On May 15th, 2000, Dayton Police Officer Mary L. Beall was on the scene of an armed standoff when she suffered critical injuries from getting shot.

She and fellow officers had pursued a man suspected of firing shots at his girlfriend to his mother’s driveway, where they found him brandishing a semi-automatic handgun. As the other officers covered her—in an attempt to convince the suspect to surrender his weapon—Officer Beall knelt down and reholstered her service weapon. But that’s when without any hesitation he walked right up, put the gun to her neck and fired, partially paralyzing her. The other officers returned fire and hit the suspect.

Mary died of complications from her injuries over two years later, on August 25th, 2002. The 21-year-old shooter was sentenced to 76 years and later died in prison.

Officer Beall was 43 years old at the time of her death, and had served with the Dayton Police Department for three years. She was survived by her husband, son, two daughters, mother, and two sisters.

Mary’s husband was also a Dayton Police Officer, and one of her daughters later became one. Prior to joining the force she had worked as a postal clerk. She was well known for being kindhearted and generous, highly memorable for her big, dazzling smile, and widely respected for her courage, strength, and determination. As clear evidence of how widely beloved she was, the community responded by donating nearly $350,000 so that her family could build a handicapped accessible home. Before, during, and after her brief time in the department she had been an utterly devoted wife and mother.