Families of Fallen Heroes

May 3, 2019 marked the 17th anniversary of the deaths of the St. Louis Fire Department’s Capt. Derek Martin and Capt. Robert Morrison. Both brave men lost their lives battling the same fire and leaving behind their spouses and children. Today their children have reached […]

The BackStoppers is now assisting the family of Firefighter Paramedic Chris Moore of the Maryland Heights Fire Protection District who died in the line of duty on June 8, 2019 as a result of suffering a medical emergency. Firefighter Paramedic Moore served with the Maryland Heights […]

For 32 years, Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses has captivated both the first responder and boxing communities, bringing the two groups together in epic bouts. Just like the Gateway Arch, St. Louis proudly claims Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses as its own monumental tradition, an awe-inspiring mainstay. […]

Officer Robert JordanSt. Louis County Police Dept.EOW 5/16/1981 Officer Robert Jordan served in the Divisions of Patrol, Operational Support and Criminal Investigation for the St. Louis Police Department. He was also a Police Recruiter and received numerous letters of commendation and appreciation from the department and the community he […]

Officer James ReifschneiderSt. Louis County Police Dept.EOW 4/30/1977 On April 30, 1977, St. Louis County Police Officer James Reifschneider was conducting a traffic stop when he was struck by a motorist and killed, leaving behind his wife, Sue Reifschneider, and their three children.  The BackStoppers immediately began assisting the Reifschneider […]

The BackStoppers is now assisting the family of Auxiliary Officer Ricardo Davis of the Washington Park Police Department who died in the line of duty on October 27, 2018 as a result of injuries sustained when he fell from the Poplar Street Bridge during a […]

The word “legacy” is often used to describe that which is passed on from generation to generation.  Lin-Manuel Miranda captured the essence of the word when he wrote that a legacy is “planting seeds in a garden you never get to see”.  The brave first […]

On November 5, 2008, Darnita Riggins’ world was turned upside down when her husband was killed in the line of duty. Capt. Leonard Riggins, Sr. of the St. Louis Fire Department was shot and killed when he stopped on his way home in uniform to […]

Like many kids, Cole Ziegler, son of fallen hero Deputy Sheriff Steven Ziegler, EOW 09/30/01, dreamed of playing football. He has loved the sport since he was old enough to catch a football, and attended every high school game he could while in grade school. […]

You met Whitney Neal, daughter of St. Louis County Police Detective Willie Neal, Jr., EOW 1/29/97, last year. When Whitney was featured in the June 2016 issue of The BackStoppers newsletter, she was enrolled in a competitive Pathologists’ Assistant program and looking ahead to her […]