visalia Police Department, last Thursday, March 28, at 4:19 p.m. a City of Visalia Code Enforcement Officer attempted to contact an individual who had set up a pop-up phone service ten

2018 - David Green, 72, of Henryville, fatally shot Paradise Township Building Code Officer Mike Tripus in his office at the township municipal building. December 1, 2018 - Junk and overgrown weeds in the front yard. A building sitting neglected with busted windows and a caved-in roof. An unusually high number of daily visitors to a property in a single-family residential area allowing no businesses. These are things that can affect a neighborhood’s quality of life. It’s the

2018 - When considering agency exposures those of code enforcement officers should not be overlooked. Threats, attacks, and even deaths have occurred while code enforcement officers were performing their duties. November 2018 - When considering agency exposures those of code enforcement officers should not be overlooked. Threats, attacks, and even deaths have occurred while code enforcement officers were performing their duties. California JPIA members providing code enforcem

2018 - A Utah man called a city worker to his house, shot her in the head and set her body on fire after she mailed him notice to clean up his yard in suburban Salt Lake City. August 21, 2018 - Kevin W. Billings, 64, killed code enforcement officer Jill Robinson with a single gunshot to the head, then doused her and her work truck with gasoline and set both on fire, authorities said in court documents. Billings was charged with 13 counts, including aggravated murder, which ca

2017 - Quinton recorded an interview with Beth Ruyak to talk about what she saw and what the challenges are for code enforcement officers. Listen to the episode: https://www.capradio.org/100180

2016 - An adult son and his parents were arrested Thursday in Spring Park after death threats were made against a city code enforcement officer. August 18, 2016 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An adult son and his parents were arrested Thursday in Spring Park after death threats were made against a city code enforcement officer, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said. News4Jax has learned that David Han, 38, faces charges of making threatening/harassing phone calls and simple assault o

2016 - Michael "Pee Wee" Walker, a city of Commerce code enforcement officer, was murdered on June 13, 2005 while on assignment to enforce the health and safety code violations at 1509 Caddo Street. March 30, 2016 - The Caddo St. house looms at the center of a deadly encounter between Michael Walker and Adam Ward, the son of homeowner Ralph Ward. "The house is non-compliant, it's about to fall down; it's looked that way for years," Dick said. "It's propped up on the corners b

2015 - A code enforcement officer was injured Thursday after being attacked by two dogs in San Bernardino, police said. August 27, 2015 - The attack occurred in the 1300 block of North Mount Vernon Avenue (map) as the officer was checking on a motor home that was reported to be parked illegally, Lt. Rich Lawhead of the San Bernardino Police Department confirmed. Four shepherd-lab mix dogs, allegedly belonging to the owner of the motor home, charged the officer and two of them

2015 - A Long Beach man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for shooting a city code enforcement inspector in the face. June 16, 2015 - A Long Beach man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for shooting a city code enforcement inspector in the face, causing him to lose sight in his left eye, during a nearly seven-hour standoff. Long Beach Superior Court Judge Marc C. Kim handed down the maximum term for Anthony Glen Gorospe, 53, who pleaded no contest in late Febru

2014 - After all, a code enforcement officer’s job includes actions that generate hostility, confrontation, and even violence, such as serving violation notices, placing liens and levies on property, authorizing the removal of motor vehicles and/or the razing of homes. Reference: https://de39d3fd-614c-4722-954c-79d7ec1752d2.filesusr.com/ugd/c498e2_0b227890c53d48c7aea4ba1e8a3e3358.pdf

2014 - A police news release said Guarneros, in an unprovoked attack, started to assault the officer. She was able to put out an emergency broadcast for assistance while trying to defend herself. March 12, 2014 - Henry Guarneros, an occupant of the residence in the 1200 block of Holly Avenue, was visited by a code enforcement officer during a house inspection at about 12:41 p.m. The officer, described by police as a “petite woman,” went alone to the location. A police news re

2013 - Newell is accused of shooting three people to death at a Ross Township meeting on the evening of Aug. 5, 2013. New details emerging about accused Ross Township shooter Rockne Newell reveal that he had been institutionalized twice in mental health facilities and left the U.S. Army soon after joining with an honorable medical discharge. The revelations come from family members who said Newell, 60, of Ross Township, had mental health issues dating back to his childhood. T

2002 - Prosecutors said Kast killed Huntington County Building Inspector Earl Bowman nine days after he killed Berkshire. [In Memory of Building Inspector Earl Bowamn] Earl (44) went to do one last inspection for a home under construction. While at the inspection, a worker named Joseph Kast approached and stabbed Earl 4 times with a pocket knife, killing him. The murderer, Joseph Allen Kast, was a registered sex offender, fugitive for murder, and on methamphetamine at the tim

2011 - Mardis murdered Mickey Wright on April 17, 2001, and was federally indicted for the killing in January 2008 after pleading no contest to a state court murder charge. WASHINGTON– The Justice Department announced today that Dale Mardis, 57, was sentenced today to life in prison, with no possibility of parole, for the racially-motivated killing of Shelby County, Tenn., Code Enforcement Officer Mickey Wright. Mardis was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Bernice Donald. Mard

2009 - That day, Weathers was on a routine code enforcement call to remove junk cars when shotgun fire hit him in the face and arm. “I made a commitment four and a half years ago that I was going to help the blighted areas and keep property values up,” Weathers said. “The job is not done yet.” April 23 marked the anniversary of the day Weathers was shot — and the day that changed the way codes are enforced in Warner Robins. Capt. Bill Capps, who had accompanied Weathers on th

2009 - County police say the code enforcement officer and local contractors were visiting the unoccupied home on Brandywine Blvd. to address multiple code violations when the Kostyshyns arrived on the scene just before 8:30 a.m. and became combative. February 15, 2009 - Seeming to knowi what was coming next, an assault suspect and his sister were arrested Feb. 12 in front of the Justice of the Peace Court 20 in Wilmington. Peter Kostyshyn, 56, was charged with assaulting a fe

2008 - An unarmed Aurora code enforcement officer shot this afternoon is dead and police continue to sweep the area for his killer. November 13, 2008 - Rodney Morales, 40, was shot after entering an apartment building to investigate a routine zoning complaint in the 1900 block of North Clinton Street at 1:40 p.m., Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said. The shooter confronted the officer as soon as he walked into the apartment building, Oates said. He was taken to a hospital and

2004 - The jury found that Alexander, 43, a San Leandro sausage plant owner, fatally shot three meat inspectors on June 21, 2000. October 19, 2004 - The inspectors were looking into alleged food safety violations at the plant, according to statements made in Alameda County Superior Court. A surveillance camera at the Santos Linguisa Factory recorded Alexander shooting the victims. Killed in the incident were two U.S. Department of Agriculture compliance officers, 56-year-old

1997 - A St. Paul man suspected of shooting a city housing inspector to death during a Christmas Eve home inspection led authorities Thursday to the victim's body in a shallow grave in Burnett County, Wisconsin. December 24, 1997 - The inspector, Donald G. Juenemann, 56, had been a St. Paul employee for more than 25 years, and was less than a year from retirement. He lived with his wife in Woodbury, where he also was a volunteer firefighter. St. Paul police said that James Je

1995 - His murder shocked the nation, prompting widespread outrage and a torchlight procession led by his widow. The public demanded stricter regulations and enforcement in the cattle industry to prevent such tragedies. Born in 1953, Karel Van Noppen dedicated his life to veterinary medicine, eventually becoming a government livestock inspector in Belgium. His commitment to animal welfare and public health led him to scrutinize the illegal use of growth hormones in cattle far

1992 - A health inspector, her husband and her mother were shot to death Tuesday, only days after she testified against an apartment manager accused of beating her when she cited him for sewage violations. LISTEN TO A PODCAST ABOUT THE MURDER: https://www.notoriousbakersfield.com/episode-6-rampage-in-rosedale/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTleQ9wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMVhLNThTRjVjRWJwSXFodXRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeKaSXi4e9GoE7vxXaBwrft9UnZfK_y77eQLjVkbF_zuPcmtkebbC_N3H

1988 - O’Daniels was beaten outside Duran’s home in the 19000 block of Community Street during an inspection of Duran’s improperly built fence. A San Fernando Superior Court judge said Wednesday that a Northridge auto mechanic had no remorse for putting out the eye of a Los Angeles building inspector, and sentenced the man to seven years in prison. Judge Meredith C. Taylor imposed the maximum term on Samuel Duran, 41, after Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth L. Barshop read excerpts